FORGOTTEN HISTORY: Lonar, the oldest crater in the world, is rich in natural beauty

The Canyon-Diabolo of Arizona, US, might enjoy better recall as a prominent meteorite crater but few are aware that the oldest crater in the world exists in Maharashtra, India. Named after a town it is close to-Lonar-it enjoys another distinction: it is the only crater
in the world created by hypervelocity meteoric impact on basaltic rock.

A bowl-shaped depression 1.8 km in diameter, Lonar was formed 50,000 years ago by the impact of a million-tonne meteor. Water has collected at the crater bottom over thousands of years, making it the third largest natural salt-water lake in the world. The Lonar tourist experience combines a whiff of history with the grandeur of nature. Rocks here are known to reveal features of moon rocks. Aquatic birds lounge in the waters and there are temples dating back to the 12th and 13th century on the shore of the lake. While here, visit other places of interest nearby: the smaller lake Ambar created by a splinter of the meteorite and ancient temples like Daityasudan and Sharangdhar.

There's decent accommodation opposite the main crater. Lonar is connected by regular buses to key cities like Aurangabad and Mumbai. The best time to visit is July and August.

TOURISM NEWS

Kerala's tourism USP-"God's Own Country"-may qualify as an independent success story. But the five north Indian regions-Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir-have decided to rely on the "strength of numbers" theory to boost tourism. The tourism fraternities of these states, along with independent travel agents and tour operators, have decided to combine resources for a vigorous joint promotion of destinations in their region. Chandigarh Industrial & Tourism Development Corporation MD S.P. Singh says they are currently in the "process of working out the nitty gritties of the collaboration".

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OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

NATURE TRAIL: Brain coral at Pirotan

Pirotan Island, Gujarat: Far from the madding crowd. That's Pirotan Island, 30 km from Jamnagar. One of India's few national marine parks, Pirotan is 16 nautical miles into the Arabian Sea. As the tide ebbs, venture into the sea amidst the corals and see various types of crabs, scorpions, sea snakes, slugs, eels, star fish, jelly fish, puffer fish, octopus, anemones, squids, sea sponges, and sometimes even dolphins. If you are lucky, you might spot Dugong, a rare marine mammal that looks like a seal. Bird watching is the other Pirotan promise. However, recent reports caution of a perceptible deterioration of the marine ecosystem due to the increasing pollution. Either ways, Pirotan is worth a visit if you are the eco-sympathetic sort. Best avoided during the rainy season as the sea gets rough. Accessible by rail, air and road from Jamnagar. Though basic lodging isn't a problem, nothing compares to pitching a tent on this island.

-compiled by Natasha Israni and Shefalee Vasudev