Introduction:
The Malwa region of India has a rich political and cultural history. Located mostly in Madhya Pradesh, this region has been ruled by several dynasties. Ujjain in this region was the capital of ancient “Avanti,” a Maha-Janapada. Emperor “Vikramaditya” once ruled over “Avanti” from here.
Famous for the “Mahakaleshwar” temple, Ujjain has a rich social and cultural heritage. Legends/history have given this place a unique identity.
Our Journey:
We planned to visit Ujjain and other cities during the Puja vacation in September 2025. We had planned train journeys from Bhubaneswar to Ujjain, and from Indore to Bhubaneswar, and taxi journeys to other places. Ujjain is connected by rail and road with all the major cities of India. The nearest airport is Indore.
We boarded our train at Bhubaneswar for Ujjain at 1:50 AM and reached the next day, early morning. After checking into the pre-booked hotel, we got ready to visit tourist places.
Day 1 at Ujjain:
Mahakaleshwar temple opens from 4:00 AM to 11:00 PM. We were blessed to have a Darshan within 1 hour. We had breakfast after Darshan and visited a few nearby temples.
Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain
In the afternoon, we visited the “Kaal Bhairav”, “Garh Kalika Mata” temples by auto-rickshaw. In the evening, we saw “Narmada Aarti” at Ram Ghat, evening “Aarti” at nearby Harsiddhi Mata temple. “Char Dham” is a nearby temple, where deities of all four “Dham” (Badrinath, Dwarka, Rameshwaram and Puri) are being worshipped.
Mahakal Lok Corridor, Ujjain
At 7:00 PM, we visited “Mahakal Lok” Corridor (Time: 6:00 AM – 9:30 PM), dedicated to God Shiva, which is a beautiful place to visit. We captured its beauty in the camera and took a selfie for a lifetime memory. Restaurant, food court and drinking water facility are also available. We saw the Light & Sound program on God Shiva at 7:30 PM.
Day 2 at Ujjain:
In the morning, we visited Guru Sandipani Ashram, where Shri Krishna, Shri Balaram, Sudama and other pupils studied. A few temples, a museum and a big pond are located here in nature’s quiet environment.
We visited the Shri Mangalnath temple, where “Mangalnath Puja” is done for those people who have “Mangal Dosha” in their horoscope. About a hundred priests were performing puja for about two hundred people simultaneously.
After lunch, we visited the “Bada Ganesh Temple,” where a big idol of God Ganesh was being worshipped.
The “Bharat Mata” temple is a beautiful temple dedicated to Mother India, and it is worth visiting.
King Vikramaditya at Vikram Teela, Ujjain
“Vikramaditya Kirti Temple” is on a mound called “Vikram Teela” inside the lake “Rudra Sagar.” The idol of King Vikramaditya is worshipped here. A large statue of King Vikramaditya on a throne, and statues of nine scholars of his court (Nine Jewels or “Nava Ratna’) have been installed on a big platform. Statues of female court dancers, singers, and other prominent women of that time are also there.
A few other places of visit that we skipped may be of interest to others.
Day 3: Leaving Ujjain:
We left Ujjain at 08:00 AM by a hired taxi for Omkareshwar.
Stay & Food:
There are plenty of hotels in the price range of INR 1000 to INR 5000 per night near the Mahakaleshwar temple, the Railway station, and other places in Ujjain. A good Air-conditioned budget hotel room will be available in the price range of INR 2000 to INR 3000.
Several hotels have their own restaurants. In addition, a good number of restaurants, street-food corners are available. Mostly North-Indian food is available, but Chinese and tandoori food are also there.
Shopping:
All types of shops, viz., garment, shoe, stationery, gift items, jewellery, sweet & namkeen, bakery, are there. Evening is a good time for shopping.
Transport:
Ujjain is a major railhead. Also, several buses ply between several cities. Auto-rickshaws & e-rickshaws are available for in-city movement.
City Life:
Ujjain remains awake from early morning till late night since the Mahakaleshwar temple opens from 04:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
Concluding Words:
Ujjain is a city where past, present, and future coexist. From Puranic times to the present day, the city bears a lot of legends and historical accounts. It has dynamism to adjust to the needs of the time and to dive into the future. It is a must-see place for tourists from all over the world.
Kishor Kumar Mishra
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