Ujjain (Avantikā)

City of Mahākāla · Śiprā river, Madhya Pradesh

Ujjain, ancient Avantikā or Ujjayinī, is a city of Śiva, of kings and of astronomers. Besides Mahākāleśvar (see the Jyotirliṅga section), pilgrims visit Kāla Bhairava, Harasiddhi Devī, counted by many as a Śakti Pīṭha, and the ghats of the Śiprā at Rām Ghāṭ.

Ujjain was a historic centre of Indian astronomy; the old zero meridian of Indian time-reckoning was taken through it, and the Jantar Mantar observatory built by Sawai Jai Singh can still be seen. The Siṃhastha Kumbh is held here roughly every twelve years. October to March is the best season.

Tradition says the young Kṛṣṇa, with his brother Balarāma and friend Sudāmā, studied at the āśrama of the sage Sāndīpani in Ujjain, learning the sixty-four arts in as many days. The āśrama site is still visited. Ujjain is also remembered in legend as the capital of King Vikramāditya.

Madhya Pradesh · Śiprā river · Siṃhastha Kumbh · Old prime meridian

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