Ujjain Simhastha 2028 · Ghats and temples
Harsiddhi Temple, Ujjain
The Harsiddhi Temple stands between Mahakaleshwar to the east and Ram Ghat to the west, and is counted among the Shakti Peethas, the shrines linked with the story of Sati. Its two tall lamp towers (deep stambh) outside the entrance are lit during Navratri, the Ujjain district says.
It is a place of darshan close to the main Simhastha ghat. The Simhastha is planned for 27 March to 27 May 2028. No bathing date has been announced, and the temple has not announced its arrangements for 2028.
Harsiddhi Temple at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where | In the old city, between Mahakaleshwar to the east and Ram Ghat to the west (temple website). MP Tourism puts it about 600 metres from Mahakaleshwar. |
| Deity | Harsiddhi, the presiding goddess. The idol of Annapurna, painted in dark vermilion, is seated between Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati (Ujjain district). |
| Tradition | A Shakti Peeth where, according to the Shiva Purana, Sati’s elbow fell |
| Lamp towers | Two tall lamp pillars outside the entrance, from the Maratha period, lit during Navratri |
| Temple hours | 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily, with a morning aarti from 7:00 to 8:00 AM and an evening aarti at 7:00 PM, as given by MP Tourism in September 2024 (read 16 October 2026). Check locally. |
| Busiest times | Navratri (Ujjain district and MP Tourism) |
| Simhastha 2028 | Monday 27 March to Saturday 27 May 2028 (expected). Bathing days not announced. |
| 2028 arrangements | Not announced |
The Harsiddhi tradition
According to the Shiva Purana, when Shiva carried away the burning body of Sati from the sacrificial fire, her elbow fell at this place, the Ujjain district says. The temple’s website calls Harsiddhi the 13th of the 51 Shakti Peethas, and MP Tourism calls it one of the two Shakti Peethas of Madhya Pradesh. The district’s culture page names Harsiddhi and Gadkalika as Ujjain’s two Shakti Peeths.
A legend in the Skanda Purana explains the name. When two demons, Chand and Prachand, tried to force their way in on Mount Kailash, Shiva called on the goddess Chandi to destroy them. Pleased, he gave her the name of the one who vanquishes all, the district says.
The district describes Harsiddhi as the deity worshipped by King Vikramaditya. The temple’s website says the goddess was known in ancient times as Mangalchandika, and MP Tourism says that, by popular legend, Vikramaditya first built the temple.
What you see in the temple
The idol of Annapurna, painted in dark vermilion, is seated between the idols of Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati, the district says. The Sri Yantra, a symbol of shakti, is also enshrined here.
The temple has four doors, with the main door on the east. There is an ancient well on the premises with a carved pillar on top of it.
MP Tourism says the pillars of the ardhamandapa date from the 11th century. The present temple was rebuilt in the Maratha period, the district says.
The lamp towers (deep stambh)
Two tall lamp pillars stand outside the entrance. The district calls them special features of Maratha art and says their lamps are lit during Navratri. An MP Tourism article says they are lit on auspicious occasions, especially in Navratri.
The district’s Places of Interest page and that MP Tourism article both give 726 lamp holders on the two pillars. MP Tourism’s Ujjain page describes each pillar as holding 1,008 lamps. We have not found an official source that settles the number.
None of these sources gives a timetable for the lighting, or says whether the lamps are lit in both the Chaitra and the Sharad Navratri. Ask at the temple.
Harsiddhi, Ram Ghat and the Simhastha 2028
Harsiddhi is in the old city between Mahakaleshwar and Ram Ghat, the ghat where the Ujjain district says the Simhastha’s shahi snan takes place. MP Tourism gives Ujjain Junction as 2.5 km from the temple. Mahakal’s sawari in Shravan and Bhadrapada passes through Harsiddhi Pal on its way to Ram Ghat, according to the temple’s website. See Mahakaleshwar Temple and the Simhastha and the Ujjain ghats guide.
- Dates: the Simhastha is planned for Monday 27 March to Saturday 27 May 2028 (expected). No bathing date has been announced. See what is announced about the dates.
- Roads: in April 2026 the state’s ministerial committee approved road widening from Gudri Square to Harsiddhi Pal among 22 Simhastha works, the Madhya Pradesh government said.
- Navratri: the Simhastha window, 27 March to 27 May 2028 (expected), takes in the month of Chaitra and its Navratri. Whether the lamps will be lit for the Simhastha is not announced.
- Not announced: darshan arrangements at Harsiddhi during the Simhastha, and the walking routes between Ram Ghat, Harsiddhi and Mahakaleshwar.
Also in this area
Questions people ask
Is the Harsiddhi Temple a Shakti Peeth?
Yes, according to tradition. The Ujjain district says that, by the Shiva Purana, Sati’s elbow fell here, and the temple’s website counts it among the 51 Shakti Peethas.
When are the Harsiddhi lamp towers lit?
During Navratri, the Ujjain district says, and on other auspicious occasions, an MP Tourism article adds. No official timetable for the lighting is published.
How far is Harsiddhi from Mahakaleshwar?
About 600 metres, according to MP Tourism. The temple’s website places Harsiddhi between Mahakal to the east and Ram Ghat to the west.
What are the Harsiddhi Temple timings?
An MP Tourism article of September 2024 gives 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily, with aartis at 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM. Hours can change, and nothing is announced for the Simhastha, so check locally.