Mahakaleshwar Mandir

Top choice in Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh


While this is not visually the most stunning temple, tagging along behind a conga-line through the underground chambers can be magical. At nonfestival times, the marble walkways are a peaceful preamble to the subterranean chamber containing one of India’s 12 jyoti linga – naturally occurring, especially sacred Shiva linga believed to derive currents of shakti (creative energies perceived as female deities) from within themselves rather than being ritually invested with mantra-shakti by priests. During festivals it can be oppressively busy.

The temple was destroyed by the Delhi sultan Iltutmish in 1235 and restored by the Scindias in the 19th century. Foreign visitors will generally be encouraged to pay ₹250 for a 'VIP' entry ticket. There's no obligation to buy one of these but it does allow you to skip any entry queues.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh attractions

1. Sinhasan Battisi

0.17 MILES

Vikram Teela, a small island in Rudra Sagar lake, is covered with statuary (installed in 2016) that re-creates the magical throne and court of the…

2. Harsiddhi Mandir

0.26 MILES

Built during the Maratha period, this temple enshrines a famous vermilion-painted image of goddess Annapurna. At the entrance, two tall blackened stone…

3. Ram Ghat

0.35 MILES

The most central and popular of Ujjain’s river ghats, strung with orange- and pink-roofed shrines, is busy all day with people bathing and presenting…

4. Gopal Mandir

0.41 MILES

The Scindias built this marble-spired temple, a fine example of Maratha architecture, in the 19th century. The sanctum’s silver-plated doors originated at…

5. Fateh Masjid

0.48 MILES

The tall white minaret of this mosque is a landmark en route from the train station to the Mahakaleshwar Mandir.

6. Sati Gate

0.58 MILES

Colourfully painted, pointed-arch gate over the street 400m east of the Gopal Mandir.

7. Vedh Shala

0.84 MILES

Ujjain has been India’s Greenwich since the 4th century BC, and this simple-looking but surprisingly complicated observatory was built by Maharaja Jai…

8. Clock Tower

1.32 MILES

Landmark on a busy intersection in the Freeganj area east of the railway station.