Lunkaransar salt lake is a lake in the namesake town in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan, India. Lunkaransar lake in Rajasthan is a playa lake formed due to deflation. It is most well known as the stopover on the flight path of migratory birds from Central Asia, Europe and Russia. Unlike Khichan, the Lunkaransar salt lake is not so popular with bird watch enthusiast or ornoithologist, eventhough Lunkaransar attracts thousands of birds during the season.
Lunkaransar, most popular for groundnuts, olive production in Rajasthan, got its name from salt which is called “Lun” in the local language. There once was a salt lake at this location next to the highway. Lunkaransar is located on the Bikaner-Sri Ganganagar highway road and is famed for groundnut and olive oil production. Legend goes that the salt lake of Lunkaransar has a connection with Karna, one of the greatest warrior from the Mahabharat era.
Lunkaransar Salt Lake is famous for salt production & migrant birds. This Salt Lake has located 1 km from the town. Best way to reach Lunkaransar is from Bikaner Civil Airport which is the closest airport located 83 Km from this city. Jaipur International Airport is located 334 Km away. Lunkaransar railway station located 1 km from the city centre provides connection to Bikaner Railway Station which is located 73 Kms away. Lunkaransar can also be reached by bus, taxi from every major city in Rajasthan.
Birds – Demoiselle Cranes & Greater Flamingo
As the winter starts, Lunkaransar lake sees arrival of the beautiful bird ‘Greater Flamingo’ besides thousands of Demoiselle Cranes. But the Greater Flamingo bird is registering its distinct presence. The Greater Flamingo likes to live in saltwater and they come to Lunkaransar in search of food in winter and reproduce in laerge numbers. This bird, which is the largest of the six castes of the flamingo family, is basically associated with the European country and South Asia. But in India, they can be seen in flocks in many places, through Gujarat and Rajasthan belt nowadays. They live exclusively in coastal areas and salt water lakes of Pakistan, Central and South America, Caribbean and Southern Europe. A skilled swimmer flamingo bird in large numbers can be seen by people passing through the highway.
The dried up salt lake bed and the surrounding areas are excellent places to see variety of birds like Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Greater Flamingo, Barhededguz, and Demoiselle Cranes in large numbers seen in there thousands. Some other bird species seen on the lake are in dozens are Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Little Swift, Eurasian Moorhen, Black-winged Stilt, Red-wattled Lapwing, Ruff, Little Stint, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Redshank, and many more. the presence of many species of birds makes Lunkaransar salt lake a must visit for tourist, nature lovers and birdwatchers, if visiting Rajastha; however very few people visit it yet.
Lunkaransar is a small, closed, dry basin surrounded by sand dunes at the northeastern margin of the Thar desert. Lunkaransar lake is considered as a refuge for foreign birds. However, the existence of the lake is in danger. The lake is built next to the city, due to expansion of the city, dirty water falls in this lake through the drainage system, due to which the water of the lake has started turning black. Dead animals also appear here in large numbers. As a result, the lake is sometimes full of terrible smell. Birds are afraid of the danger of survival. If this system of drainage of dirty water in the lake remains, the Lunkaransar birdwatching site will one day have to fight for existence.
Besides birdwatching the lake is also worth visiting for watching stunning sunrise and sunset, though there are not many good accommodation facilities in the town. Other places worth visiting in and around Lunkaransar include Kalika Mata temple, a beautiful temple dedicated to Goddess Kali in Lunkaransar. It is located 20 km south of this city. It is also known as Kalu Wali Maa because it is placed in Kalu village in the Lunkaransar tehsil. Also worth visiting is the Abhivyakti handicraft showroom that was open in 1991 and is located in the Bikaner city. Tourist can visit this shop that sells variety of Rajasthani arts and handicraft collection and is mentioned by many international publications as an ideal place to buy souvenirs for handicraft lovers.
