A visit to the largest crater of India: Ramgarh astrobleme’

We were not aware about the Ramgarh crater till last year; we were just surfing on the Google map and found this amazing geographical feature.  Ramgarh crater is a 3 km wide potential meteor crater located in Rajasthan, India. If confirmed, this would be the largest crater in India making Lonar crater in Maharashtra second largest (Source - Wikipedia).
It was a year back, when we were searching the path of tiger T-35 to Sultanpur (kota), who dispersed from Ranthambhore and I found this crater which is hardly 60 km (crow flies distance from qualji area) from the Ranthambhore tiger reserve area.  we think we should share some picture of this crater with you.  We do not know how this was created and what is the geographical and geological significance of this crater but it is surely a worthwhile experience seeing it ! Look up on the Google map for this site just type the 
GPS 25°19'44.01"N

          v76°37'13.42"E.
 Also many sites open once we type Ramgarh crater on Google... 



     Just search the above mentioned GPS location to find this wonderful site. 

    pic 2: close up of the crater

another view of the crater 

                 
Picture from outside the crater by the author 

The crater has two small lakes 

     view of the lake 

                         Dhonk forest on the hills 

                                                             An age old temple in the centre of crater

                                                                     Jogi of the crater 

As per GSI site:

THE CURIOUS RING STRUCTURE OF RAMGARH IN VINDHYANS 0F RAJASTHAN http://www.portal.gsi.gov.in/portal/page?_pageid=127,787831&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Within the vast stretch of almost horizontally-bedded Neoproterozoic Vindhyan sediments an elevated circular physiographic structure (25° 20” 00’: 76° 37” 30”) occurs near Ramgarh village located about 12 km east of Mangrol in Baran district, Rajasthan. For its discrete elevation it can be spotted from a distance of 40 to 50 km. This unusual rocky structure attracted the attention of geologists since its discovery. It is called by different names by different workers viz. ‘Ramgarh structure’, ‘Ramgarh meteoritic structure’, ‘Ramgarh ring structure’, ‘Ramgarh dome’, ‘Ramgarh dome structure’, ‘Ramgarh astrobleme’, etc. It falls in Survey of India toposheet 54 C/ 11 and is situated about 110 km ENE of Kota. It can be approached via Jaipur-Tonk-Indergarh-Mangrol, Alwar-Gangapur-Sawai Madhopur-Sheopur-Mangrol and Kota-Baran-Mangrol road routes.

Physiography:
On regional scale the area forms part of Kota plateau. The Ramgarh ring structure forms a pronounced 150 to 200 m geomorphic high in the form of circular hill with an elevation of 440 m above MSL. It has raised rim and a circular depression in its centre forming a plain with average elevation of 260 m above MSL. The surrounding plain is 240 m above MSL. The diameter of the ring structure is 3.2 km. A small river, located in the southwestern opening of the hill, forms part of the drainage of south to north flowing Paarvati River located 4 km in the west. A number of small rills and gulleys with radial/ centripetal drainage towards the centre are developed in the area.

What we found:

1.   A beautiful temple at least 1000 years old with very interesting sculptures.

2.   A beautiful lake with so many birds

3.   The area is having an amazing floral composition.

4.   Some old hunter told me that area is having many honey badgers (heard first time that some place is famous for honey baders no idea it is true or not).

There are so many people who did wonderful work on this. The site should be promoted a tourists destination………