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Introducing The
Ujjain City
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State |
Madhya Pradesh |
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City |
Ujjain |
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Population |
6,62,787 Approx |
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Area |
79 sqm |
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STD Code |
0734 |
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Best
Season |
Oct-March |
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Local
Languages |
Hindi ,English |
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Weather
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Distance: 37km from
Dewas
45km from Indore
55km from Ratlam
Location
 Situated on the
Malwa Plateau on the eastern side of the River Shipra that originates from the
Kakri Bardi Range in Indore district, Ujjain forms the eastern district of
Madhya Pradesh, the heart-state of India. The district of Ujjain is surrounded
by the districts of Shajapur in the north, Ratlam in the east, Dhar in the west,
and Indore and Dewas in the south.
Most Holy City of Hindus
One of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus, known as Saptapurior Mokshapuri, Ujjain has
been a prominent centre of religious activities for over 2,000 years. The
township is particularly mentioned in the Atharva Veda, the last of the four Vedas(ancient Hindu texts written between 1,000 to 800
b.c.). Two parts of the
Skanda Purana, another ancient holy text, are
supposed to have been composed here.
The district of Ujjain along with its surrounding regions, was ancient
Avantikawith its capital at Ujjayini, which literally means the glorious conqueror. Apart from
being a religious place, Ujjain tourism highlights the city as a centre for
astronomy,developed by one of its rulers, Jai Singh. Ancient Hindu geographers
fixed the centre of the Earth and the first meridian here to make astronomical
calculations.
Buddhist Sites Found Here
Damaged sculptures and monasteries have been found scattered around Ujjain,
leading to the belief that Buddhism flourished here in the 4th
century. A profusion of these along with ruined temples and old remains
of foundations of houses found in the district belong to the Mauryan period (4th
to 2nd century
b.c.). Ancient bones and skeletons, coins, terracotta figurines, beads
and semi-precious stones were some of the other things discovered in Ujjain.
Evidences of an Ancient Empire
The discovery of ancient silver and copper coins enables historians
to reconstruct the basic pattern of administrative and kingship systems. In 326
b.c., the Greeks
arrived in India led by Alexander the Great, who crossed into India and met King
Porus on the banks of the River Jhelum. The Greeks stayed on for 18 months,
after which they began their long march back. Alexander left behind ambassadors
and vassals to rule the territories he had conquered upto Jhelum.
These regents who were responsible for administering Indian territories in
Alexander’s name, eventually came to be known as Kshatrapas (vassals) and
the Mahakshatrapas (senior vassals). This was around the Saka era in the
1st century a.d. From
Saka coins found in Ujjain, it is believed that a Kshatrapa would succeed
a Mahakshatrapa, indicating the influence of a foreign rule in Ujjain. A
glass stamp inscribed with the name Asadevas,
a lid with the name Nagabhudhis and an ivory stamp with the name
Gothjastiscus were discovered in Ujjain as well. All carved, moulded,
inscribed or stamped coins, rings and stamps are conserved in various museums in
Madhya Pradesh.
Attractions of Monuments
In addition to the ruins of antiquity, Ujjain tourism offers information on
number of interesting monuments. such as the Jai Singh Observatory, the Choubis Khamba Darwazaand the Kaliyadeh Mahal,
apart from the numerous temples in the periphery of the town. A dip in
the holy river Shipra is supposed to pave the way to Heaven for human beings.
The river flows north passing through the bathing sites of Mangalghat,
Narsimhaghat, Ramghat and Siddhavat before reaching the Rana Pratap
Sagar Dam and finally draining into the Chambal River. The
adjoining terrain is interspersed with teak and cultivated farmlands.
Modern Ujjain
Modern Ujjain is a major agricultural and textile trade centre, as well as the
district headquarters. The fertile plains of Ujjain receive electricity from the
Gandhi Sagar Dam on the Chambal River.
The district is fertile enough to produce sorghum, wheat, cotton, pulses,
legumes and poppy. Cotton ginning and milling, oilseed milling, hand weaving and
the manufacture of metal ware, tiles, hosiery, confectionery, strawboard and
batteries are flourishing industries in Ujjain. In the suburb Bherugarh, aka
Bhairavgarh, chippas or dyers and printers use vegetable
dyes and hand-carved teak to print ancient designs and patterns on cotton saris,
tapestries, hangings, bed sheets and mats.
Fairs &
Festivals
 Festive occasions and fairs are an
important part of the lives of people in Ujjain. An ancient religious centre,
Ujjain is famous for the Kumbh Mela, a
month-long fair attended by thousands of Hindu devotees. Locally known as
Sinhast,the fair is held every 12 years, beginning on
the full moon in the month of Chaitra (March-April) when Jupiter is in
Scorpio and the Sun is in Aries.
The Ardha Kumbh(half Kumbh) is held every six
years. Legend has it that a kumbh (pot) containing nectar arose from the
depths of the ocean because of a tug-of-war between the gods and the demons. The
ocean was churned with the help of the snake Vasuki, and Mount Meru.
A fight broke out between the gods and the demons over the pot of nectar. In the
ensuing conflict, drops of nectar fell on the places that are now Prayag(Allahabad), Nasik, Hardwar and Ujjain.
The age-old festival of Shivaratriis
dedicated to Shiva, the Destroyer in the
Hindu Holy Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer. Devotees flock to the temples
at dawn and make special offerings of berries and belpatra or leaves of
the wood apple. The Shiva linga (Shiva’s symbolic phallus) is bathed with
milk and honey and worshipped on Shivaratri.
Centre of Cultural Activities
Madhya Pradesh tourism also promotes other
cultural activities held in Ujjain. The state is the centre of cultural
activities and festivals such as the Malwa Utsav, a festival of folk and classical music, and the
All IndiaKalidasa Festival. These festivals are held
annually in Ujjain by the government of Madhya Pradesh. Dedicated to the 4th
century poet Kalidasa, the Kalidasa Festival
honours the creative talent of authors, poets and playwrights.
Moreover, the Theatre Academy of Madhya
Pradesh also has its centre at Ujjain. |
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