LONAR THE THIRD LARGEST METEORIDE CRATER IN THE WORLD

APPROXIMATELY 50000YEARS AGO A METEORITE STRUCK THE EARTH NEAR THE LONAR VILLAGE AND FORMED A CRATER 1.8 KMS IN DIAMETER AT THE SURFACE AND 132 METERS DEEP. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CRATER A BEAUTIFUL LAKE  HAS BEEN FORMED OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS BY THE PERENNIAL STREAMS FLOWING INTO THE CRATER. A UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM HAS EVOLVED WHERE ONE CAN FIND AQUATIC BIRDS LIKE FLAMINGOS, MOORHEN, COOTS AND DABCHICKS AND PEACOCKS. THE WILDLIFE  SANCTUARY COVERING ABOUT 4 SQ.KM IS LOCATED AROUND THE CRATER.


ON THE BEACH AROUND THE CRATER THERE ARE FEW TEMPLES BUILT IN THE 11- 12 CENTURY. ABOUT A KM AWAY FROM IS THE AMBAR  LAKE, FORMED BY A SPLINTER OF THE METEORITE WHERE STANDS A HANUMAN (MONKEY GOD) TEMPLE. THIS PARTICULAR IDOL OF HANUMAN IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN MADE OUT OF A PORTION OF THE METEORITE AND IS SAID TO HAVE MAGNETIC PROPERTIES. IN LONAR TOWN, THE DAITYASUDAN TEMPLE, BELIEVED TO BE A REPLICA  OF THE FAMOUS SUN TEMPLE OF KONARK IS A MUST SEE FOR EVERY VISITOR.