Ujjain
The city of temples

One of the twelve jyotirlingas of the country and one in every of the foremost vital temples of Ujjain, the Mahakaleshwar temple is devoted to Lord Shiva. It consists of a five-story structure in-built the mid-18th century. This temple is associate degree fine arts marvel, with Bhumija, Chalukya, and Maratha varieties of design. it’s price noting its marble walkways that were restored within the last half of the nineteenth century by the Scindia. The lingams of Mahakalesvara, Omkaresvara, and Nagachandresvara occupy 3 floors of the building severally. there’s conjointly a kunda (tank) on the premises, known as Koti Tirtha, that was in-built the Sarvatobhadra vogue. Following the trail from the kunda steps to the temple, you’ll stumble upon many pictures of the first structure of the temple, reflective its grandeur throughout the Paramara amount (9th and ordinal centuries). it’s situated close to Rudra Sagar, and devotees gather here as early as four am for a special Bhasma Arti. there’s associate degree ardent atmosphere here and therefore the lit diyas wreak a placing sight.

The Jantar Mantar was designed by Sawai Raja Jai Singh, the ruler of Amber, between 1725 and 1730 A.D. it absolutely was designed to help Hindu astrologers and students in their studies and analysis, particularly the compilation of astronomical tables and so the prediction of the movements of the sun, moon, and planets. it’s one in every of the 5 observatories in-built Asian country within the eighteenth century by the Raja, the opposite four being in metropolis, Mathura, Jaipur, and Varanasi. The instruments put in here with the assistance of Raja Jai Singh embody the timekeeper, Nadi Valay Yantra, telescope, Digyansa Yantra, and Shanku Yantra. There square measure plaques and spot boards all over with info in Hindi and English to clarify the operating of many instruments. There also are Masonic instruments, known as Ved Shala, that square measure still used for analysis. This architectural marvel may be a must-see within the town.

The ghat is located near the Harsiddhi Mata temple. On the Kumbh Mela, the Ram Mandir Ghat welcomes thousands of devotees, who believe that bathing in the waters of the sacred Kshipra River absolves them of their sins. There are also various temples lining the ghat where visitors can worship. It is recommended to visit the ghat during the evening prayers when the lights and diyas offer a fascinating spectacle. You can take a leisurely stroll and soak up the atmosphere of Ujjain. It is also possible to have a splendid view of the sunsets from the ghat, which is considered one of the oldest sites of the Kumbh celebration. Admire the burning orb of the sun as it glides over the horizon, painting the sky in a myriad of red and orange colors.

The temple city of Maheshwar, located on the banks of the Narmada River, is 150 km from Ujjain. It is said to have existed since the beginning of Indian civilization and is even mentioned in the epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. This city is captivating with its colorful houses, bustling ghats, sadhus, and saffron-clad pilgrims. It represents the glory of ancient India. It is commonly believed that it was developed during the reign of the Holkars, especially Queen Ahilya Bai Holkar, between 1767 and 1795. At this time, this temple town has also been the location of movies like Ashoka and Tulsi. During your stay, visit Ahilya Fort, Maheshwar Palace, Baneshwar Temple, Shiv Jyotirlingam Mandleshwar Temple, and then the ghats at dusk to attend the prayer and see the cenotaphs of Ahilya Bai and Vithoji Rao. Also, visit the roadside markets to buy the famous hand-woven silk and cotton Maheshwari sarees.

The Kumbh Mela is arguably the largest spiritual gathering in the world, held in four regions of India – Haridwar, Ujjain, Prayagraj and Nashik. It is held every four years in one of these four cities. The Ujjain fair is called Simhasth Kumbh Mahaparv and is held on the banks of the holy river Kshipra. It is generally regarded as a Hindu pilgrimage where devotees from all over the world come to bathe in the holy river. They often believe that bathing in the waters absolves them of their sins. The mela itself is a vibrant and grand event that is an excellent place to soak up the culture and tradition.
The origins of this popular festival are based on an inspiring history. Deities (devtas) and demons (asuras) used to compete for a pot of nectar (Amrit Kalash) that they had found while churning the primordial sea (Samudra Mathan). Since the demons were more powerful, the gods entrusted the nectar pot to four devtas – Brahaspati, Surya, Chandra, and Shani, who ran away with it for safekeeping. They set off in pursuit for 12 days and 12 nights around the earth. Throughout the chase, the gods kept the pot in Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain, and Nasik. Another legend says that a fight between the gods and the demons took place during which the pot overturned, and thus the nectar fell in these four places.