Visiting Ujjain the home of Lord Shiva

Ujjain is 80 km from Indore.It is one of the holiest places of Hinduism and is famous for the Maha Kaal temple of Shiva as well as the Kaal Bhairov Temple.

Ujjain is one of the holiest cities of Hinduism. No pilgrimage is complete for a Hindu till he visits Ujjain. Situated at a distance of about 80 km from Indore, Ujjain houses some of the most famous temples associated with Lord Shiva, one of the most powerful Gods in the Hindu pantheon.

One can reach Ujjain directly by train from both Delhi and Mumbai, which is an overnight journey from these two places. In addition you can fly down to Indore, which is well connected to all places in India. From Indore airport you can take a taxi to Ujjain.

1. The Mahakaal Temple ---

Ujjain is known as the city of temples. However the most famous temples are the Maha Kaal temple and the Kaal Bhairov temples. Both temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Maha Kaal temple is often referred to as the Mahakaleshwar temple.The temple at Ujjain is located near a lake and has five levels, one of which is underground. The temple itself is adorned with sculptural finery. The path to the underground sanctum is lit by brass lamps.

The temple is the abode of Lord Shiva. The Jyotiirlingas at Ujjain is considered swayambhu [Born of itself] and faces the south. This is a unique feature which is sanctified by Tantric tradition. The Jyotirlingus at Ujjain is one of the 12 holiest lingas in the world.

2. The Kaal Bhairov Temple ---

At Ujjain there is another temple also dedicated to the Lord Shiva called the Kaal Bhairov temple. This is a fierce manifestation of Shiva and the God in this form is adorned with a necklace of serpents. He wears a tiger skin and has a ritual apron made up of human bones. His divine vehicle for travel is a dog.

Worshippers at this temple pay their homage to the God with a bottle of liquor. This can be purchased at the site and the temple priest will hold the plate with the liquor to the lips of the deity and one can see the liquor slowly vanishing as it is drunk by the God. This is a wonder and has never been explained.

Ujjain also has an ISKON temple that attracts a lot of visitors. Built in white marble the temple has a beautiful look

Ujjain also has any number of other temples and one can spend days exploring them. As far as stay is concerned Ujjain has a few hotels, but they are budget hotels and fairly cheap. In case one desires to stay in five star comforts then you will have to make Indore as your base. Commutation from Indore is easy by both taxi and bus.