Ujjain - Ancient Monuments and Places of Interest in Ujjain

Ancient Monuments and Places of Interest in Ujjain

• The Mahakal Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, is a famous and venerated Shiva temple. It derives its name from "kaal" meaning end of life - death; the word Mahakaal means Lord of Death. Lord Mahakaleshwar is the presiding deity of the city. The Shivling in this temple is supposed to be the only Jyotirlinga which faces south and hence it is known as Dakshinmukhi or the south-facing lingam. Every year on the day of Maha Shivratri, huge crowds of devotees throng the temple for "darshan". The temple attracts a large congregation of Shiva devotees on the day of Naagpanchami in the month of Saavan. On every Monday of "Saavan", the Lord Shiva idol is taken out in a grand procession through the city which is attended by large numbers of devotees from around the country.

• The Harsidhhi temple is one of the Shaktipeeths, situated at 52 places in India. It is dedicated to the goddess Annapurna and houses the Shri Yantra, a symbol of "shakti" or power.

• Kal Bhairav is a temple on the banks of the Kshipra that is dedicated to the worship of Kal Bhairav, the chief of the eight Bhairavas described in Saivite tradition.

• The Chintaman Ganesh temple is an ancient temple of Lord Ganesha.

• The Mangalnath temple is situated away from the bustle of the city and looks down upon a vast expanse of the Kshipra River. It is regarded as the birthplace of Mars (mangala in Hindi), according to the Matsya Purana.

• The Sandipani Ashram is where Puranic traditions say Shri Krishna received his education, along with Balarama and Sudama, in the ashram of Maharshi Sandipani.

• Gadkalika, situated about two miles from the present town, the deity in this temple is believed to have been worshiped by Kalidasa.

• Siddhavat is an enormous banyan tree on the banks of the Kshipra, considered sacred since the medieval ages.

• The throne of Maharaja Vikramaditya, known as the "seat of judgment (salabanjika throne)" is located in the Rudra Sagar lake.

• The Kaliyadeh Palace, located on the north of the city, is an ancient site that was restored by the erstwhile royal Scindia family of Gwalior. It is believed that there was once a majestic Sun temple at this site.

• The Bharthari caves is an ancient site which has some interesting legends associated with it. It is said that it holds tunnels which lead directly to the four ancient dhams (char dham). These ways were later shut down by Britishers.

• The Observatory (Vedha Shala) built by a Rajput king, Raja Jai Singh II, in the 1720s, is one of the five such observatories in India and features ancient astronomical devices.

• The Siddha Ashram, located between Ramghat and Narshinghat, is known for research in Ayurvedic medicine and Kundalini Shaktipat.

• Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan Temple, of the ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) or Hare Krishna Movement, also has a guest house and restaurant, and is a major attraction for tourists, though it is very new on the map of Ujjain.

• The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan museum, located near Chamunda tower, houses many antique objects.

• Canopy (Chhatri or Dewali) of Veer Durgadas Rathore "the Great Warrior and protector of Marwar" at Chakratirth.

• Jain temples: Jai Singh Pura Atishay Kshetra, Tapobhoomi, kala,Avanti Parshwanath, Hanumant Baag, Manibhadradham Bhairavgarh.

• The Kothi Palace presents a sight worth watching in the evening.

• Other important temples are Gopal Mandir, Triveni (Nav Graha Shani Mandir), Maa Waageshwari, Siddhhanath, Prashanti Dham and Shiv Shakti,Gebi Hanuman.

• Mahakal Temple Ujjain

• Kal Bhairav Temple Ujjain

• Mahakal Jyotirlinga Ujjain

• ISKCON Temple Ujjain

• Bhadrakali Temple Ujjain