Ujjain Travel Guide

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Location:
Situated at a distance of 56 km from Indore, the ancient town of Ujjain is one of the holiest cities for Hindus. It is situated on the bank of the sacred river Shipra in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

About Ujjain
Situated on the banks of the river Shipra, regarded since times immemorial as sacred. Ujjain, stands glamorously among many other Indian sacred and holy cities. The early history of Ujjain is lost in the midst of antiquity. According to ancient Hindu scriptures it was originally called Avantika. later King Shiva of Avanti commemorating his triumph over the demon king of Tripuri, changed it to Ujjainyini (one who conquers with pride). Today, Ujjain represents an interesting blend of an age old legacy and the modern day lifestyle.

Getting There:
Air : Nearest airport is Indore (55 km) which is connected by flights with Delhi, Gwalior, Bhopal and Mumbai.
Rail : Ujjain is a railway station on the Bhopal-Nagada sector of the Western Railway.
Road : Regular bus services connect Ujjain with Indore, Bhopal, Ratlam, Gwalior, Mandu, Dhar and Omkareshwar.

Tourist Attractions:
Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir:
Above the tank near the Mahakaleshwar Temple, the large ornate statue of Ganesh here makes this temple a popular pilgrimage spot.

Navagraha Mandir (Triveni)
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.

Chintaman Ganesh Temple:
On the opposite bank of of the River Shipra, this temple of considerable antiquity and a popular place of pilgrimage, the idol here is believed to be self formed. The artistically carved pillars of the assembly hall date back to the Parmara Periods.

Ved Shala:
The Observatory,extant today, was built by Raja Jai singh(1669-1743), who was a great scholer. He translated the works of Ptolemy amd Euclid in to Sanskrit from Arabic. Of the many observatories built by him at Jaipur, Delhi, Varanasi, Mathura, and Ujjain, The one at Ujjain is The one which is stil in use actively. Astronomical studies are conducted through the department of education and ephemeris is published every year. There is a small planetarium and a telescope to observe the Moon, Mars, Jupiter and their satellites. The observatoory is also used for weather forecasts.

Bhartrihari Caves:
According to legends, the caves on the banks of the river Shipra near Gadkalika Temple are where the great scholar poet Bhartrihari lived and meditated.

The Mahakaleshwar temple :
The Mahakaleshwar temple at Ujjain is located near a lake; it has five levels, one of which is underground.The temple itself is located in a spacious courtyard surrounded by massive walls. The shikhara is adorned with sculptural finery. Brass lamps light the way to the underground sanctum. It is believed that prasada offered here to the deity can be re-offered unlike all other shrines.

Harsiddhi Temple
Another important shrine with the image of Goddess Annapurna.

Vikram Kirti Mandir:
This Mandir has the Scindia Oriental Research Institute, an archaeological museum and an art gallery. Actually, a cultural centre, it is dedicated to the memory of King Vikramaditya - the much honoured King of Ujjain.