Ujjain Simhastha 2028 · Mahakaleshwar
Mahakaleshwar Temple and the Simhastha
Shri Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva, according to tradition. It stands east of Ram Ghat, the main Simhastha ghat, with the Harsiddhi temple between them.
Book darshan, aartis and the temple's guest houses only on the temple's own website, shrimahakaleshwar.mp.gov.in. The temple has not announced its arrangements for the Simhastha of 27 March to 27 May 2028.
Mahakaleshwar at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Deity | Shiva as Mahakal; one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, by tradition |
| Where | Ujjain, east of Ram Ghat, with the Harsiddhi temple between them (temple website) |
| Known for | The Bhasma Aarti at dawn, every day; the temple says it is the only south-facing Jyotirlinga |
| Mahakal Lok | The corridor around the temple; Phase I dedicated on 11 October 2022 |
| Official website | shrimahakaleshwar.mp.gov.in |
| Temple helpdesk | 18002331008 |
| Simhastha 2028 arrangements | Not announced |
The Jyotirlinga, as tradition tells it
According to the Shiva Purana, as the temple retells it, the people of Ujjain were troubled by a demon named Dushan and prayed to Shiva. Shiva appeared as a radiant light (jyoti), destroyed the demon and stayed in Ujjain as the Jyotirlinga.
The lingam is believed to be swayambhu, born of itself, the Ujjain district says. It faces south, as dakshinamurti, a feature that tantric tradition holds is found only here among the twelve Jyotirlingas.
The temple has three levels. Mahakal is in the lowest, the Omkareshwar Shivalinga is above it, and Nagchandreshwar is at the top. The Nagchandreshwar shrine opens to the public only once a year, on Nag Panchami.
The temple says its origins are ancient but the date of its first building is unknown. The present structure was built about 150 years ago by Ramchandra Baba Shenvi, an official of the Scindia administration, using remains of earlier temples.
The sacred ash used in the Bhasma Aarti is offered by the Mahant of Shri Panchayati Akhada Mahanirvani, an akhara whose seat is in the temple premises, according to the temple. Read more about the akharas.
Mahakal Lok, the corridor around the temple
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated Phase I of the Mahakal Lok project on 11 October 2022, the Prime Minister’s Office said. It put the cost of the whole project at about Rs 850 crore, in two phases, and said the temple precinct would grow nearly seven times.
The Mahakal Path has 108 pillars showing Shiva’s Anand Tandav (dance) form, with sculptures and a mural wall telling stories from the Shiva Purana. The plaza covers 2.5 hectares and is surrounded by a lotus pond.
The temple’s website calls it Mahakal Mahalok. It describes a corridor of up to 910 metres with 76 sculptures and 52 mural paintings, built at a cost of Rs 351 crore, and a water screen and fountain show every day at 8 PM in the Rudra Sagar area.
The second phase, worth about Rs 242 crore, was dedicated in October 2023 and took the work to Maharajwada, the Ram Ghat facade and the Hari Phatak bridge, Swarajya reported in October 2026. It reported that the remaining works, including more parking, were cleared by the Supreme Court in December 2025.
Aartis, darshan and booking
These details are from the temple’s own website, checked on 16 October 2026. The temple can change them, and it has not said what will change during the Simhastha.
| Aarti | Chaitra Krishna Pratipada to Ashwin Purnima | Kartik Krishna Pratipada to Phalgun Purnima |
|---|---|---|
| Bhasma Aarti | 4:00 AM to 6:00 AM | 4:00 AM to 6:00 AM |
| Dadyodak Aarti (Bal Bhog) | 7:00 AM to 7:45 AM | 7:30 AM to 8:15 AM |
| Bhog Aarti | 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM | 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM |
| Sandhya Aarti | 7:00 PM to 7:45 PM | 6:30 PM to 7:15 PM |
| Shayan Aarti | 10:30 PM to 11:00 PM | 10:30 PM to 11:00 PM |
- Online services: the temple’s website lists Sheeghra Darshan (a ticket for quicker darshan), the Bhasma, Sandhya and Shayan Aartis, Pujan and Abhishek, its guest houses (Atithi Niwas) and donations.
- Bhasma Aarti: booking is online, on the official website only. Regular booking opens at 8 AM on the 1st of the month before; Tatkal booking opens at 8 AM the day before.
- Sandhya and Shayan Aartis: booking is only on the official website. It opens every day at 12 noon for the Sandhya Aarti and at 4 PM for the Shayan Aarti, first come, first served.
- Help: the temple helpdesk is 18002331008. The website also lists 0734-2550563 and 0734-2559277.
The temple’s home page gives the Sandhya Aarti as about 6 to 7 PM, a little different from the table, so check the website before you go.
Bookings can be paused around festivals. Swarajya reported that online Bhasma Aarti booking was closed in the last week of December 2025, until 5 January.
Use only the temple’s website. Do not pay anyone who offers Bhasma Aarti passes or quick darshan through a message or a call, and read how to check a booking.
Mahakaleshwar and the Simhastha
The temple describes Ujjain as one of the four cities where the Simhastha Kumbh is held, once every twelve years. The Ujjain district says the Simhastha’s shahi snan takes place at Ram Ghat, west of the temple.
Mahakal’s own processions (sawari) are part of the temple’s year. The temple lists a sawari every Monday from Shravan to Bhadrapada, with a grand sawari on the last Monday, and another on Vijayadashami.
Plan your temple visit and your bath at Ram Ghat as two separate parts of the day. The bathing days, and any temple rules for them, have not been announced. See the ghats guide and what is announced about the dates.
What is not announced yet
- Darshan arrangements and timings at Mahakaleshwar during the Simhastha
- Whether Bhasma Aarti and other bookings will change on the main bathing days
- Entry gates and walking routes between the temple and Ram Ghat for 2028
- Parking near the temple for 2028
Where it is
- 1Mahakaleshwar TempleTemple · This page
- 2Kal Bhairav TempleTemple
- 3Chintaman Ganesh TempleTemple
- 4Ujjain Junction railway stationRailway
- 5Dewas Gate bus standBus
- 6Nanakheda bus standBus
A guide to where places are, not a route plan. During the mela, roads and ghats open and close by the official plan; follow police and mela directions.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Some temple locations from Wikidata (CC0). openstreetmap.org/copyright
Questions people ask
Is Mahakaleshwar one of the twelve Jyotirlingas?
Yes, according to tradition. The Ujjain district calls it one of the twelve celebrated Jyotirlingas, and the temple says it is the only south-facing one among them.
How do I book the Bhasma Aarti?
Online, on the temple’s own website only. On 16 October 2026 the website said regular booking opens at 8 AM on the 1st of the previous month, and Tatkal booking at 8 AM the day before. Simhastha arrangements have not been announced.
Is Mahakaleshwar Temple at Ram Ghat?
No. It is a separate site east of Ram Ghat, and the Harsiddhi temple lies between them, the temple’s website says.