The city of Ujjain, by virtue of its revered place in the
religious texts, is one of the holiest places in India and
arguably the world. According to mythology, Ujjain is one
of the four places where a drop of amrit (nectar of immortally)
spilled from the vessel carried by gods while being chased
by the demons, other three places being Haridwar, Prayag and
Nasik. Since then, millions dip in the pious life giving waters
of Shipra River every twelve years when the Kumbh Mela
is organized in Ujjain, on the banks of Shipra River.
However, you don't need to wait for 12 years to pass to tour
Ujjain for the city in central India has a lot to offer besides
the Kumbh Mela. Ujjain is neatly demarcated into the new and
the old parts by the railway track that ease your sightseeing
task considerably on your tour to Ujjain. While the old bazaars,
ghats, temples and palaces are two to the northwest, the southeast
keeps the ancient trading routes alive.
Ujjain shares a common history of invasions and annexations
with many of the cities in Madhya Pradesh. Ujjain's glorious
days were under the rule of Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur who
upon becoming the Governor of Malwa, built many an observatory
and temples that are identical to the astronomical observatories
in Jaipur and Delhi.
Mahakaleshwar Mandir is the most revered and significant
pilgrimage destination in Ujjain, central India. The temple
is popular because unlike the other temples where priests
infuse the idols with powers through chants and matras, the
Shiva idol draws powers from within itself. Thus, believers
and tourists frequent Mahakaleshwar Mandir in Ujjain, one
of the 12 jyothirlingam in India.
Harsiddhi Mandir, Gopal Mandir, Bade Ganeshji ka Mandir
and Chintaman Ganesh Mandir are some other temples that
you can visit on your tour to Ujjain. The ghats such as Ram
Ghat are older than the temples where the locals gather
in the evenings at dawn, to offer prayers and light diyas
in the name of god.
The Observatory (Veda Shala) built by Maharaja Jai
Singh is India's answer to the Greenwich Meridian and is a
must visit for astronomy buffs and laymen. The Kalidas
Palace is another place to visit. Named after the Indian
poet Kalidas who wrote Meghdoot, a classic tale of love and
the city of Ujjain, this water palace of the Mandu royals
is built on an island in the Shipra River. It is a good example
of Persian architecture in central India.
Ujjain is easily accessible from Indore and Bhopal by road,
rail and air.
Tourism of Central India offers specialized tour booking,
and travel packages for Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. To book your
tour, or for more information, please fill the form below.
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