The town of Jalna doesn’t usually figure on the commercial tourism map, but it offers an incredibly large bouquet of holy spots against some of Maharashtra’s pristine landscapes. This religiously diverse town—with centuries-old Muslim shrines and Hindu temples scattered in many picturesque villages—boasts of countless legends which link it not only to the epic Ramayana, but to several prominent Muslim saints, too. For the natives, the village of Jamb Samarth marks the sacred birthplace of a revered saint, Sri Samarth Ramdas Swami. In modern times, Jalna has risen to commercial prominence because of its primarily agro-based industries and abundant production of sweet lemon (Mosambi). Most tourists give Jalna a miss because of the world famous sites of Ajanta and Ellora in nearby Aurangabad. But Jalna is close to one attraction that cannot be found anywhere else in the world — the picturesque Lonar Lake, which is also our planet’s only hyper-velocity meteor impact crater.
The temple of Matsyodari Devi is perched on top of a hill that resembles a fish (Matsya). Located about 21 km from the city of Jalna, Matsyodari Devi is considered to be one of the oldest temples in this region. During Navratri, the temple organizes a large annual fair.
Jalna Fort was constructed in 1725 and is popular for its unique quadrangular shape, chambers and galleries. A citadel nearby is now home to administrative offices.
The village of Jamb Samartha in Ghansawangi emanates deep religious vibes. Sant Ramdas Swami, who was a devotee of Lord Ram and Hanuman, was born here. Each year on Ram Navami, a temple in the village organizes a fair.
Considered this region’s best-kept secret, Lonar Lake is the only hypervelocity impact crater in this world. Water filled this crater over many centuries and growth of vegetation nearby turned it into a delightful holiday spot. The crater is surrounded by many temples with sculptures which resemble the stonework of Khajuraho. If you are visiting here from Aurangabad by road, your journey will take you through lush fields of paddy and scenic villages.
Travelers can cover most sites in Jalna using comfortable buses or taxis. Luxury buses and trains connect Jalna to nearby Aurangabad, Pune, Hyderabad and Mumbai.
On a daily basis there are approximately 4 flights that operate at Aurangabad Airport.Air India is the popular airline brand that fly frequently to this airport.
By road Jalna is surrounded by Aurangabad, Mehkar, Buldana which are 33.9 km, 49.94 km, 52.46 km away respectively. These places are ideal spots for people to plan their short weekend break.