Discover Buldhana: Crater Lake, Temples and Nature

Buldhana combines an extraordinary crater landscape with temple towns, pilgrimage traditions and protected natural areas. Lonar Lake, a designated national geo-heritage monument, is located in Lonar. It was formed in the Pleistocene by a meteorite impact and is the only known hypervelocity impact crater in basalt rock in the world. This gives you very different options to consider when planning your trip: geology and landscapes, as well as historic sites and religious traditions.

Crater landscape and protected areas

The descent into Lonar Crater is steep and can be slippery; sturdy trekking shoes are required. The protected areas also offer their own highlights. The Ambabarwa Wildlife Sanctuary in Sangrampur taluka covers 127 square kilometers. It is located in the Satpura Range on the border with Madhya Pradesh, is known for its diverse flora and fauna, and is considered the most important wildlife tourism destination in Buldhana district. Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the Buldhana–Khamgaon state highway.

Rajur Ghat offers another point of reference in the landscape: the ghat is on the Buldhana–Malkapur road, with temples and rivers in the surrounding area. The village of Girda, on the Ajanta Caves road, is also nearby. It is 16 kilometers from the district headquarters of Buldhana and is home to an old Mahadev Temple. These locations can help you consider nature and cultural experiences separately when planning your trip.

Temples, history and local traditions

Rajmata Jijau was born on January 12, 1598, at Bhuikot Palace in Sindhkhedra. The Hemadpanthi Rameshwar Temple in Sindkhed Raja dates from the 8th to 10th century. The Rajwada also stands out there, with its large, impressive entrance; it is near the Mumbai–Nagpur highway. The historical connections therefore range from a specific birthplace to temples and buildings dating to different periods.

The old Balaji Temple in Deulgaon Raja is also known as the “Tirupati of Maharashtra.” Raje Jagdeorao Jadhav founded the Balaji Temple there in 1665. Every year in October, the Shri Balaji Maharaj Yatra takes place in Deulgaon Raja. In Chikhli, the Renuka Devi Temple is in the city center, where the Renuka Devi Yatra is held on Chaitra Pournima.

Rajurghata is also home to a variety of religious and cultural sites. Venkatagiri is a Balaji Temple in this scenic area of Buldhana; a replica of Balaji of Tirumala is located near Venkatagiri. A 21-foot-tall statue of Hanumanji stands in the grounds of the Venkatagiri Balaji Temple in Rajourghat. Dhamma Giri is also located in the scenic area of Rajurghata in Buldhana.

Shegaon and other pilgrimage sites

The Shegaon Temple is dedicated to Shri Gajanan Maharaj and is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in Maharashtra. The Palkhi Sohala takes place there every Thursday: during this procession, the statue of Gajanan Maharaj is carried around the temple in a palanquin, accompanied by devotional songs and hymns. Shegaon railway station is 1.5 kilometers from the temple and is regularly served by trains from Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune.

Anand Sagar is another place with religious and recreational appeal. The artificial lake and complex were created by the Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan to tackle water scarcity. The lake and surrounding area were developed as a blend of spirituality and amusement park for devotees. For planning your schedule, the annual Yatra in Deulgaon Raja in October, the Renuka Devi Yatra on Chaitra Pournima and the weekly Thursday procession in Shegaon offer different points of reference. If you want one of these traditions to shape your stay, check the specific event date before booking.

Maharashtra as a wider destination

The wider destination of Maharashtra also has its own cultural points of interest. The paintings and sculptures of the Ajanta Caves are considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art. The Ellora Caves comprise 34 caves featuring Hindu, Buddhist and Jain architecture. These examples broaden the picture of Maharashtra; their features are distinct from those of the places described in Buldhana.

Choose the focus of your trip

When looking for a hotel in Buldhana, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: Lonar's crater landscape and steep descent, historic temples and buildings, or planning your trip around pilgrimage traditions and their dates.

Discover more destinations: Khamgaon, Wardha, Chandrapur, Dhule, Sangli, Solapur, Nanded, Yavatmal.

For the wider travel overview: Maharashtra.