Lonar Crater Lake

Lonar Lake was formed about 52000 years ago, by the sheer impact of a meteorite weighing 2 million tons traveling at a speed of 90,000 kilometers per hour.

View of the Lake from the rim

The crater is about 1830 meters in diameter and 150 meters deep.

View of the temple

There are many temples, built in the 12th/13th century, along the banks of the lake.

Bhairav Temple

Trying to locate the 7 shadows inside Lord Rama Temple

Main Idol, Lord Rama Temple

Sabha Mandap, Lord Rama Temple

Hanuman Temple

Spider – not an itsy bitsy one for sure

Lonar is the second largest impact crater in basaltic rock and is partially filled by a salt water lake.

Lonar Lake

The lake is both saline and alkaline in nature.

Lake

Recently, Magnetotactic bacteria have been discovered in the lake. Magnetotactic bacteria orient along the magnetic field lines of Earth’s magnetic field. It aids these organisms to reach regions with optimal oxygen concentration.

Algae

Lord Murugan Temple

Lord Murugan Temple

Lord Murugan Temple

Farms on the way to Vishnu Temple

Banana plantations

Go Bananas!

Tamarind Tree

On the way to the Lake for a swim

Vishnu Temple

Daityasudan Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu

The walls and pillars of the temple are full of elaborate and detailed carvings from Indian Mythology.

Inside the temple

Daityasudan