What to see
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What to see |
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| Ujjain, stands
glamorously among many other Indian sacred and holy cities. The early history of Ujjain is
lost in the midst of antiquity. According to ancient Hindu scriptures it was originally
called Avantika. later King Shiva of Avanti commemorating his triumph over the demon king
of Tripuri, changed it to Ujjainyini (one who conquers with pride). Ujjain is situated on the right bank of River Shipra. It is a very holy city for the Hindus, a site for the triennial Kumbh mela. There are many great mythological legend about Ujjain city. Apart from mythological legends, the city has a long distinguished history. It was governed by the likes of Vikramaditya and Ashoka. Kalidas wrote his souls stirring poetry here. Today, Ujjain represents an interesting blend of an age old legacy and the modern day lifestyle. |
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| General Information | |
| Altitude : 492
mts. Climate (deg C): Summer- Max. 40, Min. 20; Winter- Max. 28, Min. 10. Rainfall : 101 cms (July to September). Best Season : September to March. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
EXCURSIONS Agar (66 kms) : An ancient archaeological site. |
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| Temples |
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| Bhartrihari Caves | |
| These caves are situated just above
the bank of the Shipra near the temple of Gadkalika. According to popular tradition, this
is the spot where Bhartrihari, who is said to have been the step brother of Vikramaditya,
lived and meditated after renouncing worldly life. He is believed to have been a great
scholar and poet. His famous works, Shringarshatak, Vairagyashatak, and Nitishatak, are
known for the exquisite use of the Sanskrit meter. |
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| Kaliadeh Palace | |
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Situated on the
banks of the Shipra, the island-like site immediately conjures up the natural beauty of
ancient Ujjain which poets down the ages have waxed lyrical. The glorious landscape of the
flowing river on both sides of the palace and the man-made tanks and channels, with water
gurgling through them, provide a spectacular backdrop to the imposing building. |
| Durgadas Ki Chhatri | |
| This distinctive monument glows like
a small jewel in the surrounding lush landscape. Vir Durgadas earned a secure niche for
himself in the history of Marwad by his undaunting, selfless service to the State. He
fought for the independence of Jodhpur after the death of Maharaj Jaswant Singh and helped
Ajit Singh to ascend the throne against the wishes of Aurangzeb. Durgadas died at Rampura in 1718, and his funeral rites were performed according to his wishes on the banks of the Shipra. The rulers of Jodhpur had built the chhatri to consecrate his memory. This beautiful structure, built in the Rajput style of architecture, houses a statue of Durgadas which crumbled down. |
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| Observatory | |
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Ujjain enjoyed a position of considerable importance in the field of astronomy. Great works on astronomy such as the Surya Siddhanta and the Panch Siddhanta were written in Ujjain. According to Indian astronomers, the Tropic of Cancer is supposed to pass through Ujjain. It is also the fist meridian of longitude of the Hindu geographers. From about the 4th century BC, Ujjain enjoyed the reputation of being India's Greenwich. The observatory extant today was built by Raja Jai Singh (1686-1743), who was a great scholar. He translated the works of Ptolemy and Euclid into Sanskrit from Arabic. Of the many observatories built by him at Jaipur, Delhi, Varanasi, Mathura, and Ujjain, the one at Ujjain is still in use actively. Astronomical studies are conducted through the Department of Education and the ephemeris is published every year. There is a small planetarium and a telescope to observe the moon, Mars, Jupiter and their satellites. The observatory is also used for weather forecasts ... More |
| Vikram Kirti Mandir |
| Established on the occasion of the second millennium of the Vikram era, as the cultural centre to perpetuate the memory of Vikramaditya, the Vikram Kirti Mandir houses the Scindia Oriental Research Institute, an archaeological museum, an art gallery and an auditorium. The Scindia Oriental Research Institute has an invaluable collection of 18,000 manuscripts on various subjects and runs a reference library of important oriental publications. Rare manuscripts in Prakrit, Arabic, Persian and other Indian languages cover a wide range of subjects from Vedic literature and philosophy to dance and music. Palm leaf and bark leaf (Bhurja Patra) manuscripts are also preserved in this institute. Apart from an illustrated manuscript of Shrimad Bhagavata in which actual gold and silver have been employed for the paintings, the Institute has a rich collection of old paintings in the Rajput and Mughal style. The museum also exhibits a rich array of images, inscriptions, copper plates and fossils discovered in the narmada valley.A huge skull of a primitive elephant is of special interest. Art Gallery |
| Kalidasa Academia | |
| This academy was set up in Ujjain by the Government of Madhya Pradesh to immortalize the memory of the great poet dramatist-Kalidasa, and to create a multi-disciplinary institution to project the genius of the entire classical tradition, with Kalidasa as the apex, enable research and study in Sanskrit classical and traditional performing arts, and facilitate its adaptation for contemporary stage in different cultural settings and language groups. The Academy complex consists of a theatre, museum, library, lecture and seminary halls, mini stage for rehearsals, research facilities for scholars, and a large open air theater... More |  |
| Sandipani Ashram | |
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The fact that
ancient Ujjain apart from its political and religious importance, enjoyed the reputation
of being a great seat of learning as early as the Mahabharata period is borne out by the
fact that, Lord Krishna and Sudama received regular instruction in the ashram of Guru
Sandipani. The area near the ashram is known as Ankapata, popularly believed to have been
the place used by Lord Krishna for washing his writing tablet. The numerals 1 to 100 found
on a stone are believed to have been engraved by Guru Sandipani. |
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