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INTRODUCTION

Ujjain is considered to be one of the most sacred pilgrimage destinations and the other prominent feature of this place is the Sinhasth Kumbha which is happening from times immemorial. This place has been a cradle of Indian ethos for a long time.Ujjain lies on the banks of the holy river Shipra and is also considered as one of the important site for most of the astronomers and observatories for Ujjain is situated at the prime meridian of longitude .

It had been a great centre of art and learning, being associated with legendary poet kalidas.Ujjain has many temples of which the Mahakaleshwar dedicated to Lord Shiva is of great antiquity and it also enshrines one of the 12 holy jyotirlingas.It is here in Ujjain once in every 12 years the Kumbha Mela is held on the banks of river Shirpa.

HISTORY

The city of Ujjain situated on the banks of the Kshipra River in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh has a got a very significant history attached to it. There are mentions about Ujjain in the epic Mahabharatha as Ujjayini and it was the capital of the Avanti Kingdom. It was once the residence of the great emperor Ashoka during his period as a viceroy in the western provinces of the Maurya Empire. During the post Mauryan period the Sungas and the Satavahanas ruled Ujjain subsequently.

There was a great competition On Ujjain between the Satavahanas and the Indo-Scythian Sakas but however with the fall of the Satavahana dynasty, the Sakas took over the city and ruled it from the 2nd to the 4th century CE.The Guptas overtook the Sakas and Ujjain remained under the dynasty of the former. In 1235, the Delhi sultanate Iltutmish invaded the city who destroyed a number of temples. Later Ujjan came under the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar and then the city became the capital of the Malwas.Ujjain had also been a major centre of mathematics and astronomical research in the 6th and 7th centuries.

LOCATION

Ujjain on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River is situated in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh state.Ujjain is located at 23.182778N and 75.777222E.

BEST SEASON

The best season to visit Ujjain is September to March.

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela locally known as Sinhast is celebrated at Mahakaleshwar temple once in every twelve years on the full moon day in the month of Chaitra (March-April) when Jupiter is in Scorpio and the Sun is in Aries. During this mela people especially the Hindu devotees throng this place from different parts of the country. The other mela celebrated here is the Ardha Kumbh once in every six years. The legend behind this ardha mela is 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.

Mahashivratri

Mahashivratri is the most awaited festival of the devotees of Lord Shiva remain awake on the preceding night listening to hymns and sacred texts. This festival marks the wedding of Lord Shiva with Parvathi.On this day the lingam of Kandariya Mahadeo temple is dressed as a bridegroom, with white and saffron dhotis with crown on his head. The completion of the wedding is indicated by the throwing of bel leaves and flower petals over the lingam.

Dance Festival

A week long festival of classical dance is held featuring the best artist of the country. It is an amazing 7 day festival set against the famous temple of Khajuraho.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir

Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir is situated near the tank of Mahakaleshwar Temple. The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Ganesha, who has a huge and grand statue in the temple complex. This idol is supposed to be the biggest statue of Lord Ganesha in India. The other attraction of the temple is that it houses a Panchmukhi image of Lord Hanuman. Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir is a place which should not be missed.

Mahakaleshwar

The Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain is dedicated to Lord Shiva is of great antiquity and it also enshrines one of the 12 holy jyotirlingas.The main feature of this temple is that it divided into 5 levels of which one is underground division. The passage to this area is fully lit up with brass lamps giving a gorgeous look.

The Shikhara of the Mahakaleshwar temple is noted for its architecture. It is here in Mahakaleshwar temple once in every 12 years the Kumbha Mela is held on the banks of river Shirpa.

Vikram Kirti Mandir

Vikram Kirti Mandir established on the second millennium of Vikram era serves as the cultural center to immortalize the memory of King Vikramaditya.The Scindia Oriental Research Institute situated in this campus has a collection of nearly 18,000 rare manuscripts in different fields. Apart from this the cultural center accommodates an archaeological museum which has inscriptions, copper plates and fossils that were found in Narmada valley. There is also an art gallery which has paintings belonging to the Rajput and Mughal period. There is a big auditorium here and the most attracting feature of this cultural centre is a huge elephant skull which is sure to leave you spell bound.

Bhartrihari Caves

Bhartrihari Caves named after the saint Bhartrihari is situated near the Gadhkalika Temple on the banks of the river Shipra has become an important tourist destination. The saint Bhartrihari who was the step brother of King Vikramaditya meditated here for a long time after renouncing all worldly possessions and relations.

Kailadeh Palace

The Kailadeh Palace belonging to the Mandu rulers was built in the year 1458 with the Persian style of architecture. But however in course of time the palace got collapsed which was then again brought back to shape in 1920 by Maharaja Madhav Rao Scindia I. The Kailadeh Palace is situated is situated in a place of scenic beauty on an island in Shipra river at a distance of about 8 km from the town of Ujjain.

The Vedha Shala (Observatory)

The Vedha Shala Observatory was built by Raja Jai Singh (1686-1743), who was a great scholar and built a number of observatories like this in Jaipur, Delhi, Varanasi and Mathura.There are various astronomical studies done here in this observatory by the education board. There is a small planetarium and a telescope to observe the moon, Mars, Jupiter and their satellites.

weather forecasting is also done in this Vedha Shala.The other important significance of ujjain is that it is situated at the prime meridian of longitude by Indian astronomers and the Tropic of Cancer is supposed to pass through Ujjain.

Indore

Indore is one of the biggest city in the state of Madhya Pradesh and is popularly called as"Mini Mumbai". The name Indore of the city was derived from a temple named Indreshwar temple. When the state of Madhya Pradesh was ruled by the Holkars they had Indore as its capital. The place has long been a home of cricketers producing international legends like the celebrated C.K.Naidu.

Kanha National Park

The Kanha National Park is spread over an area of about 1,945 sq. km in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India and is surrounded by hills formed as a result of geographically ancient volcanic activity. The Kanha National Park which was created in 1955 by a special law is always compared to the N'Gorongoro National Park of Tanzania in Africa. Apart from the wildlife this sanctuary is also noted for its serene beauty and landscape. It also takes the pride of one of the earliest protected areas selected for "Project Tiger" in the country. The Kanha National Park which draws a major tourist crowd is also a good source of revenue for the state for the sanctuary is very much towards the preservation of variety of animal species.

Orchha

Orchha founded in the 16th century by Bundela Rajput chief,Rudra Pratap,who chose this stretch of land along the river Betwa as an ideal site for his capital. This is a beautiful historical spot with its palaces, temples, forts, parks, cenotaphs etc. Its grandeur has been captured in stone, frozen in time, a rich legacy to the ages.

The fascinating temples, forts and palaces built here by the Bundela rulers in the 16th and the 17th centuries retain much of their pristine perfection. The word Orchha means 'hidden'.

SHOPPING

Ujjain is quite famous for the intricate tribal paintings, tribal metal wares, bamboo articles and pottery. Apart from this the contemporary and modern products like electronic goods, flowers and books and many other small gifts for you dear ones can also be got from Ujjain.One should not fail to buy the stone images that are very famous here.

GETTING THERE

By Air

Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport in Indore is the nearest airport to Ujjain, which is situated 55 km away. Indore is air connected to major cities in India by public and private domestic airlines. Indore is connected to places like Jaipur, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Bhopal and Chennai. Taxi services are available from Indore airport to Ujjain, costing about Rs 1000. International travelers can get connecting flights to Indore from Delhi (800 km) or Mumbai (655 km) airport.

By Bus

Ujjain is well connected by state road transport public bus services. Regular bus services are available from Indore (55 km), Gwalior (450 km), Ahmedabad (400 km) and Bhopal (183 km) to Ujjain. Super fast and Deluxe A/C buses are also available in these routes.

By Train

Ujjain Junction Railway Station is an important railway station in Western railway zone. It is well connected to all major railway stations in India. Direct train services are available to Bhopal, Indore, Pune, Malwa, Delhi and many other cities.