Ghats of Ujjain
The ghats of the Shipra, from Triveni in the south to Mangalnath in the north — and the temples beside them.
Sacred river
Shipra (Kshipra)
195 km from the Malwa hills to the Chambal
Principal ghat
Ram Ghat
In the old city, close to Mahakaleshwar
Flows
North
Ujjain sits on its east bank
The river
The Shipra at Ujjain
The Shipra (also written Kshipra) is a small river by Kumbh standards. It rises in the hills of Indore district, runs about 195 km across the Malwa plateau, and joins the Chambal on the Madhya Pradesh–Rajasthan border. Ujjain sits on its east bank, and the river flows north past the city.
That northward flow gives Ujjain's ghats a simple order: Triveni in the south is upstream; Ram Ghat and its neighbours sit in the middle, below the old city; and Siddhavat and Mangalnath lie downstream to the north. The whole sacred stretch runs roughly 10 km.
Because the Shipra's own flow drops sharply in the dry months, water from the Narmada has been piped into it since 2015 under the Narmada–Shipra link project, helping keep the ghats usable through the year and during the Simhastha.
Directory
The ghats of Ujjain, upstream to downstream
Listed in the order the river passes them, from south to north.
| Ghat | Where | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Triveni Ghat | South, on the Ujjain–Indore road (~5 km) | Navagraha (Shani) temple; very busy on Shanichari Amavasya |
| Ram Ghat | Old city, east bank | The principal and oldest ghat; evening Shipra aarti; main Simhastha bathing venue |
| Dutt Akhada Ghat | West bank, facing Ram Ghat | Beside the Dutt Akhada ashram, dedicated to Dattatreya; tarpan and meditation |
| Narsingh Ghat | Near Ram Ghat | Dedicated to Narsingh; pind daan rites |
| Gangaghat | Along the Shipra near the old city | Smaller ghat used on festival days |
| Kal Bhairav area | ~4 km from the city, on the Shipra | Riverside near the Kal Bhairav temple |
| Siddhavat Ghat | Bhairavgarh, ~5 km | The sacred Siddhavat banyan; shraddha and pind daan |
| Mangalnath Ghat | North, ~5 km | Below the Mangalnath temple, held to be the birthplace of Mars |
During the Simhastha, temporary ghats are added along both banks, and bathing is spread across many of these.
The heart of it
Ram Ghat and the old city
Ram Ghat
The oldest and most important ghat, where tradition says Rama, Sita and Lakshmana stopped during their exile. It is the focus of the Simhastha's Amrit Snan and holds the evening Shipra aarti.
Across the water
Dutt Akhada Ghat faces Ram Ghat from the west bank. On bathing days the two banks together form the main bathing front.
Up the steps
The Harsiddhi temple, with its tall lamp pillars, is just up from the ghat, and Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is roughly a kilometre away through the old city lanes.
Temple city
Ujjain is as much about its temples as its river: most visitors combine a dip at Ram Ghat with darshan at Mahakaleshwar and Harsiddhi on the same walk.
Worth knowing
The Simhastha ground
Ujjain's Kumbh is called the Simhastha. The Mela spreads across both banks of the Shipra, with akhada camps and pilgrim areas laid out on open land along the river. Layouts are announced by the administration each cycle.
Event dates: Ujjain on Kumbh Mela Dates →
Nearby
Temples along the ghats
| Place | Approx. distance | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga | ~1 km from Ram Ghat | The south-facing Jyotirlinga; famous for the early-morning Bhasma Aarti |
| Harsiddhi Temple | Near Ram Ghat | Temple linked to King Vikramaditya, with two tall lamp pillars |
| Kal Bhairav Temple | ~4 km | One of the eight famous Bhairav shrines, on the Shipra bank |
| Siddhavat | ~5 km | Sacred banyan, likened to Prayagraj's Akshayavat |
| Mangalnath Temple | ~5 km | Temple held to mark the birthplace of Mars; Tuesday worship |
| Navagraha Temple (Triveni) | ~5 km | Temple of the nine planets at Triveni Ghat |
Distances are approximate, measured from the city centre unless stated.
Getting there
Reaching the ghats
| From | To | Approx. distance | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ujjain Junction station | Ram Ghat | ~2–3 km | Auto, e-rickshaw or walk |
| Indore Airport | Ram Ghat | ~55 km | Cab or bus |
| Ram Ghat | Mahakaleshwar | ~1 km | Walk |
| Ram Ghat | Siddhavat / Mangalnath | ~5 km | Auto or cab |
| Ram Ghat | Triveni Ghat | ~5–6 km | Auto or cab via the Indore road |
Approximate distances. During the Simhastha, vehicle restrictions apply around the ghats.
Keep exploring
Continue exploring
Ujjain overview
The city and how to reach it.
Ghats of Prayagraj
Compare with the Sangam city.
Ghats of Haridwar
Compare with the Ganga at Haridwar.
Questions
Frequently asked
Ram Ghat, in the old city on the east bank of the Shipra. It is the main bathing venue of the Simhastha and holds the evening Shipra aarti.
About a kilometre, an easy walk through the old city lanes past Harsiddhi temple.
The Shipra (Kshipra), which flows north past the city and later joins the Chambal.
Siddhavat Ghat is the best-known place, along with Narsingh Ghat and Dutt Akhada Ghat.
The Navagraha (Shani) temple, about 5 km from the city on the Indore road; it is especially busy on Shanichari Amavasya.
About 55 km by road.