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Voykit pocket guide · India
Lonar
Spend a half‑day to one full day in Lonar to see the crater lake and nearby temples; reach by car or bus from Aurangabad (~160 km, 3 h).
Lonar is a tiny town in Maharashtra famous for its meteor‑impact crater lake and surrounding temples. The sights are within walking distance, so a single day is enough for most visitors.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–1,200 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,200–2,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police / Ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at Gulmohar restaurant | ₹150–300 |
| Rickshaw from bus stand to MTDC | ₹30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IXU · Aurangabad Airport
- about 160 km (99 mi), 3 h by roadabout 99 mi (160 km), 3 h by road
Typical fares
- Aurangabad → Lonar (car hire)
- ≈₹1,500–2,000 one way, 3 h (check)
- Lonar Darshan bus
- ₹200–300 per person, daily (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk for most sights; hire a car for flexibility; daily Lonar Darshan bus runs to key attractions.
See and do
Known for
- Lonar crater lake
- Kamalja Devi temple
- Daityasudan Surya temple
- Motha Maruti temple
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Aurangabad | Bus or hired car, about 160 km (99 mi), 3 hBus or hired car, about 99 mi (160 km), 3 h | ≈3 h |
Sleep
- MTDC Resort
- Dormitory rooms, ₹250 per night; 20 min rickshaw from bus stand (₹30).
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | नमस्तेnamaste |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much? | कितना है?kitna hai? |
| Where is the lake? | झील कहाँ है?jheel kahaan hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer heat can be intense; carry water.
- Lake water is highly alkaline (pH 10.7); do not drink or bathe.
- Check bus schedules in advance; tickets often sell out.
Lonar is low‑risk; main concerns are heat and alkaline lake water; basic precautions keep it safe.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Lonar yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Lonar crater lake
- Kamalja Devi temple
- Daityasudan Surya temple
- Motha Maruti temple
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Lonar: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Lonar, revision 4821129 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4821129
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Lonar
कृपया इस पते पर ले जाएँ
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Ambulance112
US consulate is in Mumbai; Indian visa required (e‑visa).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/lonar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.