Temples in Ujjain

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Gopal Mandir

This is a Krishna temple with a silver Deity. Gopal Krishna, who is two feet tall, is on a marble inlaid altar with silver-plated doors. This temple was constructed by Maharaja Adult Rao Scindia's queen in the 19th century. This temple is located in the bazaar in the center of the city.

The silver-plated doors of the sanctum are said to have been originally in the Somnath Temple in Gujarat. They were taken to Ghazni in Afghanistan by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 and then to Lahore by Mahmud Shah Abdati. The doors are then said to have been recovered by the Maratha leader Mahadji Scindia and put in this temple.

Mahakaleswara Temple

This large temple was rebuilt by the Marathas in the 19th century. It contains one of the 12 Siva jyoutirlingas. It attracts thousands of pilgrims and is by far the most visited temple in Ujjain. It is closed to non-Hindus, but l went in and no one even talked to me.

Vikram Kirti Mandir

This place houses the Scindia Oriental Research Institute, an archaeological museum, and a art gallery. The Scindia Oriental Institute has a rare collection of 18,000 old manuscripts. Palm leaf and bark leaf (bhurja patra) manuscripts are preserved in this institute. There is an illustrated Srimad Bhagavatam manuscript in which actual gold and silver have been employed for the paintings. There is also a rich collection of old Rajput and moghul style paintings.

Other Places

The Harsiddhi Temple is where the murti of Annapurna resides between Mahalaksmi and Mahasaraswati. According to the Siva Purana, this is where the elbow of Sati dropped, after she burned herself in the sacrificial fire. There are two large lamps here which are spectacular when lit during Navratri (Dussehra) in October.
There is an enormous Banyan tree at Siddhavat on the banks of the Shipra. It is said that Parvati performed penance there.

According to the Matsya Purana Mangalnath is the birth place of Mars. The Nivagraha Mandir, dedicated to the nine planets, is situated at triveni Ghat on the Shipra River.

Near the Mahakaleswara temple tank in the Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir is a very large deity of Ganesh called Chintaman Ganesh, who is manifested with his consorts Riddhi and Siddhi.