Religious Highs of Ujjain

India has no dearth of religious sites or pilgrim trails and a trip to Ujjain is easily amongst the most sought after holy tours in the country. Not surprising, considering the city’s legendary mythological connection with the Mahabharata and the numerous temples dotting the landscape. Ujjain is also one of the seven Sapta Puris or Hindu sacred cities. Furthermore, Ujjain counts amongst the four sites where Kumbh Mela or Simhasta Mela is held. It is even believed that Lord Krishna received his childhood education at Ujjain. If these tidbits have made you curious, take a more detailed look at some of the most famous tourist places in Ujjain as well as the nearby places of Indore and Khandwa. A Visit to Mahakaleshwar Pick any Ujjain travel guide and you will come across a mention of the Shiva temple of Mahakaleshwar. With its gigantic shikhara, this old temple is held in great awe and reverence by locals and visitors alike. The temple draws huge crowds on Mondays and devotees have been known to queue up for as long as three hours for darshan. A lovely thing about this temple is that unlike quite a few other religious sites, people are not jostled or rushed once they reach the garbh, where the main jyotirlinga is located. After visiting the place, you are very likely to feel that it is one of the most unforgettable of Ujjain attractions. Tour of Harsiddhi Temple The Harsiddhi Temple is another major highlight of Ujjain tourism. The temple is well known for the idols of Mahalaxmi, Annapurna, and Mahasaraswati, with Annapurna being placed between the other two. The temple also has enshrines the ‘Sri Yantra’ or the symbol of shakti (power). As per the Shiva Purana, the temple is located at the spot where Sati’s elbow fell, when Shiva carried her away. A little trivia here. Harsiddhi is an epithet for Goddess Chandi and it is said that the epithet was bestowed upon her by Shiva. This Maratha era temple has two old lamps atop a couple of pillars and one can witness the lighting of the same during Diwali. Make sure that you visit this temple to make the most of your Ujjain travel planner. Travel to Siddhavat The huge Banyan tree on the banks of the River Shipra is another highlight of one’s Ujjain trip planner. This tree has the same sanctity as Vrindavan’s Vanshivat, Nasik’s Panchavata, and Gaya and Prayag’s Akashayavat. The bathing ghat draws pilgrims in hordes and it is even believed that Goddess Parvati performed penance at the spot. rnAnother colourful legend goes that the Mughals tried to stop the Banyan tree from growing by covering its roots with iron sheet but the roots shattered these sheets. While visiting this place, it also makes sense to check out the small nearby village of Bhairogarh, a historically famous site for tie and dye works. You will hardly need to keep aside an hour or two in your Ujjain travel planner for visiting Siddhavat and Bhairogarh. Places to see around Ujjain A couple of interesting tourist places near Ujjain are Indore and Khandwa. Here is a brief look at these destinations and how you can plan a tour to the same. A Trip to Indore Indore inevitably crops up in the mind whenever there is a discussion about places to see around Ujjain. Some of the major attractions that prompt travellers into going on an Ujjain to Indore trip are Rajawada, Central Museum, and Kanch Mandir. The destination is approximately 55 km away and can be easily covered by catching one of the Ujjain to Indore buses. A Khandwa Tour The Ujjain to Khandwa distance is approximately 186 km. A major attraction that makes one’s Ujjain to Khandwa trip worthwhile is Dadaji Dhuniwale Khandwa. The fares for Ujjain to Khandwa trains start at approximately Rs. 210.