Journey Date : 23 Jan, 2020
Mode of Transport : Train and Bus
History of the Lonar crater
Lonar Lake, also known as Lonar crater, is a notified National Geo-heritage Monument, saline, soda lake, located at Lonar in Buldhana district, Maharashtra, India. Lonar Lake was created by an asteroid collision with the earth's impact during the Pleistocene Epoch. It is one of the four known, hyper-velocity, impact craters in basaltic rock anywhere on Earth. The crater's age is usually estimated to be 52,000 ±6,000 years, although a study published in 2010 suggests an age of 570,000 ± 47,000 years.
Travel Experience
Our historical weekend circuit kicked off at Thane Railway Station. Because we had carefully pre-planned this leg of the trip, we boarded the Devagiri Express at 9:00 PM with confirmed reservations. We pulled into Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad) bright and early at 4:00 AM. After waking ourselves up with a quick cup of tea outside the railway station, we caught a local bus at 4:30 AM, arriving at the CIDCO bus depot Aurangabad in just 10 minutes.
At this point, we made a spontaneous tweak to our itinerary: we decided to explore the magnificent Ellora Caves first and save Lonar Lake for the afternoon. After an incredible day of cave exploration, we arrived back at the CIDCO bus depot around 4:00 PM to catch our onward transport. This is where things went a bit sideways. Upon inquiring about how to reach Lonar from Aurangabad, we were told that the last MSRTC bus to Lonar had been abruptly canceled.
Traveler’s Tip: When navigating public transport in Maharashtra, always be prepared for sudden schedule changes and have a solid Plan B ready!
Inside the bus depot, you will find private travel agents actively approaching tourists to arrange alternative transport. Left with zero official bus options, we reluctantly agreed to take a private shared vehicle. Honestly, our Aurangabad to Lonar Lake transport experience was incredibly hectic. These private operators routinely cram 12 to 14 passengers into a standard 9-seater vehicle. Unfortunately, because public transport had fallen through, passengers had absolutely no leverage to complain. If you refuse to squeeze in, they simply ask you to get out and find your own way. Sometimes, surviving the uncomfortable rides is just part of the adventure!
Inside the bus depot, you will find private travel agents actively approaching tourists to arrange alternative transport. Left with zero official bus options, we reluctantly agreed to take a private shared vehicle. Honestly, our Aurangabad to Lonar Lake transport experience was incredibly hectic. These private operators routinely cram 12 to 14 passengers into a standard 9-seater vehicle. Unfortunately, because public transport had fallen through, passengers had absolutely no leverage to complain. If you refuse to squeeze in, they simply ask you to get out and find your own way. Sometimes, surviving the uncomfortable rides is just part of the adventure!
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| Stepway at Gomukh Temple, a way to Lonar lake |
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| Springwater pond at Gomuk Temple |
Evening Arrival, Krishna Lodge, and the Trek to Lonar Crater Lake
We finally rolled into town at 6:30 PM, just as the sun was setting and dusk was settling in. We headed straight to check in at Krishna Lodge Lonar, conveniently located right opposite the bus depot.
Traveler’s Tip on Accommodation & Food: We highly recommend pre-booking your hotels near Lonar bus depot to avoid last-minute stress. Additionally, finding good restaurants in Lonar—especially if you are looking for non-vegetarian dhaba food—can be quite challenging as the options are extremely limited. It is best to arrive early in the evening so you have plenty of time to hunt down a good spot for dinner!
The next morning at 8:00 AM, we kicked off our highly anticipated trek to the famous Lonar crater lake. Using Google Maps, it took us just a quick 10-minute walk to reach the main gate of the Gomukh Temple Lonar. After signing the visitor register at the entrance, we began descending the stone steps toward the lake. Along the path, we passed a beautiful natural spring water pond (Kund) where devotees were peacefully bathing. Respecting their space, we quietly continued down to the forest department check-post.
Because the government has officially protected the crater and its surrounding forest as the Lonar Wildlife Sanctuary, visitors are required to pay a small Rs. 60 entry fee. Just past the check-post, we stumbled upon the ancient, ruined Kumareshwar Temple an absolutely brilliant surprise. But the real magic happened right behind the ruins. Until this trip, I had only ever seen peacocks inside cages, but here, we spotted two stunning wild peacocks. Startled by our arrival, they immediately took flight. Watching a wild peacock fly through an ancient forest remains one of the most wonderful and unforgettable moments of my life!
We finally rolled into town at 6:30 PM, just as the sun was setting and dusk was settling in. We headed straight to check in at Krishna Lodge Lonar, conveniently located right opposite the bus depot.
Traveler’s Tip on Accommodation & Food: We highly recommend pre-booking your hotels near Lonar bus depot to avoid last-minute stress. Additionally, finding good restaurants in Lonar—especially if you are looking for non-vegetarian dhaba food—can be quite challenging as the options are extremely limited. It is best to arrive early in the evening so you have plenty of time to hunt down a good spot for dinner!
The next morning at 8:00 AM, we kicked off our highly anticipated trek to the famous Lonar crater lake. Using Google Maps, it took us just a quick 10-minute walk to reach the main gate of the Gomukh Temple Lonar. After signing the visitor register at the entrance, we began descending the stone steps toward the lake. Along the path, we passed a beautiful natural spring water pond (Kund) where devotees were peacefully bathing. Respecting their space, we quietly continued down to the forest department check-post.
Because the government has officially protected the crater and its surrounding forest as the Lonar Wildlife Sanctuary, visitors are required to pay a small Rs. 60 entry fee. Just past the check-post, we stumbled upon the ancient, ruined Kumareshwar Temple an absolutely brilliant surprise. But the real magic happened right behind the ruins. Until this trip, I had only ever seen peacocks inside cages, but here, we spotted two stunning wild peacocks. Startled by our arrival, they immediately took flight. Watching a wild peacock fly through an ancient forest remains one of the most wonderful and unforgettable moments of my life!
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| Kumareshwar Temple |
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| Yadneshwar Temple |
Through the Forest to the Crater: Yadneshwar Temple and the Salty Shores of Lonar
A short walk further down the trail brought us to another beautiful ruin: the ancient Yadneshwar Temple. After taking some time to admire the stonework, our Lonar trek continued deep into a surprisingly dense forest canopy, eventually leading us to the peaceful Lonar Dargha. Just a few minutes from there, the trees finally cleared, and we were standing right at the edge of the majestic Lonar crater lake.
Important Note for Travelers: Stepping into the lake is strictly prohibited. The unique chemical composition of the Lonar Lake water makes it highly alkaline and roughly seven times saltier than regular seawater!
We spent a peaceful while sitting on the banks, taking in the surreal, otherworldly landscape of the crater. There are actually several more temples around Lonar Lake to explore along the perimeter, including the famous Kamalja Mata Temple Lonar and an ancient water well. Unfortunately, we had to skip them this time—we had started our morning hike without eating breakfast, and our fiercely hungry stomachs dictated that it was time to head back up for food!
A short walk further down the trail brought us to another beautiful ruin: the ancient Yadneshwar Temple. After taking some time to admire the stonework, our Lonar trek continued deep into a surprisingly dense forest canopy, eventually leading us to the peaceful Lonar Dargha. Just a few minutes from there, the trees finally cleared, and we were standing right at the edge of the majestic Lonar crater lake.
Important Note for Travelers: Stepping into the lake is strictly prohibited. The unique chemical composition of the Lonar Lake water makes it highly alkaline and roughly seven times saltier than regular seawater!
We spent a peaceful while sitting on the banks, taking in the surreal, otherworldly landscape of the crater. There are actually several more temples around Lonar Lake to explore along the perimeter, including the famous Kamalja Mata Temple Lonar and an ancient water well. Unfortunately, we had to skip them this time—we had started our morning hike without eating breakfast, and our fiercely hungry stomachs dictated that it was time to head back up for food!
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| Dense forest way towards the lake |
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| View from Lonar crater |
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| Top view of Lonar lake |
Ancient Architecture and Finding the Best Lonar Lake Sunset Point
After finally grabbing a much-needed breakfast, we headed straight to the Daitya Sudan Temple, a magnificent ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The intricate stone carvings here are absolutely mesmerizing! We spent a good amount of time exploring the temple grounds before heading back to our lodge to catch our breath.
We officially checked out at 12:00 PM, but to keep our afternoon hassle-free, we left our heavy bags securely at the hotel reception. We hired a local auto-rickshaw for the afternoon and smartly scheduled a return pick-up with the driver for 5:30 PM. By this time, we were hungry again and headed to the MTDC Gulmohar restaurant for a hearty meal. If you are ever searching for reliable restaurants near Lonar Lake, this is a great, conveniently located choice. After lunch, we had one final mission: golden hour photography.
Secret Traveler’s Tip for the Best Lonar Lake Top View: Right opposite the Gulmohar restaurant, you will see the closed gate of a government guest house. While the main gate is locked, there is a small, accessible pathway through the metal wire fencing nearby. Slipping through there leads you to an absolute hidden gem—an uninterrupted, panoramic viewpoint of the crater!
This unofficial Lonar Lake sunset point was quiet and breathtaking. We spent the rest of our evening there, peacefully shooting time-lapses and capturing stunning sunset photos over the water.
After finally grabbing a much-needed breakfast, we headed straight to the Daitya Sudan Temple, a magnificent ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The intricate stone carvings here are absolutely mesmerizing! We spent a good amount of time exploring the temple grounds before heading back to our lodge to catch our breath.
We officially checked out at 12:00 PM, but to keep our afternoon hassle-free, we left our heavy bags securely at the hotel reception. We hired a local auto-rickshaw for the afternoon and smartly scheduled a return pick-up with the driver for 5:30 PM. By this time, we were hungry again and headed to the MTDC Gulmohar restaurant for a hearty meal. If you are ever searching for reliable restaurants near Lonar Lake, this is a great, conveniently located choice. After lunch, we had one final mission: golden hour photography.
Secret Traveler’s Tip for the Best Lonar Lake Top View: Right opposite the Gulmohar restaurant, you will see the closed gate of a government guest house. While the main gate is locked, there is a small, accessible pathway through the metal wire fencing nearby. Slipping through there leads you to an absolute hidden gem—an uninterrupted, panoramic viewpoint of the crater!
This unofficial Lonar Lake sunset point was quiet and breathtaking. We spent the rest of our evening there, peacefully shooting time-lapses and capturing stunning sunset photos over the water.
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| Daityasudun Temple |
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| Daityasudun Temple |
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| The idol of Lord Vishnu at Daityasudun Temple |
The Return Journey: Navigating the Lonar to Jalna Bus Route
Around 5:15 PM, we called our pre-arranged auto-rickshaw driver for pick-up. He dropped us back at our hotel, where we collected our stored bags and belongings. Conveniently, the Lonar ST bus depot was located directly opposite our lodge, making the transit incredibly easy. We boarded the 6:30 PM Lonar to Jalna bus and enjoyed a smooth ride, eventually getting down at the Jalna bus depot. After grabbing a much-needed dinner in town, we hopped into an auto-rickshaw that took us straight to the Jalna railway station for our train ride home.
Crucial Transit Warning: If you are researching how to reach Jalna from Lonar via public transport, be aware that the MSRTC occasionally cancels the direct bus without any prior notice. If this happens to you, don't panic! Your best alternative is to take a private shared vehicle (like a 6-seater tum-tum or jeep) to the nearby town of Sultanpur. From Sultanpur, you can easily board a connecting bus to Jalna. Just make sure to double-check the latest bus timings with the locals or through the MSRTC mobile app!
Places to see nearby
1. Daityasudun Temple
2. Limbibarvi (step well)
3. Motha Maruti Temple
4. Gomukh Temple
Important Note
- Check public transport timing and plan accordingly also keep other options ready if any sudden changes in the timing of public transport.
- Prefer package drinking water to avoid health issues, if you are ok with local normal water then go with it.
- For normal rooms with a reasonable rate, you can contact Krishna Lodge opposite Lonar bus depot for booking. contact number +91-7262221728, +91-9420623777, +91-705731655
- You can visit Lonar directly from Jalna, instead of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad).
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| Sunset at Lonar lake |
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| Sunset at Lonar lake |
