Ujjain, India: travel guide
One of the seven sacred Hindu cities, site of the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga and host of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela — sacred on the banks of the Shipra.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Nearest airport
- IDR
Top places to visit in Ujjain
Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 2 h
One of the twelve Jyotirlingas and Ujjain's spiritual heart, revered for its south-facing lingam and the unique pre-dawn Bhasma Aarti with sacred ash.
Ram Ghat
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 1 h
The most sacred ghat on the Shipra river, alive with evening aartis and the focal point of the great Simhastha (Kumbh) Mela held every twelve years.
Kal Bhairav Temple
Temple · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h
An ancient temple to the fierce guardian deity Kal Bhairav, famous for the unusual ritual offering of liquor to the deity.
Harsiddhi Temple
Temple · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h
A revered Shakti Peetha temple near Mahakal, famous for its two tall lamp-pillars (deepstambhs) lit spectacularly during Navratri.
Mangalnath Temple
Temple · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h
A temple regarded as the birthplace of the planet Mars (Mangal) and an ancient astronomical reference point, popular for Mangal-dosha pujas.
ISKCON Ujjain
Temple · 4.5 rating · about 1 h
A serene marble Krishna-Balaram temple with daily aartis, gardens and a vegetarian restaurant, a calm spiritual stop in the city.
Sandipani Ashram
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h
The legendary ashram where Krishna, Balarama and Sudama are said to have studied under Guru Sandipani, with a sacred tank and shrines.
Chintaman Ganesh Temple
Temple · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h
An ancient riverside Ganesh temple ~7 km away, believed to free devotees from worries (chinta), with self-manifested idols.
Vedh Shala (Observatory)
Museum · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · entry 100
The 18th-century Jantar Mantar observatory built by Raja Jai Singh, with masonry astronomical instruments — Ujjain sits on the prime meridian of Hindu astronomy.
Gopal Mandir
Temple · 4.3 rating · about 0.5 h
A 19th-century marble Krishna temple in the bazaar built by the Scindia queen, with silver-plated doors and fine Maratha architecture.
Things to do
- Mahakaleshwar Bhasma Aarti Cultural · 2 h · from INR 200 per person
- Ujjain Temple Circuit Tour Cultural · 5 h · from INR 1,200 per person
- Shipra Ram Ghat Aarti & Walk Cultural · 1.5 h · from INR 400 per person
- Vedh Shala Astronomy Visit Cultural · 1 h · from INR 300 per person
Day trips and tours
- Ujjain Temple Pilgrimage Tour 8 h · from INR 1,200
- Ujjain & Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Trip 13 h · from INR 2,800
- Ujjain Heritage & Observatory Tour 5 h · from INR 1,000
Where to stay in Ujjain
- Temple Area about INR 1,500 per night
Sacred pilgrimage town near temples
Hotels
- Anjushree Inn 4-star · INR 4,500 to INR 8,000 per night
- Hotel Imperial Inn 4-star · INR 3,500 to INR 6,500 per night
- Hotel Mahakal Inn 3-star · INR 2,800 to INR 5,000 per night
- Hotel Rudraksh 3-star · INR 2,500 to INR 4,500 per night
- Zostel Ujjain 2-star · INR 500 to INR 1,700 per night
- Hotel Shipra Residency (MPTDC) 3-star · INR 2,500 to INR 4,500 per night
Where to eat
- Annakshetra Mahakal (Prasadalay) North Indian, Malwa · about INR 50 per person
- Joshi Dahi Bada Chaat, Street Food, Malwa · about INR 80 per person
- Shree Mahakal Restaurant North Indian, South Indian, Malwa · about INR 250 per person
- Sudama Restaurant North Indian, Gujarati, Chinese · about INR 350 per person
- Madhav Restaurant North Indian, Chaat, Malwa · about INR 250 per person
- Agrawal Sweets & Namkeen Sweets, Snacks, Malwa · about INR 120 per person
- Damru Restaurant North Indian, Chinese, Tandoor · about INR 400 per person
- Cafe Coffee... Mom's Kitchen Continental, Italian, Cafe · about INR 350 per person
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.