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The white shikhara and saffron flags of the Mangalnath Temple in Ujjain under a clear sky.
Mangalnath Temple, Ujjain. Photo: Gyanendra Singh Chauhan, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ujjain Simhastha 2028 · Ghats and temples

Mangalnath Temple during the Ujjain Simhastha 2028

KumbhMela.info Editorial TeamChecked on Fri 16 Oct 2026

Mangalnath is a Shiva temple on the bank of the Shipra, about 5 km from Ujjain city, held by tradition to be the birthplace of Mars (Mangal). The Ujjain district says the Matsya Purana describes it as the place of origin of the planet.

EvergreenChecked on Fri 16 Oct 2026

Place facts are from the Ujjain district, Madhya Pradesh Tourism and Shri Mahakaleshwar temple websites; puja practices are as Patrika (2021) and the Free Press Journal (2014) reported them. This page describes rituals people perform and makes no claim about their effects. Temple hours are as given by MP Tourism in July 2026, read on 16 October 2026. Arrangements for the 2028 Simhastha are not announced.

Devotees come on Tuesdays, the day of Mangal, and many come to have pujas performed that are linked with Mars in astrology. It is a place of darshan, not a Simhastha bathing 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.

This page covers Mangalnath Temple during the Ujjain Simhastha 2028. Its history, darshan timings and year-round visitor details are on the Mangalnath Temple page on Tirth.com.

Mangalnath Temple at a glance

  • Where

    On the bank of the Shipra, about 5 km from the city, reached by a winding road (Ujjain district).1,2

  • River and bank

    The Shipra. The temple looks over a wide stretch of the river, the district says.2

  • Known for

    By the Matsya Purana, the birthplace of Mars (Mangal). Shiva is worshipped here as Mangalnath.2

  • Daily ritual

    A special worship every Tuesday, the district says. Temple hours are not published by the temple.1

  • Simhastha 2028 status

    Expected 27 March to 27 May 2028. Bathing days and darshan and puja arrangements are not announced.3

On a Kumbh day

  • At the 2016 Simhastha, Mangalnath road was a no-vehicle zone, and the administration ran e-rickshaws for older people and people with disabilities, Hindustan Times reported.
  • A 2024 state meeting proposed three shahi snans and seven parva snans between 9 April and 8 May 2028, without naming the days, The Pioneer reported.
Sources for these facts (3)
  1. District Ujjain, Government of Madhya Pradesh: Places of Interest, District Ujjain
  2. District Ujjain, Government of Madhya Pradesh: Mangalnath, District Ujjain tourist places
  3. Deccan Chronicle: MP Simhastha Kumbh 2028: ₹25k Cr Infrastructure Push For 40Cr Devotees, Says CM Yadav (2026)

The Mangalnath tradition

According to the Matsya Purana, Mangalnath is the birthplace of Mars, the Ujjain district says. MP Tourism retells the Purana’s account that Mangal is the son of Prithvi, the Earth, and a legend that he emerged from a drop of Shiva’s sweat during a great battle. For this reason Shiva is the presiding deity here.

Patrika, retelling the Avantika Khand of the Skanda Purana in 2021, names the battle as Shiva’s fight with the demon Andhakasura: a drop of Shiva’s sweat split the earth at Ujjain, and Mars was born there.

What you do here

Tuesday worship

A special worship is held every Tuesday, attended by thousands of devotees who worship the Mangal Linga, the Ujjain district says.1

Bhat puja

Bhat pujan is the puja the temple is known for, the Free Press Journal reported, with receipts from the temple's pujan counter. Ask at the temple and pay only at its counter.2

A view of the Shipra

The temple stands away from the city and looks over a wide stretch of the Shipra, the district says.3

Sources for these cards (3)
  1. District Ujjain, Government of Madhya Pradesh: Places of Interest, District Ujjain
  2. Free Press Journal: Devotees throng Mangalnath on Bhaum Pradosh (2014)
  3. District Ujjain, Government of Madhya Pradesh: Mangalnath, District Ujjain tourist places

Worship and pujas at Mangalnath

These are rituals people choose to perform. This guide describes them; it makes no claim about what they achieve.

Tuesdays

A special worship is held every Tuesday, attended by thousands of devotees who worship the Mangal Linga, the Ujjain district says. MP Tourism calls Tuesday, the day dedicated to Mangal, especially auspicious here.

Bhat puja

The Free Press Journal called bhat pujan the puja for which the temple is known. On a Bhaum Pradosh day in 2014, a Tuesday, it reported more than 500 devotees performing it after taking government receipts from the pujan counter at the temple.

Mangal dosh puja

Mangal dosh is an idea in astrology about where Mars sits in a horoscope. Devotees from across India come to Mangalnath to have a Mangal dosh puja performed, Patrika reported in 2021. MP Tourism says people come for rituals and prayers associated with Mars.

Angarak Chaturthi

Special worship with yajna and havan is held on this day, Patrika reported.

The Free Press Journal mentions an Angareshwar temple behind Mangalnath, which devotees also visit.

Ask at the temple how pujas are booked now, and pay only at the temple’s own counter. Do not pay anyone who offers a puja package through a message or a call, and read how to check a booking.

Getting there

The district says the temple stands away from the bustle of the city, reached by a winding road, and looks over a wide stretch of the Shipra. It puts Mangalnath about 5 km from the city. Official sources do not give a distance from Ram Ghat, the main Simhastha ghat.

The Sandipani Ashram is at the foot of Mangalnath Road, the district says, and MP Tourism places it close to both Mangalnath and the Kal Bhairav Temple.

Mangalnath and the Simhastha 2028

  • 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.
  • Mangalnath is a temple for darshan. The Ujjain district says the Simhastha’s shahi snan takes place at Ram Ghat; see the Ujjain ghats guide.
  • Not announced: darshan and puja arrangements at Mangalnath during the Simhastha, and road and parking plans for the temple.
  • For Ujjain’s main temple, see Mahakaleshwar Temple and the Simhastha.

Nearby

Also hereChintaman Ganesh Temple during the Ujjain Simhastha 2028Visiting Chintaman Ganesh Temple during the Ujjain Simhastha 2028: how it fits the bathing days, getting there and…OpenAlso hereHarsiddhi Temple during the Ujjain Simhastha 2028Visiting Harsiddhi Temple during the Ujjain Simhastha 2028: how it fits the bathing days, getting there and what…OpenAlso hereKal Bhairav Temple during the Ujjain Simhastha 2028Visiting Kal Bhairav Temple during the Ujjain Simhastha 2028: how it fits the bathing days, getting there and…OpenAlso hereRam Ghat, UjjainRam Ghat on the Shipra is where the Ujjain Simhastha's shahi snan takes place. Its tradition, the Mahakal…OpenAlso hereSandipani Ashram during the Ujjain Simhastha 2028Visiting Sandipani Ashram during the Ujjain Simhastha 2028: how it fits the bathing days, getting there and what…Open

Where next

How to reachTrains, buses, roads and the last stretch
Where to stayAreas, camps and what to check
Ghats and placesWhere the bathing happens

Sources

12 sources · checked 16 Oct 2026
  1. Mangalnath, District Ujjain tourist places · District Ujjain, Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
  2. Places of Interest, District Ujjain · District Ujjain, Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
  3. About Ujjain · Shri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
  4. Culture and Heritage: Ujjain · District Ujjain, Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
  5. Mangalnath Temple, Ujjain: Where Faith Aligns with the Cosmos · Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
  6. Divine Experiences in Ujjain · Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
  7. 10 Must-Visit Temples and Tourist Places in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh · Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
  8. Sandipani Ashram, District Ujjain tourist places · District Ujjain, Government of Madhya Pradesh ·
  9. मंगल ग्रह की उत्पत्ति का रहस्य, जानें कहां, कैसे व किन परिस्थितियों में हुए थे प्रकट · Patrika ·
  10. Devotees throng Mangalnath on Bhaum Pradosh · Free Press Journal ·
  11. MP Simhastha Kumbh 2028: ₹25k Cr Infrastructure Push For 40Cr Devotees, Says CM Yadav · Deccan Chronicle ·
  12. Chief Minister reviews proposed action plan of Simhastha-2028 · The Pioneer (Bhopal edition) ·