Ujjain is an ancient city in Madhya Pradesh. It is known for its religious significance and rich cultural heritage.
Ujjain is one of the most sought after places to visit for religious tourists and devotees. This holy city’s landscape is dotted with a large number of temples and places of worship which attract great number of visitors on a daily basis. One of its main attractions that make it famous among hindu devotees is the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, that is organised here after every 12 years and is visited by thousands of devotees.
Apart from this, it can be well understood that all major attractions here are mostly of religious significance. One of the most popular temples of Ujjain is the Mahakaleshwar temple, also known as the Mahakal Shrine, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the 12 jyotirlingas and houses a shivling, which is said to be the only shivling facing south. As a result of this, this place is also known by the name Dakshinmukhi, which means south-looking ling.
While you are here, do not miss out visiting the Kal Bhairava temple, which is the main Bhairava temple. A little background to this story goes like this: according to the beliefs of the Saivite culture, there are eight Bhairavas that are treated with great respect and the Kal Bhairava is the chief one among them. It has been also mentioned in the Skanda Purana and is said to have been built by the monarch Bhadrasen on the banks of river Shipra. Another noteworthy place to visit here is the Bade Ganeshji ka Mandir, which lies close to the Mahakaleshwar temple itself. The temple houses an aesthetic and enormous statue of Lord Ganesha.
If you are a history lover, it might be a great thing to visit the Bhartrihari caves that lies very close to the gadkalika Mandir. These caves are located on the banks of river Shipra and are cited in hindu mythology as the place where the half-brother of Vikramaditya stayed and engaged in spiritual contemplation after giving up his material life. This is one of the most sought after places to visit in Ujjain and attracts a lot of history freaks and spiritual seekers. You can also visit the Vedha Shala, which means an observatory, that was constructed by Raja Jai Singh the second and is ranked among the five observation towers of the country. It is a symbol of the scientific advancement during the ancient times and is one of the oldest astronomical tools of our nation.
The northern part of Ujjain is home to the historic mansion of the regal Scindia clan of Madhya Pradesh. It is known by the name Kaliadeh Palace and was owned by the royal family. You can also head to the Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan Temple that is regarded as a milestone of Kare Krishna Campaign. It was established by the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and it also has a guesthouse and an eating place that serves sattvik food to its devotees. You can head to the large number of hotels in Ujjain to enjoy a comfortable stay in this city.