Ujjain, the one of the most oldest and historic cities in India

Summary: Ujjain is one of the most important cities in India. The city is primarily a religious city and is one of the Saptapuri. Thousands of devotees and tourist flock to the city every year, making it one of the most visited destinations in India. Visit the magical city to explore it in real and for accommodation choose from the best hotels in Ujjain.

Body: Ujjain is one of the most important cities in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The city is an ancient city that dates as old as 700 BC. The city also counts amongst the handful of old cities across the world that has been continuously inhabited by humans since its very beginning. Ujjaini and Avantika are the two profound names with which the city was recognized in ancient time. The city is most popular as the famed capital city of the Avanti kingdom that ruled the regions in the ancient time. The city has been mentioned in the Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya, and in many Hindu epics, including Mahabharata, Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, and Bhramha Purana. Plus, plenty of other scriptures and testimonies have been found that further consolidate the age and the history of Ujjain.

Records also state that the city was the center of Hindu astrology, as in the medieval era, Maharaja Jai Singh II  built a large and famous observatory called Jantar Mantar at one of the locations of the city. Meanwhile, note that the city never completely came under the direct rule of the British, when the rest of the nation was governed by them. During the era of the British in India, the city remained under the reign of the Scindia rulers. This also explains the fact the large number of Hindu temples and shrines are still existing in the city in intact and unharmed state, but just aged.

Following the independence of the nation the city was included in the influential state of Madhya Pradesh, and still continues to be a part of the state. Today, the city is one of the chief producers of wheat and soybean. Agriculture is a major industry in the city, and soybean and wheat produced by the city are considered amongst the best quality crops. The city is slowly developing and growing, and is yet to receive the explosion of modernization. However, there do exist the essentials of modernization in the city. The prime commerce centers are the hubs of all the action. There are banks, schools, shops, hospitals, shopping complexes, places to hang out, restaurants, and the best hotels in Ujjain. Besides, the Ujjain railway junction is one of the major junctions in the Western Railway network. Multiple trains from all across the nation travel to and from the city, thus connecting the city to all major cities in India.

Meanwhile, it is religion that prevails all other aspects in the city. Often called as the "city of temples" Ujjain is filled with numerous Hindu temples dedicated to different deity. The city is one of the most sacred seven cities in India, which together are called Saptapuri. A religious pilgrimage to all holy cities in India is simply incomplete if one hasn't been to the city. Of all the temples that exist in the city the Mahakaleshwar temple is the most significant temple. It is a temple of Lord Shiva and is said to house one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India. Apart from the idol of Lord Shiva, the temple consist the idols of Parvati, Ganesh, Kartikeya, and Shiva's Bull - Nandi. The popularity of the temple is quite prominent, and almost all tourists visiting the city visit the temple.

The other significant temples and tourist places in the city include: Kal Bhairava, Sandipani Ashram, Jantar Mantar, Bhartrihari Caves, Ram Mandir Ghat, Gomti Kund, Chintaman Ganesh temple, Mangalnath, Harsiddhi Temple, and Chamunda Temple etc. The good thing is that there are a number of good budget hotels in Ujjain that are located in the vicinity to prime sightseeing places. Plus, it is pretty convenient to access the tourist spots as there exist excellent connectivity between them.