| Only 56km from Indore, ancient Ujjain is one of India's
holiest cities for Hindus. Ujjain is situated on the right bank of River
Shipra. It is a very holy city for the Hindus, a site
for the triennial Kumbha Mela. According to Hindu scriptures, it was originally called
Avantika. There is an interesting tale behind the sanctity of the city. It's origin is ascribed to the mythological
legend of Sagar Manthan (churning of the primordial ocean to discover the pot of
nectar). The story goes
that after the nectar was discovered, there was a chase between the gods and the demons to have the nectar
first and thus attain immortality. During this chase a drop of nectar spilled and fell on Ujjain
, thus
making the city sacred.Apart from mythological legends, the city has a long distinguished history. It was
governed by the likes of Vikramaditya and Ashoka. Kalidas wrote his soul stirring poetry here. Today, Ujjain
represents an interesting blend of an age old legacy and the modern day lifestyle. Hindu astronomy, astrology and
geography have Ujjain as the base for calculation which is the
"Greenwich" of Hindu astronomers and astrologers.Despite its relative obscurity today, Ujjain ranks equal as a
great religious centre with such places as Varanasi, Gaya and Kanchipuram.
Ujjain really comes alive during festival time, but the devotional vibe makes it
a pleasant town year-round. The railway line divides the city: the old section,
including the bazaar and the most of the temples and ghats, are to the
north-west of the city, and the new section is on the south-easr side.
The majority of hotels are in front of the railway station. Tourist
information is available at the Hotel Shipra. |
