How to Reach Ujjain

Reach Ujjain By Air: Ujjain doesn't have an airport of its personal The nearby airport is the 'Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport', in Indore, which is only 55 km away.

Reach Ujjain By Road:   Main roadways like Maksi Road, Indore Road, Dewas Road, Agra Road connect Ujjain to further places of India. The two bus stations of the lay are the Dewas Gate and NanaKheda. There is enough bus connectivity from 

• Delhi to Ujjain - 774 km 
• Bombay to Ujjain - 655 km
• Ahmedabad to Ujjain - 402 km
• Bhopal to Ujjain - 183 km
• Mandu to Ujjain - 158 km
• Indore to Ujjain - 53 km
• Gwalior to Ujjain - 451 km.

Regular bus services available from  Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Mandu, etc.

Reach Ujjain By Train:  Ujjain Junction Railway Station is main train Junction falling on the Bhopal-Nagada rail way. Some of the main express trains stopping at Ujjain are Narmada Express, Avantika Express, Indore-Pune Express and the Malwa Express. 

Best Time to Visit Ujjain: The best time to visit Ujjain is between September to February.

Summer Season in Ujjain
The summer season in Ujjain starts from the months of March and then it ends in the month of June. The summer season of the city is very hoty  and the temperature soar up to a maximum temperature of 48°Celcius that generates hot winds known as the loo in the afternoon.
 

Monsoon Season ( Best Time to Visit Ujjain)
Monsoon season in the city usually starts from the month of June to September which generally offers moderate rainfalls.
 

Winter Season ( Also good time to visit Ujjain)
This season starts during November to February are pleasant and cool in daytime with maximum temperatures of about 20°C. Nights become chilly with a minimum of 3°C.

Temples in Ujjain

Mahakaleshwar Temple - Ujjain
The presiding deity of time, Shiva, in all his splendour reigns eternal in Ujjain. The temple of Mahakaleshwar, its shikhara soaring into the skies, evokes primordial awe and reverence with its majesty. The Mahakal dominates the life of the city and its people, even in the midst of the busy routine of modern preoccupation's, and provides an unbreakable link with past traditions. The presiding deity of time, Shiva, in all his splendour reigns eternal in Ujjain. 

Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir - Ujjain

This temple situated above the tank near the Mahakaleshwar temple, enshrines a huge artistic sculpture of Ganesh, the son of Shiva. An idol of this size and beauty is rarely to be found. The middle of the temple is adorned by an idol of the pancha-mukhi (five faced) Hanuman. There is provision for learning of Sanskrit and Astrology in the temple.

Chintaman Ganesh - Ujjain

The temple is built across the Shipra on the Fatehabad railway line. The Ganesh idol enshrined here is supposed to be swayambhu - born of itself. The temple itself is believed to be of considerable antiquity. Riddhi and Siddhi, the consorts of Ganesha, are seated on either side of Ganesha. The artistically carved pillars in the assembly hall date back to the Paramara period. Worshippers throng to this temple because the deity here is traditionally known as Chintaharan Ganesh meaning "the assurer of freedom from worldly anxieties".

Pir Matsyendranath - Ujjain

This is an extremely attractive spot on the banks of the Shipra quite close to the Bhartihari Caves and the Gadkalika Temple. It is dedicated to the memory of one of the great leaders of the Natha sect of Saivism-Matsyendranath. Since Muslims as well as the followers of the Natha sect call their saints 'pir', the ancient site of Pir Matsyendranath is venerated by both. Excavations at this site have yielded some antiquities which date back to the 6th and 7th century BC.

Bhartrihari Caves - Ujjain

These caves are situated just above the bank of the Shipra near the temple of Gadkalika. According to popular tradition, this is the spot where Bhartrihari, who is said to have been the step brother of Vikramaditya, lived and meditated after renouncing worldly life. He is believed to have been a great scholar and poet. His famous works, Shringarshatak, Vairagyashatak, and Nitishatak, are known for the exquisite use of the Sanskrit meter. These caves are situated just above the bank of the Shipra near the temple of Gadkalika. 

Kaliadeh Palace - Ujjain

Situated on the banks of the Shipra, the island-like site immediately conjures up the natural beauty of ancient Ujjain which poets down the ages have waxed lyrical. The glorious landscape of the flowing river on both sides of the palace and the man-made tanks and channels, with water gurgling through them, provide  spec-    -tacular backdrop to the imposing building. The central dome of the palace is a beautiful example of Persian architecture. Two Persian inscriptions found in one of the long corridors of the palace record the visits of Emperor Akbar and Jehangir to this palace. The palace was broken down in the time of the Pindaris and was restored by Madhav Rao Scindia in 1920 to its present glory. The Sun Temple was also restored by the family. 

Harsiddhi Temple - Ujjain

This temple occupies a special place in the galaxy of ancient sacred spots of Ujjain. Seated between the idols of Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati, the idol of Annapurna is painted in dark vermilion colour. The Sri Yantra, the symbol of power or shakti, is also enshrined in the temple. According to the Shiva Purana, when Shiva carried away the burning body of Sati from the sacrificial fire, her elbow dropped at this place.

There is an interesting legend in the Skanda Purana about the manner in which the Goddess Chandi acquired the epithet of Harsiddhi. Once when Shiva and Parvati were alone on Mount Kailash, two demons called Chand and Prachand tried to force their way in. Shiva called upon Chandi to destroy them which she did. Pleased, Shiva bestowed upon her the epithet of 'one who vanquishes all'. The temple was reconstructed during the Maratha period and the two pillars adorned with lamps are special features of Maratha art. These lamps, lit during Navaratri, present a glorious spectacle. There is an ancient well on the premises, and an artistic pillar adorns the top of it.

Gopal Mandir - Ujjain
This huge temple is situated in the middle of the big market square. It was constructed by Bayajibai Shinde, the queen of Maharajah Daulat Rao Shinde in the 19th century. It is a beautiful example of Maratha architecture. The sanctum sanctorum is inlaid with marble and doors are silver plated. The door in the inner sanctum is said to have been carried to Ghazni from the Somnath temple and from thence by Mahmud Shah Abdali to Lahore. Mahadji Scindia recovered it and now it has been installed in this temple. 

Navagraha Mandir (Triveni) - Ujjain
Situated on the Triveni Ghat of the Shipra, the temple is located away from the old site of Ujjaini town. It is dedicated to the nine planets, attracts large crowds on new moon days falling on Saturdays. Its religious importance has increased in recent years though there is no known reference to it in the ancient texts. 

The Vedha Shala (Observatory) - Ujjain

Ujjain enjoyed a position of considerable importance in the field of astronomy. Great works on astronomy such as the Surya Siddhanta and the Panch Siddhanta were written in Ujjain. According to Indian astronomers, the Tropic of Cancer is supposed to pass through Ujjain. It is also the fist meridian of longitude of the Hindu geographers. From about the 4th century BC, Ujjain enjoyed the reputation of being India's Greenwich. The observatory extant today was built by Raja Jai Singh (1686-1743), who was a great scholar. He translated the works of Ptolemy and Euclid into Sanskrit from Arabic. Of the many observatories built by him at Jaipur, Delhi, Varanasi, Mathura, and Ujjain, the one at Ujjain is still in use actively. Astronomical studies are conducted through the Department of Education and the ephemeris is published every year. There is a small planetarium and a telescope to observe the moon, Mars, Jupiter and their satellites. The observatory is also used for weather forecasts. 

Sandipani Ashram
The fact that ancient Ujjain apart from its political and religious importance, enjoyed the reputation of being a great seat of learning as early as the Mahabharata period is borne out by the fact that, Lord Krishna and Sudama received regular instruction in the ashram of Guru Sandipani. The area near the ashram is known as Ankapata, popularly believed to have been the place used by Lord Krishna for washing his writing tablet. The numerals 1 to 100 found on a stone are believed to have been engraved by Guru Sandipani.

Treasure Bazaar Ujjain
A multi-sensory experience of latest brands, Treasure Bazaar located in the vicinity of Nanakheda Bus Stand is the first & largest shopping mall of Ujjain. It’s not just another mall in just another location, but the ultimate destination to savour an ambience where you can spend a whole day out enjoying shopping, exciting cuisines and playing games.

Moreover, Treasure Bazaar also makes a flamboyant corporate address accommodating modern office spaces.Mind boggling… fully air-cooled with 100 % power back up, escalators, adequate car parking facilities and mall management by top-notch professionals. A magnificent glass façade building of 4 floors with construction spreading in lac sq ft; a unique structure that is a living and dynamic entity in sync with times.

A Fun-day Out

Treasure Bazaar offers an unrivalled mix of local, national and international labels and flagship stores like Domino’s , Krrish, Planet Fashion, Peter England, John Players, MSL Footwear etc. Funscapes, the amusement zone on 2nd floor offers a variety of games including those which are played on electronic platforms.

The splendid Food Court spread open in 11 thousand sq feet offers South Indian, Continental, Chinese, Mexican, Indian, Chat etc with all variants of beverages. Besides these, you can do a lot over a coffee at Café Coffee Day located in atrium of the mall.

Treasure Bazaar has become a ‘must visit’ destination for all the people visting Mahakaal temple to drop in there.

Hotels in Ujjain

• Hotel Grand Tower - Ujjain

                   Ranked #1 of 14 hotels in Ujjain

• Hotel Muskan Palace - Ujjain

                   Ranked #2 of 14 hotels in Ujjain

• Shipra Residency - Ujjain

                   Ranked #3 of 14 hotels in Ujjain

• Hotel Pleasure Landmark - Ujjain

                   Ranked #4 of 14 hotels in Ujjain

• Hotel Satyam - Ujjain

                   Ranked #5 of 14 hotels in Ujjain

• Vikramaditya Hotel - Ujjain

                   Ranked #6 of 14 hotels in Ujjain

• Hotel Avantika - Ujjain

                       Ranked #7 of 14 hotels in Ujjain

B&B inns in Ujjain

• Hotel Raj Palace - Ujjain

                 Ranked #1 of 10 Ujjain B&B and Inns

• Hotel Mittal Avenue - Ujjain

                 Ranked #2 of 10 Ujjain B&B and Inns

• Hotel Anand Palace -Ujjain

                 Ranked #3 of 10 Ujjain B&B and Inns

• Kanha Hotel - Ujjain

                 Ranked #5 of 10 Ujjain B&B and Inns

• Suggested Tour package Itinarary for Ujjain Pilgrimage
• Route : Bhopal » Ujjain » Indore » Omkareshwar » Maheshwar » Mandu  
  Suggested Duration : 4 days

Ujjain Tour package Itinarary

Day 01Arrival at Bhopal -Sanchi

Morning  Arrival  at  Bhopal. Pick  up  &  Transfer  to  Hotel.  Check  in  to  Hotel. After  fresh  n  up departure to Sanchi. Sightseeing of Sanchi -The World Heritage Site” Visit all Stupas in Sanchi, Monasteries, Temples and Pillars, Sightseeing of Bhojpur and another World Heritage Site “Bhimbetika caves”. Overnight stay at the Bhopal hotel.

Day 02 Bhopal to Ujjain
Morning  Departure  to  Ujjain-  Arrive  at  Ujjain.  Check  in  to  Hotel. Visit  to  some  Famous  temples Mahakaleshwar Temple,  Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir, Harsiddhi Temple, Sandipani Ashram etc. Night Stay at Ujjain Hotel.
 

Day 03 Ujjain-Mandu
Early Morning visit to Mahakaleshwar Temple to attain the “Bhasm Aarti” – Departure to Mandu.Full Day Sightseeing of Mandu The Darwazas, The Royal Enclave Jahaz Mahal, Hindola Mahal , Hoshang 
Shah's Tomb , Jami Masjid, Roopmati's Pavilion, Rewa Kund - N/s at Mandu.
 
Day 04 Mandu-Omkareshwar
 Morning  Departure  to  Omkareshwar,  On  the  Way  Sightseeing  of  Maheshwar  Temple. Arrival at Omkareshwar Visit to Omkareshwar & Mamleshwar Jyotirlinga Have a holy Bath in Narmada 

River  of  Omkareshwar  temple. Eve  departure  to  Bhopal. Local  Sightseeing  places  like  BhopalLake, Birla Temple & Museums. Night stay at Bhopal hotel.& Morning drop to railway Station.

Main Religious Events in Ujjain

Festive occasions and fairs are an important part of the lives of people in Ujjain. Kumbh : An ancient religious centre, Ujjain is famous for the Kumbh Mela, a month-long fair attended by thousands of Hindu devotees. Locally known as Sinhast,the fair is held every 12 years, beginning on the full moon in the month of Chaitra (March-April) when Jupiter is in Scorpio and the Sun is in Aries.

The Ardha Kumbh(half Kumbh) is held every six years. Legend has it that a kumbh (pot) containing nectar arose from the depths of the ocean because of a tug-of-war between the gods and the demons. The ocean was churned with the help of the snake Vasuki, and Mount Meru. 
A fight broke out between the gods and the demons over the pot of nectar. In the ensuing conflict, drops of nectar fell on the places that are now Prayag(Allahabad), Nasik, Hardwar and Ujjain.

ShivaRatri The age-old festival of Shivaratriis dedicated to Shiva, the Destroyer in the Hindu Holy Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer. Devotees flock to the temples at dawn and make special offerings of berries and belpatra or leaves of the wood apple. The Shiva linga (Shiva’s symbolic phallus) is bathed with milk and honey and worshipped on Shivaratri.

Centre of Cultural Activities - Madhya Pradesh tourism also promotes other cultural activities held in Ujjain. The state is the centre of cultural activities and festivals such as the Malwa Utsav, a festival of folk and classical music, and theAll IndiaKalidasa Festival. These festivals are held annually in Ujjain by the government of Madhya Pradesh. Dedicated to the 4th century poet Kalidasa, the Kalidasa Festival honours the creative talent of authors, poets and playwrights. 
Moreover, the Theatre Academy of Madhya Pradesh also has its centre at Ujjain.