Ujjain is an ancient city in central India located in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is on the banks of the Shipra River. In the earlier times it was called Ujjayini which means one who conquers with pride. It was the capital of the Avanti kingdom. Major astronomical and mathematical researches were witnessed here. The Kumbh Mela is celebrated here once in twelve years, The Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the twelve jyotirlingas or shrines of Lord Shiva, is a great attraction for pilgrims in Ujjain.
Best For:
The temples and the mythological stories about the city
The Shipra river
The observatory here is known for researche in astronomy in the past.
Ujjain has an extreme climate with very hot summer and cold winter. Summer is from March to June when temperature reaches 45°C. Hot winds called Loo blow in the afternoon to add to the hot climate. The winter is from November to February with an average temperature of 20°C. The lowest winter temperature is 3°C. The rain is moderate to heavy. The best time to visit Ujjain is from November to February. Carry woollen clothes during this period.
All good hotels in Ujjain accept international credit cards. Some hotels have currency exchange counters also. There are many ATMs in the city.
No permits are required to travel to Ujjain. Just a visa to India is all what is needed.
Major Airport Indore airport is the nearest to Ujjain at 55 km. It connects Ujjain to Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Bhopal. The closest international airport is in Ahmedabad which is 430 km from Ujjain. Indian Airlines, Air India and a few gulf based airlines operate services to several destinations in the Middle East. Air India and Jet Airways have services to London. Singapore Airlines also connects Ahmedabad to Singapore and beyond.
• The Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga which is one of the twelve jyotirlingas or shrines of Lord Shiva.
• Other temples like Harsiddhi, Chintaman Ganesh, Gadh Kalika, Kaal Bhairav and the beautiful ISKCON temple.
• Vedh Shala observatory built by Rajput king Jaising II.
• Kalideh Palace on the outskirts of Ujjain has great ancient architecture.
• Bhartrihari caves which are on the banks of Shipra near the Gadh Kalika temple.
Nearby excursion from Ujjain include
• Indore which is 55 km from Ujjain. It was built by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar. The Holkar’s palace is a must see.
• Mandu which is 139 km from here. Forts and palaces of Mandu are tourist attractions.
• Bhopal which is 188 km from Ujjain. Founded by Raja Bhoja, it is a great combination of natural beauty, history and modern planning.
Due to the holy image of the city, most of the restaurants are vegetarian. Ashray restaurant is a good food joint. There are nice snacks like sabudana dosa and falahari wafers for the pilgrims who are fasting. It is best to drink bottled water here.
Where To Stay:
The Madhya Pradesh Tourism hotels are good to stay in Ujjain. Hotel Shipra and Hotel Yatri Nivas are MP tourism hotels here. Hotel Ashray is another popular hotel.
