Guide to the Best Temples in Ujjain

Taking shelter in the heart of the country, the historic city of Ujjain
encompasses popular temples in India, shrines, ancient monuments, and other
tourist attractions that are visited by a profusion of devotees, ardent followers,
history buffs and wanderers every year. Besides hosting the grand Kumbh Mela,
which draws over 75 million people to the festival from all over the world once in
every 12 years, the city is deemed as one of the top religious places in the
country. Formerly known as Avantika, Ujjain has a long cultured past and
continues to be an important place of pilgrimage and one of the most pious Hindu
cities for Shaivites.
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Located on the eastern bank of the holy Shipra River in the Malwa Region of
Madhya Pradesh, Ujjain is considered the Greenwich of Indian by astronomers as
the Tropic of Cancer drifts past the city’s iconic Ved Shala. Besides, Ujjain is also
steeped in history. It was ruled by powerful kings such as Vikramaditya and
Chandragupta II and served as a home to the legendary poet Kalidasa. There are
innumerable religious sites in Ujjain that proffer a divine and cultural insight into
the rich heritage of the city.
Top 11 Temples To Visit In Ujjain
1. Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple
2. KalBhairava Temple
3. Chintaman Ganesh Temple
4. Harisiddhi Temple
5. Ram Ghat
6. GomtiKund
7. Dwarikadhish Gopal Mandir
8. Chaubis Khamba Temple
9. ISKCON Temple
[Link] Mangalnath Temple
[Link] Shani Mandir
1. Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple
Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple is a prominent Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva
and is one of the most important holy places to visit in Ujjain. In fact, it is one of
the 12 Jyotirlingas, which are considered to be the holiest abodes of Shiva.
Bordered by the massive Rudra Sagar Lake, the temple continues to be one of the
most sacred and outstanding places of pilgrimage for Hindus providing visitors
with an altogether different and unmatched peace of mind and composure. The
temple showcases sculptural artistry and sophistication that takes a cue from the
Maratha and Chalukya styles of architectural design and is complete with
impressive images of Ganesha, Kartikeya, and Parvati adorning the walls. The
temple also hosts many religious festivals and celebrations every year that is
celebrated with great fervor and devotion. Apart from these, the splendid
Bhasmaarti of the temple is a ritual ceremony that you should not miss.
Address: Jaisinghpura, Ujjain
Timings: 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM
2. KalBhairava Temple
The Kalbhairava Temple is supposed to be associated with the Tantra cult of
Hinduism, which is a secret religious sect that thrived upon black magic. Bhairav is
believed to have been a fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva, and KalBhairava is the
most sacred among the eight Bhairavas. The temple enshrines a Shivalinga
opposite Nandi the Bull, which during Mahashivratri draws thousands of devotees
to this religious site. You can also spot many sadhus with ash-smudged bodies and
long matted hair around this temple. Legend has it, that the bull was gifted to
Shiva and Parvati as a wedding present from King Daksha, the father of Goddess
Parvati. The best time to visit Ujjain to complete your sacred journey in this
temple is around the festival of Mahashivratri when devotees congregate in great
numbers and the temple comes to life. Address: Jail Road, BhairavGarh, Ujjain
Timings: 6:00 AM to 8:30 PM
3. Chintaman Ganesh Temple
Situated close to the Shipra River on the Fatehabad railway line, Chintaman
Ganesh Temple is one of the oldest temples in Ujjain, housing a large idol of one
of the most worshipped Gods of India, Lord Ganesh. It is believed that the largest
idol here was born of itself; hence it’s of huge religious significance. Devotees
throng to this temple because the deity here is commonly known as Chintaharan
Ganesh meaning ‘the assurer of freedom from worldly anxieties’.
Address: Chintaman Road, Ujjain Timings: 5:30 AM to 8:30 PM
4. Harisiddhi Temple
The Harisiddhi Temple was built in honor of Goddess Harisiddhi and is one of the
51 Shaktipeetas across the country located near River Shipra. Legend has it that
when Lord Shiva was performing the tandava while carrying Sati’s burning body,
Vishnu released his chakra, which split her body to 51 parts. Devotees who flock
to this temple believe that the Goddess’s elbow fell in Ujjain, where this temple
was constructed by legendary King Vikramaditya. The idol of Mata Harshiddhi is
beautiful and gives a truly divine feeling. The temple enshrines 3 Goddesses one
on top of another, namely, Annapurna, the Goddess of nourishment,
Mahasaraswati, the Goddess of wisdom and knowledge, and Mahalakshmi, the
Goddess of wealth. The red sandstone temple is peculiar to the Maratha art of
architecture. Address: Harsiddhi Marg, Ujjain Timings: 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM
5. Ram Ghat
Ram Ghat is located adjacent to the Harsiddhi Temple is amongst the
most popular places to see in Ujjain. It is believed that this is the spot where Lord
Ram used to take bath when he was here along with his consort Sita and brother
Laxman, and as such, this ghat is one of the most frequented religious sites in
Ujjain. The ghat is one of the four locations that host the auspicious Kumbh Mela
that is held in every 12 years. On a regular day, devotees take a dip in the water
here and perform their daily rituals, which is believed to wash away all your
sufferings and help attain salvation. Apart from its religious significance, the ghat
is also a good place for a leisurely walk especially in the early morning and at
dusk. Address: Jaisinghpura, Ujjain Timings: 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM
6. GomtiKund
Peacefully nestled amidst the lush environs of Sandipani Ashram, the GomtiKund
is a steep water tank that holds a blend of all holy waters of the world. It is said
that Lord Krishna summoned the holy waters from all the pilgrim spots and
created the GomtiKund so that his guru, Sandipani, would not have to travel to
them. The kund serves as the perennial source of water supply for the entire
ashram till date. The ashram bears references in the Vedas and Puranas and when
it was excavated, it disclosed 30 centuries old painted artefacts marking it a
significant place of yester days. Remnants of excavation reveal a close
resemblance to the articles found in Hastinapura, Indraprastha, Mathura, and
Kausambi. Address: Near Sandipani Ashram, Ujjain Timings: 5:30 AM to 6:00 PM
7. Dwarikadhish Gopal Mandir
Dedicated to Lord Krishna, this temple in Ujjain was built in the early 19-century
and is a fine example of Maratha architecture. The shrine is located in the heart of
the city in a big bazaar and is a marble-spired structure with a 2-feet tall statue of
Lord Krishna perched on a marble-inlaid altar with silver-plated gateways. The
temple was built by Bayaji Shinde, wife of Maratha King Daulatrao Shinde.
Besides, the temple also houses idols of Lord Shiva, Parvati, and Garuda.
Janmashtami and Harihar Parva are the best time to visit the temple and witness
the great pomp and enthusiasm of devotees in this temple complex. It is said that
the doors of Gopal Mandir were stolen by Mahmud of Ghazni, and were later
restored by Mahadji Shinde. Address: GopalMandir Marg, City Centre, Ujjain
Timings: 5:30 AM to 7:30 PM
8. Chaubis Khamba Temple
An imposing structure, Chaubis Khamba Temple is yet another popular sacred
place to visit in Ujjain. The captivating structure dates back to the late 9-century,
and is a beautiful example of architectural marvel and features majestic entrance
gate of the Mahakala-Vana, the remains of which provides an amazing spectacle.
Two magnificent images of the guardian Goddesses of the temple, Mahalaya and
Mahamaya are beautifully carved on each side of the gate with the inscription of
their names on the footsteps. The temple offers an unmatched serenity and
peaceful vibes one cannot miss. To make your visit more rewarding, you should
visit this place during Navratri and MahaShivaratri.
Address: Gudri Chauraha, UjjainTimings: 5:30 AM to 6:00 PM
9. ISKCON Temple
A visit to Ujjain remains incomplete without visiting the spiritual retreat of
ISKCON Temple. Touted as one of the most iconic places in the city of Ujjain, this
is a chain of temples all over the world, and the one in Ujjain has exceptional
significance and welcomes a plethora of devotees and tourists daily. The soothing
chants, the echo of the tinkering temple bells, and the unparalleled peace of the
place come together to guarantee an escape into the world of spirituality. The
gardens are brimming with colourful flowers, which further add to the beauty of
the opulent temple complex. Address: Mahashweta Nagar, Ujjain Timings: 6:30
AM to 8:30 PM
10. Shri Mangalnath Temple
The Shri Mangalnath Temple is situated a little away from the city of Ujjain and
can be reached through a meandering road crossing the vast expanse of the holy
Shipra River. According to the holy Matsya Purana, Mangalnath is the birthplace
of the red planet, Mars, also called Mangal. During the yester years, the spot was
famous for offering a clear view of the planet and was highly preferred for
astronomical studies. The mystical temple is a highly revered shrine in Ujjain and
is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Address: Mangalnath Marg, SH 17, Ujjain.
Timings: 6:00 AM to 7:30 PM
11. Navgrah Shani Mandir
This one-of-a-kind temple in Ujjain is located on the Triveni Ghat on the banks of
River Shipra and is touted as India’s first Navgraha mandir and the only Shani
temple in the world where Shanidev is worshipped as Lord Shiva. Dating back to
over 2,000 years, the temple pays homage to the nine planets Surya, Chandra,
Mangal, Budh, Guru, Rahu, Shukra, Ketu, and Shani. Shani or the God of Justice is
believed to be one of the strongest planets and has a great impact on astrological
charts. According to Hindu mythology, Shani blesses and gives wealth and
prosperity to follow good deeds as well as severely punishes those who indulge in
evil deeds. Make sure you plan your visit and reserve one of the Saturdays or
Amavasya nights to see the temple take on a completely different avatar. On
Amavasya or new moon night, the temple complex is dotted with thousands of
devotees who offer more than 5 quintals of oil to Shani. One can spot flocks of
crows, which happen to be the vehicle of Shani, around the temple and feeding
them is considered auspicious. Address: Triveni Ghat, Shipra River, Ujjain.
Timings: 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Now that you know about the best temples and sacred places to visit in Ujjain,
make sure you plan a visit to this enchanting city soon and embrace its calm and
spiritual vibe. Ujjain is itself an ancient piece of art from the times of the great
Ruler Ashoka. There are plenty of historical and religious places to visit in Ujjain
present in almost every nook and corner of the city. Bow down in reverence for
the ancient city once and you will surely not be able to resist the glory of heritage
and charm proffered by Ujjain.
P.s. You might like these related resources:
Top 9 Places to Visit in Ujjain to Experience the City’s History and Culture
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