AIR
IA and Jet have daily flights to Indore (the nearest airport) from Mumbai and Delhi.

Airport
The city has no airport of its own. Indore airport is 55 km away. Private taxis take you to Ujjain for anything between Rs 650 and 750. Alternatively, there are hourly state transport buses running between the two cities.

RAIL
The railway line divides the city into two halves: the old city, including the bazaar and a majority of the temples and ghats, lies north-west of the main city and the newer one is in the south-east. The city is well connected with other parts of the country: Malwa Express from Delhi, Narmada Express via Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur and Bilaspur, Avantika Express from Mumbai and Bhopal-Rajkot Express from Ahmedabad.

RailwayStation
Located in the heart of the city on the Bhopal-Nagada sector of the Western Railway.

ROAD
A good network of motorable roads connects Ujjain with Indore (56 km), Mandu (149 km), Bhopal (188 km), Ahmedabad (430 km), Gwalior (455 km), Khajuraho (570 km), Mumbai (648 km) and Delhi (776 km). Buses ply daily to Indore and Bhopal.

Bus stand
The inter-state bus terminus next to the train station, known as the Mahakal Bus Stand, has regular services to Indore, Bhopal, Ratlam, Gwalior, Mandu, Dhar and Omkareshwar.

Area
37 sq.km

Language
Hindi, English and local dialects

STD Code
0734

CLIMATE
Summer temperatures range from a maximum of 40°C to a minimum of 20°C while the winters are mild with a seasonal variation between 28°C and 10°C.

Mahakaleshwar Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva and home to one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India, this is the most famous shrine in the city. The magnificent structure of the stupa epitomises the complexity of Buddhist cosmology but reaching the temple perched on a hill could prove to be a tiring climb. The idol of Omkareshwara Shiva consecrated in the sanctum above the Mahakal shrine is believed to be Swayambhu, or self-born. Apart from the principle deity of Lord Shiva, it also has the images of Ganesh, Parvati, Kartikeya and Shiva s bull, Nandi. The imposing facade of the shikhara against the skyline evokes a sense of awe and reverence in the visitors.

Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir
With its decorative gateway and elaborate sculptural carvings, the temple, lying close to the tank near Mahakaleshwar, houses a large ornate statue of Lord Ganesh. An idol of its size and grandeur is a rarity by itself and to add to its attraction, there is also an idol of the Shree Pancha-Mukhi (five-faced) Hanuman in the middle of the temple complex. For the interested, there s a provision for Sanskrit and Astrology lessons!

Chintaharan Ganesh
A temple of venerable antiquity, it is a popular place of pilgrimage where the idol is believed to have naturally taken shape from the River Shipra. Situated on the bank of this perennial river, the temple is flanked by consorts of the elephant-headed Lords Riddhi and Siddhi. Worshippers throng this temple for obvious reasons, the deity being known as the Chintaharan Ganesh - the reliever of worldly anxieties.

Pir Matsyendranath
Another monument on the banks of the River Shipra, the place is dedicated to the memory of one of the great leaders of the Natha sect of Shaivism ? Matsyendranath. However, its uniqueness lies in the fact that followers of both the religions throng the place (Muslims refer to their saints as pir ). Also worth a visit is the excavation site, which has yielded some antiquities dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries BC.

Kaliadeh Palace
A summer retreat built by the rulers of Mandu in 1458, the Kaliadeh Palace rests on an island in the River Shipra, 9 km north of the city centre. Poets down the ages have waxed lyrical about the beauty of ancient Ujjain and this unique example of Persian architecture conjures up that glorious past. The meandering river and the artificial tanks and channels on both sides of the palace provide a spectacular backdrop to this imposing structure topped off by a majestic dome. The two long corridors inscribed with the details of the visit of the Mughal emperors Akbar and Jehangir should also interest connoisseurs of history. Vandalised during the time of the Pindaris, it was restored to its present glory by the Scindias in 1920.

Vikram Kirti Mandir
Established during the second millennium of the Vikram era, it has evolved to become a cultural centre that has preserved the memory of King Vikramaditya. The institute also has a collection of rare palm and bark leaf (Bhuja Patra) manuscripts in Prakrit, Arabic, Persian and other Indian languages covering a wide range of subjects from Vedic literature and philosophy to dance and music.

Vedh Shala Observatory (Jantar Mantar)
Located within a distance of 1 km from the railway station, the observatory built in 1725 overlooks a bend in the River Shipra. Not only is it the Indian Greenwich with the first meridian of longitude passing through, it is also the birthplace of mathematical astronomy in India. Though a pale shadow of its more famous cousins in Delhi and Jaipur, the local astronomers still continue to use its five yantras (instruments) for complex calculations and horoscopes.

Gopal Mandir
Bayajibai Shinde, the queen of Maharaja Daulat Rao Shinde, built this marble-spired temple in the 19th century. Standing in the heart of the chaotic bazaar, this picturesque temple is a blend of Moghul domes, Moorish arches and lofty Hindu towers. The sanctum is inlaid with marble and its silver plated doors, originally from the Somnath Temple, are believed to have been carried off first to Ghazni and from there by Mahmud Shah Abdali to Lahore prior to its installation in this temple. The shrine itself, lined with marble, silver and mother-of-pearl, contains icons of Ganesha along with his parents, Shiva and Parvati.

Navagraha Mandir
Situated on the Triveni Ghat of the Shipra River, the temple is located away from the old site of Ujjain. It is dedicated to the nine ruling planets and attracts a huge gathering of devotees especially on the new moon days. Though it has no mention in the ancient manuscripts, the temple s religious importance seems to have increased with the passage of time.

Garhkalika Temple
Situated about 3 km from the city of Ujjain, the huge red-faced deity of Kalika with a silver forehead bearing a red bindi, was worshipped by Kalidasa. According to legend, the goddess impressed by his devotion, blessed him with great literary skills. The temple was first renovated during the rule of Emperor Harshavardhan in the 7th century with further restructuring taking place under the Parmars. The modern structure, of course, owes its grandeur to the erstwhile rulers of Gwalior.

Mangalnath Temple
Away from the bustle of the city, this Shiva temple can be reached through a winding network of roads. The shrine, overlooking a vast expanse of the Shipra waters, induces an unmatched sense of tranquility in the visitor. In ancient times Mangalnath, regarded as the birthplace of Mars, was famous for a clear view of the planets and as a centre of astronomical studies.

Kal Bhairav Temple
If you have an artistic bent of mind, one that appreciates paintings, then this can be one of the ultimate places for you to visit. The intricate depiction of figures and colours in the true Malwa style will mesmerise your aesthetic self.

Bhartrihari Caves
Another place worth visiting are the legendary caves of the scholar-poet Bhartrihari, near the Garhkalika Temple on the banks of the Shipra, where he had lived and meditated.

Indore (56 km)
Brought to limelight by Ahilya Bai, a stronghold of the Holkars, Indore is home to the sumptuous and exquisite Malwa cuisine. In spite of being a thriving industrial centre today, Indoris here have kept up the dying art of relaxation in the midst of modern hurry! Recently conferred with the status of Heritage City, Indore is a must-see.

Mandu (149 km)
Mandu is a celebration of life in stone. It records the saga of love of the poet-prince Baz Bahadur for his beautiful consort, Rani Roopmati. A pleasure resort with its lakes (though somewhat dried up) and palaces, Mandu offers a visual extravaganza for its visitors. Drop in during the rainy season and you are bound to succumb to its charms.

Ujjain, unlike other contemporary cities, still lacks an ultra modern shopping plaza. But, of course, if you re an avid shopper get ready for a spree ? for you will find plenty. Free Ganj, the main market in downtown Ujjain, is stocked with readymades from Ludhiana and Delhi. The best part is that you can get them for at least one-third of the price in any metropolis. Also there is an ample stock of knick-knacks for you to shop to your heart s content.