Mahakal's railway station
Ujjain is one of Hinduism's seven sacred cities and home of the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, and Ujjain station, officially Ujjain Junction (code UJN), is how most pilgrims arrive. The station handles about 75,000 passengers a day, a figure that multiplies during festivals. In September 2017 it received the award for Best Tourist Friendly Railway Station. It belongs to Western Railway's Ratlam division.
A Malwa railway story
- August 1876: the Indore–Ujjain branch opens, backed by the Holkar rulers of Indore.
- 1879–80: the line is completed.
- 1896: the Ratlam–Ujjain line is completed, linking Ujjain to the Bombay–Delhi route.
- 1951: Western Railway takes over administration.
- 1964–66: broad gauge reaches Indore via Ujjain and Maksi.
- 1992: the junction is electrified.
- 1993–2001: the Indore–Bhopal sections are doubled.
- February 2014: the old Ujjain–Fatehabad metre-gauge line closes for conversion.
The Indore Junction page tells the story of the Holkar-financed railway that brought trains to Malwa.
Lines radiating from Ujjain
- Nagda–Ujjain section, to the Delhi–Mumbai main line
- Ujjain–Bhopal section, east via Maksi
- Indore–Dewas–Ujjain section
- Fatehabad Chandrawatiganj–Ujjain section
Simhastha: planning for millions
Every twelve years Ujjain hosts the Simhastha Kumbh Mela on the banks of the Shipra river, one of the largest religious gatherings on Earth. The next Simhastha in 2028 is driving major railway works across the region, including the rebuild of nearby Indore Junction.
The city of time
Ujjain held a special place in ancient Indian astronomy: it served as the prime meridian from which traditional Indian astronomers reckoned longitude and time. The Vedh Shala observatory, built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in the 18th century, still stands in the city, a short ride from the station.
The station layout
UJN has 8 platforms on 15 tracks, at an elevation of about 492 metres.
Planning a darshan trip
- The Mahakaleshwar temple is a short ride from the station; early-morning Bhasma Aarti bookings are made in advance through the temple.
- Omkareshwar, another Jyotirlinga, is reached by road via Indore.
- Trains from Ujjain to Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal and Indore are listed in our timetable search.