Ujjain Tourism

Ujjain is the quiet and relatively small provincial town. Ujjain is situated about 60 kms. from Indore. Ujjain is one of the greatest cities of ancient India and one of the seven sacred cities of Hindus in India. It is also one of the four towns where the Kumbh Mela is held and plays as a host up to a million pilgrims who gather on the place every twelve years. Various people came here to bath in the Shipra river and worship at the temples on its banks. According to Hindu astronomers, it is also the city from where the Tropic of Cancer pass. This explains the presence of the observatory (Vedha Shala) built by the Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur in 1725. Even today, the Ephemeris tables (predicted positions of the planets) are published here. Ujjain is also known for industry and crafts. The best season to visit Ujjain is from October to March.

According to legend, the gods and the demons once churned the ocean for Kumbha (a pot of divine nectar). First emerged a pot of vish or poison. The Lord Shiva drank it down. The poison was so strong that his divine neck turned blue and he was known as the Nilkantha or the blue-necked one. It all happened at Ujjain and that is the reason for its sacredness. In the ancient times and in the great Hindu epics, the Upanishads and the Puranas Ujjain was known as Avantika. According to the legend, the Lord Siva commemorated his victory over the demon ruler of Tripuri by changing the name of his capital to Ujjaiyini. Ujjaiyini means one who conquers with pride. Various dynasties like the Sakas, Guptas, Paramaras, the governors of the Slave Dynasty of Delhi, Mughals and Marathas ruled over this prosperous city.

It is also said to have been the seat of the viceroyalty of Ashoka during the reign of his father at Pataliputra (Patna) in 275 BC. Chandragupta II also transferred his capital from Pataliputra to Ujjain. The emperor Asoka’s sons were born here, and it was from here that they set out to preach Buddhism. The poet Kalidasa, wrote some of his works here and even the god Krishna is believed to have studied here. Kalidas described the city as the “town fallen from Heaven to bring heaven to earth.” Ujjain was also situated on a trade route to Mesopotamia and Egypt and consequently trade flourished. Nowdays, it is little more than a provincial town.