Ujjain
Ancient temple city, home of the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga
Best time to visit Ujjain
- Jan, peak season
- Feb, peak season
- Mar, shoulder season
- Apr, best avoided
- May, best avoided
- Jun, best avoided
- Jul, shoulder season
- Aug, shoulder season
- Sep, shoulder season
- Oct, peak season
- Nov, peak season
- Dec, peak season
peak shoulder off-season avoid
- Go: October to February
- Shoulder: March and July to September, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
- Skip: April to June
Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryOctoberNovemberDecember
Ujjain season by season
Winter December to February Prime time
Cool mornings for the 4am Bhasma Aarti queue. Most comfortable season for the ghats.
Summer March to May Shoulder
April-June heat punishes marble floors and exposed ghats. Go before sunrise or skip.
Monsoon June to September Shoulder
Kshipra rises, city greens up: decent for the temple circuit if you don't mind rain queues.
Autumn October to November Prime time
Temperatures drop through October, pleasant for temple-hopping, quieter than December's rush.
What Ujjain is actually like
Pilgrim town through and through. You'll be one of few solo leisure travellers.
Getting to Ujjain
Direct trains to Ujjain; Indore airport 55km, 1h taxi.
Practical ways in: flighttrainroad
Trip facts
- How long to stay
- 2 days
- Budget
- Shoestring
- How busy
- Busy at its peak
- Solo travel
- Doable solo with some planning
- Altitude
- 496 m
- State
- Madhya Pradesh
- Coordinates
- 23.1765, 75.7885
Common questions
When is the best time to visit Ujjain?
October to February is peak season in Ujjain. March and July to September is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to June. Temperatures drop through October, pleasant for temple-hopping, quieter than December's rush.
How many days do you need in Ujjain?
2 days is the usual stay. Pilgrim town through and through. You'll be one of few solo leisure travellers.
How do you get to Ujjain?
Direct trains to Ujjain; Indore airport 55km, 1h taxi. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.
Is Ujjain expensive, and does it get crowded?
Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.
Is there a festival in Ujjain?
Oct-Nov: Kartik Mela fair on the Kshipra ghats. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.
Nearby, and where to go next
-
Mandu
Madhya Pradesh
Ruined Malwa plateau city famous for its monsoon mist
130 km from Ujjain, roughly about 3 h by road
-
Omkareshwar
Madhya Pradesh
Om-shaped Narmada island with a Jyotirlinga and hostel vibe
150 km from Ujjain, roughly about 3 h by road
-
Maheshwar
Madhya Pradesh
Narmada ghat town of forts, handloom sarees and calm
150 km from Ujjain, roughly about 3 h by road
-
Hanuwantiya Tapu
Madhya Pradesh
Tent city and island cruises on India's biggest reservoir
190 km from Ujjain, roughly about 4 h by road
-
Banswara (Mahi Backwaters)
Rajasthan
Hundred islands of the Mahi backwaters in tribal Vagad
190 km from Ujjain, roughly about 4 h by road
-
Jhalawar (Gagron & Jhalrapatan)
Rajasthan
Water fort at Gagron and the temple town of Jhalrapatan
210 km from Ujjain, roughly about 4 h by road
-
Bhopal & Sanchi
Madhya Pradesh
Lake city gateway to the UNESCO Sanchi Buddhist stupas
220 km from Ujjain, roughly about 4 h by road
-
Gandhi Sagar (Chambal)
Madhya Pradesh
Cheetah scrubland and fort country around a Chambal mega-lake
220 km from Ujjain, roughly about 4 h by road
More places to visit in Madhya Pradesh
- Amarkantak Madhya Pradesh
- Bandhavgarh National Park Madhya Pradesh
- Bhimbetka (with Bhojpur) Madhya Pradesh
- Bhopal & Sanchi Madhya Pradesh
- Burhanpur Madhya Pradesh
- Chanderi Madhya Pradesh
- Gandhi Sagar (Chambal) Madhya Pradesh
- Ghughua Fossil Park Madhya Pradesh
- Gwalior Madhya Pradesh
- Hanuwantiya Tapu Madhya Pradesh
- Jabalpur & Bhedaghat (Marble Rocks) Madhya Pradesh
- Kanha National Park Madhya Pradesh
- Khajuraho Madhya Pradesh
- Kukru (Khamla Plateau) Madhya Pradesh
- Kuno National Park (Sesaipura) Madhya Pradesh
- Maheshwar Madhya Pradesh
- Mandla Madhya Pradesh
- Mandu Madhya Pradesh
- Mitaoli, Padavali & Bateshwar Madhya Pradesh
- Omkareshwar Madhya Pradesh
- Orchha Madhya Pradesh
- Pachmarhi Madhya Pradesh
- Panna National Park Madhya Pradesh
- Pench National Park (Turia) Madhya Pradesh
- Satpura National Park (Madhai) Madhya Pradesh
- Shivpuri (Madhav National Park) Madhya Pradesh
- Tamia & Patalkot Valley Madhya Pradesh