Considered as one of the seven most holy cities for the Hindus, the ancient city of Ujjain is located on the banks of Shipra river. Let’s us know more about the tourism scenario in this holy city.
Ujjain is considered to be one of the famous religious destinations in the country. Located on the banks of river Shipra in Madhya Pradesh, Ujjain is well connected to other famous cities like Indore, Mandu, Bhopal and Maheshwar. Though there are several other modes to reach the city, taking a Indore to Ujjain taxi is considered to be the one with least hassles.
Ujjain is also famously known as Ujjayini or Avanti and even finds its mention in the the Hindu epic Mahabharata, as the capital of Avanti regime. It is also believed that the two parts of the Skanda Purana were also composed in the city. The origin of the city is connected with the famous story of ‘Sagar-Mathan’ in Hindu mythology. It is when the Gods and Asuras were churning the ocean to create amrit or magical potion, the fews drops fell out at four different locations viz., Ujjain, Haridwar, Nashik and Allahabad. These four cities are also the grounds where the grand Kumbh Mela is held in every twelve years.
Let’s take a look at some of the most famous tourist attractions Ujjain. The Mahakaleshwar Temple, is an ancient five storied temples with a level underground. The temple premises consists of sprawling gardens and courtyards. While the statue of Lord Shiva is supposed to be formed naturally, the temple walls are decorated with wall engravings and sculptures. It is said that the roof of this ancient temple is laden with more than 100 kg of silver.
Chintamani Ganesh temple is another famous shrine of Lord Ganesh and considered as the highest ever, with statues of Riddhi and Siddhi on either sides. This ancient temple sees thousands of devotees each year with gates remaining open throughout the year. Another famous religious spot in the town is Kal Bhairava. The deity of annihilation, is worshipped mainly by the people of Kapalika and Aghora communities, but it remains open to people from all religious and sects as well. The Harsiddhi temple, is considered to be built by Lord Krishna himself and places the Goddess Annapurna as its chief deity.
Ujjain is also famous for the wide variety of artefacts and art forms like handicrafts, pottery, local textiles and paintings. The markets near Nanakheda and outside the Mahakaleshwar temple are known for selling beautiful tribal metal work, bamboo items and other pieces of home decor. Similarly, markets like Jawahar Nagar and Gopal Mandir Marg are equally known for their art pieces.
The city consists of several budget hotels mostly near the Nanakheda bus stand. For vegetarians, the city has to offer some really exciting treats consisting of Punjabi and other North Indian food. So, if you’re planning for a great time exploring the local wonders of a religious city, Ujjain easily makes the cut.