Mahakaleshwar stands in Ujjain, in Madhya Pradesh. The temple committee calls it the only south-facing Jyotirlinga, and its day starts before dawn with the bhasma aarti. This guide covers what you need to plan: the aarti times, how the bhasma aarti is booked, the paid options and where the committee lets you stay.
Planning the visit
The bhasma aarti is the first of the day, from 4:00 AM to 6:00 AM, and needs a booking on the committee's site. There are two ways in. Regular booking opens at 8:00 AM on the 1st of the month before your visit. Tatkal booking opens at 8:00 AM the day before. Advance booking costs Rs 200 a person, and booking needs a login with a mobile number.
The two evening aartis are booked on the same day, first come first served. Sandhya aarti booking opens at 12:00 PM and shayan aarti booking opens at 4:00 PM. The shayan aarti is the last of the day and ends at 11:00 PM.
The committee lists online booking only for Sheeghra Darshan, the bhasma, sandhya and shayan aartis and pujan. There is nothing to book for the general queue. Sheeghra Darshan is the paid option, at Rs 250 a person, booked from the same day up to 15 days ahead. It runs in hourly slots from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM, then one slot from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM, with room for up to 2,500 people in each. Booking needs a mobile-number login.
Aarti and Sheeghra Darshan bookings close on some festival days, such as Dussehra, Nag Panchami and the Shravan sawari days. The booking calendar shows those dates as not available.
The committee describes the temple on three levels. The Mahakal lingam is at the bottom, the Omkareshwar Shivalinga is above it, and the Nagchandreshwar shrine is at the top. The top shrine opens only on Nag Panchami, so that day draws a large crowd.
The day's aartis
The committee gives two sets of times. The first applies from Chaitra Krishna Pratipada to Ashwin Purnima, roughly spring to autumn. The second applies from Kartik Krishna Pratipada to Phalgun Purnima, roughly autumn to early spring. Only the morning and evening aartis shift.
| Aarti | Chaitra to Ashwin | Kartik to Phalgun |
|---|---|---|
| Bhasma | 4:00 AM to 6:00 AM | 4:00 AM to 6:00 AM |
| Dadyodak (bal bhog) | 7:00 AM to 7:45 AM | 7:30 AM to 8:15 AM |
| Bhog | 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM | 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM |
| Sandhya | 7:00 PM to 7:45 PM | 6:30 PM to 7:15 PM |
| Shayan | 10:30 PM to 11:00 PM | 10:30 PM to 11:00 PM |
Pujan charges
The committee asks that pujas be done only at the places it designates. Its listed charges:
| Puja | Charge |
|---|---|
| General puja | Rs 100 |
| Shivmahima path | Rs 200 |
| Rudrabhishek, vaidik puja | Rs 300 |
| Rudrabhishek, 11 avartan Shiv Mahimn Strot | Rs 500 |
| Rudrabhishek, 11 avartan Rudra Patha | Rs 1,000 |
| Laghu Rudrabhishek, 121 path | Rs 3,000 |
| Maha Rudrabhishek | Rs 15,000 |
| Mahamrityunjay jaap, 1.25 lakh | Rs 15,000 |
After darshan: Mahakal Mahalok
Mahakal Mahalok is the corridor built around the temple, with 108 pillars. The committee runs a water screen and fountain show at Rudra Sagar every day at 8 PM, and a light and sound show at the Lotus Lake.
The committee names a long list of temples around Ujjain, including Harsiddhi, Bada Ganesh, Chintaman Ganesh, Kaal Bhairav, Mangalnath, Gadkalika, Siddhavat, Sandipani Ashram, Bhartrihari Cave, Gopal Mandir and Ramghat. More is on the nearby page.
Staying and getting there
- Committee guest houses: Pt. Suryanarayan Vyas Atithi Niwas near Harsiddhi Square, from Rs 600 for a non-AC room to Rs 4,200 for a 10-bed AC room, and Shri Mahakaleshwar Atithi Niwas in the Annakshetra complex on Shaktipath, from Rs 1,250 to Rs 2,500. An extra bed is Rs 250. Other areas are on the where to stay page.
- Food: the committee's Annakshetra serves free bhojan-prasad.
- Getting there: Ujjain Jn station is about 3 km from the temple by road, or under 2 km on foot. The committee gives Indore airport as 58 km away. Routes are on the how to reach Mahakaleshwar page.
- Festivals: the Shravan Monday sawari, Nag Panchami, and Mahashivratri, when worship goes on through the night. Expect much bigger crowds on those days.