The travel guides describe Croatia as ‘stunning’ and ‘beautiful’. That’s true, they are, but these words just don’t do the country justice. Croatia is so much more than that.
Croatia has been in my list for long. Looking at pictures online or in brochures really isn’t enough to appreciate the tranquil feeling you get from being in the area. Take your camera but don’t spend the day behind the lens.
As I stand at the rim of Tangkuban Perahu crater, the legend unfolds in front of me. A single mother Dayang Sumbi who lived in West Java, cast away her son Sangkuriang for disobedience. Son went to a faraway place. Saddened by her actions, the beautiful woman was also worried about her future. Looking at her sadness the Gods granted her the power of eternal youth.
The local villagers were talking about a forest on a hill where birds refused to fly near and if they did, they would end up dead. The locals had declared it as eerie and mysterious forest. This was in 1837. These stories prompted a German botanist Dr Franz W. Junghuhn to investigate, and in turn, he discovered Kawah Putih.
Have you been here before? I am sure, you haven’t.
Once you are through with the beautiful beaches of Goa, a visit to the bubbling lake could be a change from the sun. Though Budbud Talli, as it is known locally, is called a lake, its small size suggests a tank.
Though I did not find it difficult, hiking to Lonar lake can be a daunting experience for some of us. The crater walls are steep and if you are living just a city life or are not very young, you might find it difficult to climb down or up, let alone doing a full round of the lake. Many people have returned back after trying to get down.
Some statistics of the crater lake:- The meteoric lake is around 50 thousand years old. The outer diameter of the lake is 1.83 kilometers. The circumference is around 6-7 Kms. Descent to lake i.e. distance from the rim to ground level = about 140 meters.
The water is saline in nature; my guide mentioned it has substantial quantity of sulphur and phosphorus too. How correct is this information, I have no idea.
Tips for hiking:- Try this activity only if you are physically fit, into some hiking and do not have any kind of breathing problem. Remember, once you are down there, you need to
I had always wanted to visit the Lonar crater in Maharashtra; it never failed to fascinate me through photos and whatever information I had. So when I got an opportunity to visit Aurangabad, I made a point to make a dash to this place as well. How I reached there or returned back, is another interesting adventurous story but this post is about Lonar lake.
Although Lonar lake is third largest meteorite crater in the world, there is no commercialization of the place. Travel information on the net regarding this place is very sparse and though people are aware of this lake, not many of them have visited it. It is neither a touristy place nor been taken care of, to make one. There are no signboards and one has to depend on the local people for everything. Not that I mind it one bit… it lets me interact with them. 🙂
Besides countable no. of tourists, this place is visited by researchers, geologists and scientists from all over the world as well as by the serious nature lovers or adventure seekers.
The lake is around 50 thousand years old. The water is saline in nature; my guide mentioned it has substantial quantity of sulphur and phosphorus too. The outer diameter of the lake is 1.83 kilometers and the circumference is around 6-7 Kms. Descent to lake i.e. distance from the rim to ground level is about 140 meters.
Me holding a piece of basalt rock. It is porous and very light in weight.