Located in Ujjain, the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is a well-known pilgrimage place for the Hindus and one of the top places to visit in Madhya Pradesh.
The temple is said to be one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva. Also, it is counted among the top ten Tantra temples in the world. In this temple, Lord Shiva is believed to have resided in the lingam form.
Also Read: 12 Jyotirlinga Images with Name and Place
It is believed that those who visit this temple never have to face any sorrows and they manage to wash off all the sorrows if there are any. With all the faith and devotion in heart, people can assure themselves with wish fulfillment.
The key highlight of this temple is the ancient rituals which are practiced by the devotees and saints to honor the God. These rituals include the Bhasm Aarti. This aarti ceremony starts before sunrise in order to awaken the god. The ceremony takes place every day. During the aarti, sacred ash which is specially brought from the Ghats is applied to the idol.
Also, the temple is architecturally beautiful as it has rich inscribing of the Rajputana times. There are many more facts which you must know about the temple while you are planning to pay a visit here.
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History of Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga
When it comes to the history of the Mahakaleshwar jyotirlinga, it is believed that there was a boy named Shrikar who saw Chandrasena, King of Ujjain, worshipping Lord Shiva all day. The boy saw his devotion and decided to worship for Lord Shiva.
He took a stone and started worshipping it by considering it a linga. People thought that all this was like a game which the small boy was playing. As his devotion increased every day, Lord Shiva assumed Jyotirlinga form and resided in the Mahakal forest.
It is also believed that there was a demon, Dushana who attacked all the residents of Avanti. Seeing all this, Lord Shiva appeared from ground and he defeated the demon. Then, all the inhabitants of Avanti requested Lord Shiva to stay there. Upon the request of the people, Lord Shiva took permanent abode as Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga.
Also Read: 12 Jyotirlinga in India
Best time to Visit
Mahashivratri is the best time to visit the Mahakaleshwar temple. The festival falls between the months of February and March. Those who visit during this festival can become a part of the celebrations of The Night of Shiva.
At this time, all the devotees observe day and night fast and perform rituals to worship Shiva Lingam. During this time, devotees from all over the world visit the Mahakaleshwar temple. So, February and March are the best months to visit the Mahakaleshwar temple.
How to Reach
The Mahakaleshwar temple is located in Ujjain, in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. The place is well-connected to major cities via rail, road and air.
Reach By Air :
Indore is the nearest closest airport which is 51 km from the Mahakaleshwar temple. After reaching the airport, visitors can take any local transport to reach the temple.
Reach By Road :
Buses are the best mode of transport when planning to visit via road. There are a number of buses which commute to this destination from major cities. Some important distances of the Mahakaleshwar temple from major cities are:
- From Bhopal: 188 KM
- From Delhi: 776 KM
- From Bangalore: 1370 KM
- From Mumbai: 648 KM
- From Pune: 665 KM
Reach By Train
There are four railway stations which are nearest to the Mahakaleshwar temple. These stations are: Ujjain Junction, Vikram Nagar, Chintaman and Pingleshwar. All these stations are well-connected to the major cities of the country. After reaching the railway station, tourists can take any local transport to reach the temple.
The Mahakaleshwar temple is a must-visit for all the Lord Shiva devotees. The temple presents an important link which will always remain amid the ancient Hindu customs and modern India. There are many tourist attractions near the Mahakaleshwar temple which travelers can visit. These include Radha Madan Mohan Temple, Kal Bhairava, Bade Ganesh Ji Ka Mandir, Bhartrihari Caves, Vedha Shala and many more.
So, plan your trip to the beautiful Mahakaleshwar temple this holiday season and seek blessings of Lord Shiva.
