About Ujjain
HOME / ABOUT UJJAINUjjain is an ancient city beside the Kshipra River in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. An important Hindu pilgrimage destination, it’s known for the centuries-old Mahakaleshwar Temple, a towering structure with a distinctively ornate roof. Nearby, Bade Ganesh Temple houses a colorful statue of Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu deity. Harsiddhi Temple features a pair of tall dark pillars studded with lamps.
Fairs & Festivals
Almost all the major Hindu festivals are celebrated here. Having one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, Maha Shivratri is a big event here. Thousand of pilgrims flock to the fair grounds near the Mahakal temple to worship Lord Shiva.
The Simhastha Kumbh Mela is a mammoth fair held once in twelve years. The magnificence of the bathing ritual is seen at its best during this fair at Ujjain.
Tourist Attractions
One of the holiest of Hindu cities, Ujjain has a plethora of temples that are spread all over the town. The most notable are the Bhaironath (the liquor drinking deity) temple; Mangalnath temple, situated at the place where the first meridian is said to pass the earth; Chintaman Ganesh, the temple said to have been established by Lord Ram himself; Har Siddhi Mata, the family goddess of King Vikramaditya; and deep in the bazaar, Gopal Mandir, a Krishna temple. A popular local saying has it that even if one came with two cart loads of grain and offered only one handful at each temple one would still run short of offering.
While Mahakal is undoubtedly the presiding deity of Ujjain, the other gods of the Hindu pantheon are also well represented in the hundreds of other temples all over the town. One of the major attractions of the town is the Bhasma Aarti held every dawn at the Mahakal temple. In this ritual, the master of cosmic time is propitiated with ash from a cremation ground, the ash being symbolic of the end of a particular manifestation of existential time.
Apart from the temples, the other buildings of Ujjain merit far more than a casual look. “Its houses are like palaces and its palaces are like mountains,” wrote Kalidasa, and even today that observation is not very far off the mark. Ujjain is quite simply a traveler’s dream destination, one that should not be seen in hurry but savored slowly.
Ujjain Darshan
Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga
Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingams, which are supposed to be the most sacred abodes of Lord Shiva. It is located in the ancient city of Ujjain in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. The temple is situated on the side of the Rudra Sagar lake. The presiding deity, Lord Shiva in the lingam form is believed to be Swayambhu, deriving currents of power (Shakti) from within itself as against the other images and lingams that are ritually established and invested with mantra-shakti.
Bade Ganeshji Temple
Bade Ganeshji Temple is one of the famous temples of Ujjain. It is known by the name Bade Ganeshji because in temple there is a big artistic idol of Ganeshji in the temple. It feels really great to have a vision of Lord Ganesha. It is approximately 1 km from Ujjain railway station and it is a few steps away from the Mahakaleshwar temple. There is a rule of learning astrology and Sanskrit in this temple. The temple opens at 5 am and closed at 7 pm. A large number of visitors come here for the darshan of elephant headed Lord Ganesha.
Harsiddhi Mataji Temple
Harsiddhi Temple is one of the most famous shakti peeth among all the shakti peeths of our country. It is located in Ujjain near Shipra River. The idol of Mata Harshiddhi is wonderful and beautiful. It gives a Devotional emotion after vision of God. In temple there are 3 Goddess one on top of another. The 3 Goddess are Annapurna, Mahalakshni and Mahasarswati. It is believed that King VikramAditya was a great devotee of Harsidhhi Mata. Outside the temple there are two pillars are there in pin shape which when are lighted gives a wonderful look due to its lit.
Char Dham Temple
Ujjain is famous for its temples and unique places. One of the most beautiful temples of Ujjain is Char Dham Temple. The reason of its popularity is that, it is a place where you can feel of visiting all the four Chardhams Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. It is located behind the Mahakaleshwar temple. The temple is open for visitors from morning 5 am to 9 pm in the night. There might me a change in timings during festivals. The distance between the Chardham Temple and railway station is about 11.882 kilometer. Any visitor can reach the temple by taking car or any means of transportation approximately in 30 minutes.
Sandipani Ashram
Sandipani Ashram is the most ancient and one of the popular ashrams of Ujjain. It is named after the great Saint or Maharishi Sandipani. Maharishi Sandipani was the Guru of Lord Shri Krishna, Balram and Sudama. Within the Ashram there are temples which are dedicated to Lord Shiva and this temple is different from all other Lord Shiva’s temple because in this temple Nandi is standing in front of Lord Shiva. Gomati kund is also there in the ashram which is the source of water supply to the ashram from ancient times. Footprints are also there in the ashram and it is believed that these footprints are of Bhagwan Shri Krishna.
Mangalnath Temple
Mangal Nath Temple is one of the famous temples of Ujjain. According to the ancient records it is believed that it is place of birth of the planet Mars. Mangalnath Temple has a vital importance in terms of Jyotish as meridian passes through the city of Ujjain. Mangalnath Temple is also famous for the bhaat (rice)pooja . Bhaat Pooja is specially taken into consideration for those peoples who have some flaws in their kundli related to planet mars. It is also believed that whatever wish you make here comes true. In Mangal Nath Temple planet mars is worshiped in the form of Shiv Ling.
Kal Bhairava Temple
Ujjain is the city of miracles, every day a new miracle happens here. Kal Bhairava Temple is the temple of Lord Bhairava situated in Bhairavagarh of Ujjain and gives a sense of peace after visiting. It is 8 km away from the main city. Shiva in this temple of Ujjain dwells in his Bhairava format. It is a common believe that Lord Kal Bhairava loves to have Liquor as dainty therefore it is plated to him. Also Kal Bhairava is known for removing planetary barriers. It is also a belief that Kal Bhairava has a boon of being worshiped before the Lord Shiva.
Gadkalika Mataji Temple
Another Shakti Peeth in Ujjain city is Gadkalika Temple. In Gadkalika Temple, Mata Kalika is worshiped and it is believed that the upper lip of Devi Sati was fallen at that place. It is located 2 miles away from the city. The idol of Gadkalika Devi in the temple is different from other Kalika’s idol such that it is in saffron color rather than black color. Poet Kalidaswas a great devotee of Gadkalika Maa and he had written all about the Gadkalika only by the grace of Gadkalika Devi on him. Within the temple there is a beautiful and ancient idol of Ganesha is established. Raja Harshavardhan had renovated the temple.
Bhartrihari Caves
The Bhartrihari Caves named after the step brother Raja Vikramaditya. These caves are located near the holy river Shipra. Bhartrihari lived his lavish life of Mahal and charge himself as hermit because of the conflicts in his family life. He had written Shringarshataka, Vairagyashataka, and Nitishataka there in these caves .These caves are one of the best examples of natural caves. There are sculptures on the walls of the cave which defines many ancient things of about that time. A large of number of visitors came here for the visit of Caves as it is near to the river Shipra.
Siddhavat Temple
Siddhvat Temple is one of the temples in Ujjain, where the activities related to funeral and serenity of their ancestors are executed. The opening time of temple is 4 a.m. in the morning and therefore visitors have to wait in line for the vision of God from around 2-3 hours ago the opening time. After opening pooja in Siddhvat temple takes place using milk and is known as Dhughdabihshek. A lot of visitors came here on Sarvapitra Amavashya for refrigeration of their ancestor’s soul. Also religious activities like Pitradaan and Pind daan are acted upon for the serenity of their ancestor’s soul.
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