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ABOUT UJJAIN:
Ujjain is among the great ancient cities of India. Situated on the right bank of the river Shipra, it is a very holy city for the Hindus, a site for the triennial Kumbh Mela, when countless devout Hindus get together to offer prayers during the auspicious time. It is deemed equal in importance to the cities of Varanasi, Gaya and Kanchi. Saivism and Vaishnavism along with their numerous cults and sects, Jainism, Buddhism and also the tantric cults have flourished here. An important seat of learning in the past, according to Hindu scriptures, it was originally called Avantika. There is an interestlng tale behind the sanctity of the city. It's origin is ascribed to the mythological legend of Sagar Manthan (churning of the primordial ocean to discover the pot of nectar). The story goes that after the nectar was discovered, there was a tussle between the gods and the demons to have the nectar first and thus attain immortality. During this tussle, a drop of nectar spilled and fell on Ujjain, thus making the city sacred.
Apart from mythological legends, the city has a long and distinguished history. It was governed by the likes of Vikramaditya and Ashoka. Kalidas wrote his soul stirring ‘Meghdoot’ here. The picture that emerges is of a highly civilized people, with deep religious and philosophical leanings who also carried out successful commercial activities. Today, Ujjain represents an interesting blend of age old legacy and modern day lifestyle.
SIGHTSEEING:
Mahakaleshwara Temple: This temple of Lord Shiva with its lingam is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. It is also known as the shrine of Mahakaleshwara. The lingam here is believed to be syambhu (born of itself) and derives its power from within itself, as against other lingams, which are ritually established and invested with powers through mantra-puja. The awe inspiring lingam and the majestic temple seem to dominate the lives of the people of Ujjain. The temple has an idol of Omkareshwara Shiva consecrated in the sanctum above the Mahakal Shrine. The temple also has images of Ganesh, Parvati, Kartikeya and Shiva's Bull, Nandi.
Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir: There is a beautiful sculpted image of Lord Ganesh in this temple, close to the tank near Mahakaleshwar temple. The temple also provides the oppurtunity to take a course in sanskrit and astrology and one gets the feeling of learning with Lord Ganesha’s blessings.
Chintamani Ganesh: A temple of considerable antiquity and a popular place of pilgrimage, the idol here, as in the instance of the lingam in Mahakaleshwar, is believed to be self formed. Parts of the temple date back to the Parmara period. This temple is very popular as the diety here is believed to be invested with powers to remove the anxiety of the devotees.
Bhartrihari Caves: According to legend, the caves on the banks of the river Shipra near Gadkalika Temple are where the great scholar-poet Bhartrihari lived and meditated.
Harsiddhi Temple: Another important shrine with the image of Goddess Annapurna, the temple was reconstructed during the Maratha period and special features of Maratha architecture can still be seen on the walls and pillars of the temple.
Kal Bhairava: Chief among the eight Bhairavs of the Saivaite tradition, the worship of Kal Bhairav is believed to be worshipped in the tantric sects of Aghora and Kapalika , which flourished in Ujjain. The speciality of this temple is its intricate painting in the Malwa style.
Observatory: The stars and the skies seemed fascinating in the 17th century too. That would perhaps explain the number of observatories that we have in India. Ujjain was an important centre of astronomy in the olden times and the observatory is active even today with the Department of Education conducting many studies here. According to Indian astronomers, the Tropic of Cancer passes through Ujjain, hence its importance to astronomers and geographers of the mediaval times. This 17th century observatory has a planetarium and a telescope.
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.
Gopal Mandir: A sanctum inlaid with marble and silver plated doors constitutes the main attraction of this temple. The door in the inner sanctum has quite a history attached to it. It was taken away to Ghazni from the Somnath temple and from there to Lahore by Mahmud Shah Abdali. This much travelled door was then recovered by Mahadji Scindia and installed in this temple.
Navagraha mandir: The ruling planets have always had an important place in the Indian rituals and tradition and are believed to affect the lives of people. This temple is dedicated to the nine ruling planets (navagraha meaning the nine planets). It is located on the Triveni Ghat of the Shipra river.
GETTING THERE
By Air: The nearest airport is Indore, 53 km connected by regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Gwalior, Bhopal.
By Rail: Ujjain is on the Bhopal-Nagda sector of Western Railway.
By Road: Regular bus services connect Ujjain with Indore (53 km), Bhopal (188 km), Ratlam (105 km), Gwalior (455 km), Mandu (154 km), Dhar (106 km), Kota (260 km) and Omkareshwar (133 km).
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