The lake was first mentioned in ancient scriptures such as the Skanda Purana, the Padma Puran and the Aaina-i-Akbari. The first European to visit the lake was British officer, J.E. Alexander in 1823. Buldhana district in Maharashtra, where the lake is located, was once part of Ashoka’s empire and then of Satavahana’s. The Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas also ruled this area. During the period of the Mughals, Yadavas, Nizam and the British, trade prospered in this area. Several temples found on the periphery of the Lake are known as Yadava temples and also as Hemadpanti temples (named after Hemadri Ramgaya). This depression was formed many many years ago. Some 50,000 years ago, there was a huge meteor, which fell on the earth from space. The impact of the fall was so tremendously huge that a huge bowl shaped crater was carved in the earth. This was 7 km in circumference and 1.8 km in diameter. This is supposed to be the largest and oldest meteoric crater in the entire world. The nearest rival here is the Canyon Diabolo of Arizona in the United States. You can also see peafowls that have made the crater their home. You will also find lots of migratory birds.