Discover the Ujjain Mahakal: Explore the Mahakaleshwar Temple, Omkareshwar Temple , Ujjain Mahakal Lok and Other Sacred Places in Ujjain on a Memorable Journey!
Explore Ujjain : A city Rich in History and Culture, Where Every Corner Tells a story of the past.
Ujjain is known as the city of temples and it is home to more than 100 temples. Also known as “Mahakal ki Nagri”. Ujjain is one of the popular cities of Madhya Pradesh and located on the bank of Shipra River. It has numerous temples belonging to different eras. The city also witnesses the world’s largest religious gathering called Simhastha (Kumbh mela) on the banks of Shipra river which is held once in every 12 years, attracting millions of pilgrims and tourists from all over the globe. The city is also associated with world famous scholars, poets and astronomers making it a significant location for learning and intellectual pursuit.
Highlights of Ujjain Mahakal:
- It was one of 4 places where the prime meridian of India was believed to pass.
- It is believed that Lord Krishna received his education from Ujjain along with Balarama and Sudama. Tourists can view these scenarios in wall paint hangings.
- The City has India’s first observatory which is Jantar Mantar and was built by Maharaja Jai Singh, currently it is still functional.
Best Season to Plan for Ujjain Mahakal
The City can be explored any time of the year. But undoubtedly I would recommend planning for Ujjain Mahakal Tour Package during festivals like Mahashivratri, Every Monday of Savan month, Naga Panchami, Kartik Mela which is organized every year and lastly the Kumbh Mela(which is organized once in 12 years). One can explore the city during October to March given the weather is pleasant and temperature would be approx. 20 degree celsius. It is also a perfect time for sightseeing as the whole town is covered in mist.
How to Reach Ujjain Mahakal
Flight: Devi Ahilya Bai International airport, Indore (approx. 55km)
Train: Ujjain railway station is extremely well connected with major cities of India
By Road: also buses are well connected with Indore, Khargone, Jalgaon, Khandwa, Omkareshwar and Bhopal.
Discover Ujjain’s Best Tourist Spots with Our Ujjain Mahakal Tour Package!
- Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple: Divine Experiences in Ujjain
A short story on the back of the temple is…..
Mahadev or Lord shiva is of foremost importance in Hinduism. He is the main pillar of the holy Trinity in Hinduism. Jyotirlinga are the divine places of Lord Shiva where he resides in different forms. The word “Jyoti” means light or radiance and Lingam or linga means sign or image. So the word Jyotir-linga means “Radiant signs of Lord Shiva. The Jyotirlinga are said to have appeared in places when lord Shiva himself manifested on earth. Thus giving them the name of “Swayamboo” meaning self-manifested. Each Jyotirlinga is considered to be a different manifestation of Lord Shiva.
The Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple is located in Ujjain and one of the most popular jyotirlinga of the 12 in central India. It is located in Mahakal forest in Madhya Pradesh on the banks of the Kshipra River. The Jyotirlinga here is Dakshinamurti Swayambhu “self manifested which derives power within itself unlike others where lingas are installed. The Omkareshwar Lingam, on the First floor is open for visitors round the year, whereas the Nagchandreshwara lingam situated on the third floor is open only on the day of Nagpanchmi like all old structures and the stories that surround them the legend behind Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga has many visitors. One of them goes like this. According to the puranas, The city of Ujjain was called Avantika and was famous for its beauty and its status as a devotional epic center. It was also one of the primary cities where students went to study holy scriptures. According to legend there was a ruler of Ujjain called Chandrasena who was a pious devotee of Shiva & worshiped him all the time. One day, a farmer’s boy named Shrikhar was walking on the grounds of the place & heard the King chant Shiva’s name and rushed to the temple to start praying with him. However guards removed him by force and sent him to the outskirts of the city near river kshipra.
Rivals of Ujjain primarily King Ripudammani, King Singhaditya of the neighboring kingdom decided to attack the kingdom and take over its treasures around this time. Hearing this Shrikar started to pray & the news spread to the priest named Vridhi. He was shocked to hear this and upon the urgent pleas of his sons, started to pray to Shiva at the river Kshipra. The kings chose to attack and were successful with the help of the powerful demon Dushan, who was blessed by Brahma to be invisible, they plundered the city and attacked all the devotees of Shiva. Upon hearing the pleas of his helpless devotees, Shiva appeared in his Mahakal form and destroyed the enemies of king Chandrasena. Upon the request of his devotees Shrikhar and Vridhi, Shiva agreed to reside in the city and become the chief deity of the Kingdom and take care of it against its enemies and to protect all his devotees. From that day on, Shiva resided in his light form as Mahakal in a lingam, that was formed on its own from the power of Shiva and his consort Parvati.
Shiva also blessed his devotees and declared that people who worshiped him in this form would be free from the fear of death and diseases. Also they would be granted worldly treasures and be under the protection of Shiva himself. This temple is also known to be “Mukti Stal” that is supposed to liberate a human from the cycle of birth and death. This temple faces the south unlike most vedic temples. It also has the Rudra yantra in Garba griha which is fixed upside down. Shakti peeta and Jyotirlinga are together. It is a temple where tantrics and yogis come for deliverance.
Unique Aarti at Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple – Bhasma Aarti(offering with ashes) this can be explored with our Ujjain Mahakal Tour Package
Top 2 main festivals celebrated at the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
1- Nitya Yatra: Devotees are referred as Yatri were in they take a holy dip in Sipra river and then visits Nagachandresvara, Koteswara, Mahakaleshwar, goddess Avantika, goddess Harasiddhi and Agastyesvara for Darshana.
2- Sawari(The Procession) -Lord Shiva procession is carried through the streets of Ujjain on every Monday for some particular time period. The last Sawari is performed during the dark fortnight of the Bhadrapada and especially it draws the attention of lakhs of people and is celebrated with great pomp and show. Also there is a procession which is carried through Vijayadashmi festival which is equally exciting and attractive.
Please consider below Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple timings during your visit with our Ujjain Mahakal Tour package
Timings : From Chaitra month to Ashwin month
Morning Pooja:7am -7.30am, Mid-day:10am -10.30am, Evening pooja:5pm – 5.30pm
Aarti Shri Mahakal: 7:00PM -7:30PM
Closing Time: 11PM
Timings : From Kartik month to Falgun month
Morning Pooja:7.30am-8am, Mid-day:10.30am-11am, Evening pooja:5.30pm-6pm
Aarti Shri Mahakal: 7:30pm-8pm
Closing Time: 11PM
Bhasma Aarti: 4:00 AM
Time Required : 4-5 hours
Entry Fee : No entry fee VIP Darshan: INR 250
Facilities : Wheelchair Accessible, Lockers for Mobile Phone and
Valuables since no electronic devices allowed while your Darshan
Dress Code : No dress code for normal darshan
Jalaabhishek – Men: Dhoti and Shawl , Women: Saree
2. Ujjain Mahakal Lok Corridor :Exploring Spiritual Marvels
In order to develop the tourism sector and preserve the ancient heritage of our country and also provide world class modern facilities to pilgrims, the Ujjain Mahakal Lok project was implemented. It was around INR 856 crore. The Ujjain Mahakal Lok Corridor was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi. It is expected to increase annual footfall in the city fromINR 1.50 crore to nearly INR 3 crores. The length of the corridor is approx. 900 meters and it is surrounded by Rudra Sagar lake. On your visit to the Ujjain Mahakal Lok corridor you can see 108 pillars, 200 Statues and also paintings / arts displaying stories of Shiva. The two gateways are Nandi Dwar and Pinaki Dwar. The visiting time for Ujjain Mahakal lok Corridor starts from 6am – 10pm. There is no entry fee charged to explore the Ujjain Mahakal Lok Corridor.
Nandi Dwar:
Pinaki Dwar:
3. Kal Bhairava Temple : The Guardian of The Holy City
is considered as the most important among the eight Bhairava. Temple is dedicated to Kal Bhairav, the guardian deity of the city. He is considered the Senapati of the town. Temple is situated on the banks of river Shipra. Bhairava is also worshiped throughout India, Nepal, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan and Tibet. Hundreds of people visit the temple on a daily basis. There is Shivlinga inside the temple which attracts thousands of tourists during Mahashivaratri. Devotees can offer flowers, Coconut and incense to the temple.
One of the unique features of the temple is that devotees offer alcohol to Lord Bhairava. It is considered as a belief to appease Lord Bhairava and seek his blessings for protection and prosperity. Devotees can purchase liquor from outside the temple and hand it over to the priest. He then offers half of the liquor to Kal Bhairava idol and returns the rest to the devotees.
4. Harsiddhi Temple: A Magical place where ancient legends and divine energy come to life.
The idol of Goddess Annapurna is placed between the idols of Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati in the temple. The idol is painted in dark vermilion color. It is dedicated to goddess Harsiddhi, a form of Goddess Parvati. Goddess Harsiddhi is worshiped for happiness, prosperity, fulfillment of desires. Also people believe that worshiping a Goddess will bring blessing and success to their life. Temple holds a religious significance as it is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. Also according to ancient Shiva Purana, when Lord Shiva carried the burning body of Mata Sati from Sacrificial fire, her elbow was dropped at this place. The glory of 1008 lamps is best sighted during Navratri festival which is celebrated with much zeal in Ujjain. Timings to visit the temple from Monday to Sunday 05:30 AM – 12:00 PM. The best time to visit temples is during Navratri and Diwali festivals.
5. Omkareshwar Temple: Enjoy the Stunning Island Shrine Dedicated to Lord Shiva, set by a beautiful river
is one of the most famous and popular temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Narmada river has an island known as Mandhata or Shivapuri where the temple Omkareshwar is situated. The shape of the island is like Hindu Symbol.This view can be experienced with our Ujjain Mahakal Tour Package. “OM” holds a particular significance in hinduism. The first letter OM is said during Hindu prayer. When the island is viewed from the above the shape of the field is in the form of the letter OM. Madhya Pradesh is considered to be a place where lord Shiva resides in the form Shivling to protect the city. Among the 12 Jyotirlinga in India, 2 are located in Madhya Pradesh. One Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva is in Ujjain known as Mahakal. The second famous Jyotirlinga is situated in Indore, known as Omkareshwar. Apart from Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, there is one more Jyotirlinga known as Amareshwar or Mamleshwar. Both these temples represent Lord Shiva and are located on the banks of River Narmada. The temple is divided into 2 parts. The first being Omkareshwar and other parts known as Mamleshwar temple. The belief is that devotees need to visit both temples if they are going for temple darshan. Lord Shiva was self-born here, hence Jyotilingas is swayambhu.
Pooja timings to be followed while your visit Omkareshwar temple
5.00 AM to 5.30 AM:- Mangal Arti
5.30 AM to 12.25 PM:- Jalabhishek
12.25 PM to 1.15 PM:- Madhyanha Bhog
1.15 PM to 3.50 PM:- Jalabhishek
3.50 PM to 4.15 PM:- Vyavastha (Darshan Closed)
4.15 PM to 8.20 PM:- Shringar Darshan
8.20 PM to 9.05 PM:- Shayan Arti
9.05 PM to 9.35 PM:- Shayan Darshan
9.30 PM to 5.00 AM:- Pat band Vishram (Darshan Closed)
Darshan timings of temple is as follow:
Morning: from 5:00 am to 3:50pm
Break : 3:50 pm to 4:15pm
Evening : from 4:15pm to 9:30pm
6. Iskcon Temple: A lively place where music, Colorful celebrations, and joyful chants fill the Air
also known as Radha Madhana Mohan temple. It is built out of marble and was opened in 2006. Iskcon temple has a special significance among the Lord Krishna followers since Krishna, Balaram, and Sudama had received their education from Maharishi Sandipani. Also it is the only solar powered temple in Ujjain. Devotees can witness the auspicious music with chanting of “HARE KRISHNA HARE RAMA” DHUN throughout the day. 6 aartis are performed everyday by Priests to the deities. Janmashtami is the main festival celebrated in the temple. Timings to visit the temple 4:30am – 1pm and 4pm -9.15pm
7. Sandipani Maharishi Ashram – a Peaceful place full of history and wisdom
It’s an amazing ashram where Lord Krishna,Sudama and Balarama received their regular instruction and education. While your visit to the ashram one takes a glimpse into Indian culture,Mythology and the ancient education system of the country. It also provides an opportunity to the tourists to learn about the culture and tradition of the country. Also one can learn about our ancient Gurukul system of education of India.
It is the place where one can see standing Nandi and this can be explored with our Ujjain Mahakal Tour package
8. Shani Temple: Special place where powerful rituals and the presence of Lord Shani create a deep Spiritual experience
It is India’s First Shani temple. It is also known as Navagraha temple or Shani Mandir. Localities call the temple as Triveni teetham. Temple is located on the banks of Shipra river. It is believed that anyone who is offering oil to Shani Dev with pure heart will receive the blessings of Shani Dev and all their troubles of life will be taken care of and their wishes come true by the Lord. Temple is open from 5am to 7pm and there is no entry fee charged.
Explore the mouthwatering Local flavors of Ujjain with our Ujjain Mahakal Tour package, promising an unforgettable culinary experience in the Heart of this ancient city!
Poha-Jalebi
It’s the most famous breakfast in Ujjain. Poha is basically a light fluffy dish made from flattened rice seasoned with turmeric and mustard seeds. The dish is accompanied with Sweet and crisp Jalebi.
Dal Bafla
It is similar to famous Dal Bhati, it consists of wheat balls known as Bafla and served with spicy lentil curry, also some drops of ghee are added.
Malpua
It’s a sweet dish. Looks like pancake and served with Rabri(thickened sweet milk)
Shikanji
its Ujjain version of lemonade. It is refreshment drinks with a twist of cumin, black salt and sometimes saffron.
Garadu
It’s a local snack made of yam which is deep fried and tossed with spices and has a tangy taste.
Kadhi Samosa
its distinct combination where spicy samosa is served with creamy Kadhi. It offers a mix of flavors.
Bhutte Ka Kees
It’s a savory snack made from grated corn kernels cooked with spices, milk, and garnished with chopped coriander leaves and grated coconut. It’s a popular street food in Ujjain, especially during the monsoon season.
Presenting your go-to guide for the Ujjain Mahakal Tour Package: a Handy list of FAQs to make your pilgrimage as smooth as it is enchanting!
1. What is the best time to plan for Ujjain Mahakal?
The best time to visit Ujjain Mahakal is during the winter months (October to March) when the weather is pleasant and ideal for sightseeing. However, the Ujjain Mahakal temple is open year-round, so you can plan your visit according to your preference.
2. How do I book a VIP darshan for the Ujjain Mahakal temple?
You can book a VIP darshan for the Mahakal temple through our Ujjain Mahakal Tour package, which includes priority access and assistance with arrangements for a seamless temple visit.
3. What are the must-visit attractions in Ujjain apart from the Mahakal temple?
Apart from the Mahakal temple, other must-visit attractions in Ujjain include the Kal Bhairav temple, Mahakaleshwar Temple, Omkareshwar temple, Shani temple, Sandipani Maharishi Ashram, Harisiddhi temple. Our tour package includes guided tours to these sites and more.
4. Is photography allowed inside the Temples?
Photography policies actually vary from temple to temple. While some temples allow photography for personal use, others may have restrictions in certain areas or during specific rituals. It is advisable to check with the temple authorities before taking photographs.
5. Is it safe to travel to Ujjain for solo travelers?
Ujjain City is generally considered safe for travelers, including solo travelers. However, it is always advisable to take standard precautions, such as avoiding isolated areas at night and keeping your belongings secure.
As we finish our journey through the spiritual side of Ujjain and the magic of mahakal, We hope you have enjoyed reading about this particular destination in detail. If you want to explore more, Consider our Ujjain Mahakal Tour package.
With the TourtripX team you can discover the City’s temples and taste its delicious food without any hassle. Let us take care of the details so you can relax and enjoy your time in Ujjain Mahakal. If you’re Interested, Join us for an unforgettable adventure in this Sacred City.
