Only 56km from Indore, ancient Ujjain is one of India's holiest cities for Hindus.  Ujjain is situated on the right bank of River Shipra. It is a very holy city for the Hindus, a site for the triennial Kumbha Mela. According to Hindu scriptures, it was originally called Avantika. There is an interesting tale behind the sanctity of the city. It's origin is ascribed to the mythological legend of Sagar Manthan (churning of the primordial ocean to discover the pot of nectar). The story goes that after the nectar was discovered, there was a chase between the gods and the demons to have the nectar first and thus attain immortality. During this chase a drop of nectar spilled and fell on Ujjain , thus making the city sacred.
Apart from mythological legends, the city has a long distinguished history. It was governed by the likes of Vikramaditya and Ashoka. Kalidas wrote his soul stirring poetry here. Today, Ujjain represents an interesting blend of an age old legacy and the modern day lifestyle.

Hindu astronomy, astrology and geography have Ujjain as the base for calculations which is the "Greenwich" of Hindu astronomers and astrologers.

Despite its relative obscurity today, Ujjain ranks equal as a great religious centre with such places as Varanasi, Gaya and Kanchipuram. Ujjain really comes alive during festival time, but the devotional vibe makes it a pleasant town year-round.

The railway line divides the city: the old section, including the bazaar and the most of the temples and ghats, are to the north-west of the city, and the new section is on the south-easr side. The majority of hotels are in front of the railway station. Tourist information is available at the Hotel Shipra.