:Ujjain

Excavations at Kayatha (around 26 km from Ujjain) have revealed Chalcolithic agricultural settlements dating to around 2000 BCE.{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/citycountryinear0000basa |url-access=registration |title=The City and the Country in Early India: A Study of Malwa |author=P. K. Basant |publisher=Primus |year=2012 |isbn=9789380607153 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/citycountryinear0000basa/page/78 78]–81 }} Chalcolithic sites have also been discovered at other areas around Ujjain, including Nagda, but excavations at Ujjain itself have not revealed any Chalcolithic settlements. Archaeologist H. D. Sankalia theorised that the Chalcolithic settlements at Ujjain were probably destroyed by the Iron Age settlers.{{sfn|Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya|1977|pp=1-2}}

According to Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund, Avanti, whose capital was Ujjain, "was one of the earliest outposts in central India" and showed signs of early incipient urbanisation around 700 BCE.{{cite book |title=A History of India |first1=Hermann |last1=Kulke |first2=Dietmar |last2=Rothermund |publisher=Psychology Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-41532-920-0 |author-link1=Hermann Kulke |author-link2=Dietmar Rothermund |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RoW9GuFJ9GIC&pg=PA50 |pages=50–51}} Around 600 BCE, Ujjain emerged as the political, Commercial, and cultural centre of Malwa plateau.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=voerPYsAB5wC&pg=PA835 |title=Asia and Oceania: International Dictionary of Historic Places |pages=835–837 |editor1=Trudy Ring |editor2=Noelle Watson |editor3=Paul Schellinger |publisher=Routledge |year=2012 |isbn=9781136639791 }}

The ancient walled city of Ujjain was located around the Garh Kalika hill on the bank of the river Kshipra, in the present-day suburban areas of the Ujjain city. This city covered an irregular pentagonal area of 0.875 km². It was surrounded by a 12 m high mud rampart. The archaeological investigations have also indicated the presence of a 45 meter wide and 6.6 m deep moat around the city.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nVeWBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA22 |title=Fortified Cities of Ancient India: A Comparative Study |author=Dieter Schlingloff |publisher=Anthem |year=2014 |isbn=9781783083497 |pages=21–22 }} According to F. R. Allchin and George Erdosy, these city defences were constructed between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE. Dieter Schlingloff believes that these were built before 600 BCE. This period is characterised by structures made of stone and burnt-brick, tools and weapons made of iron, and black and red burnished ware.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q5kI02_zW70C&pg=PA135 |title=The Archaeology of Early Historic South Asia: The Emergence of Cities and States |author=F. R. Allchin and George Erdosy |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1995 |isbn=9780521376952 |pages=134–136 }}

According to the Puranic texts, a branch of the legendary Haihaya dynasty ruled over Ujjain.{{cite news |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_3O7q7cU7k0C&pg=PA90 |title=Malwa Through the Ages, from the Earliest Times to 1305 A.D |author=Kailash Chand Jain |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1972 |isbn=9788120808249 |page=90 }}

File:Mahavir Tapo Bhumi.jpg

In the 4th century BCE, the Mauryan emperor Chandragupta annexed Avanti to his empire.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Avanti-ancient-kingdom-India|title=Avanti | Gupta Dynasty, Ujjain & Malwa | Britannica|website=www.britannica.com}} Mauryan founded the City of Ujjain. The edicts of his grandson Ashoka mention four provinces of the Mauryan empire, of which Ujjain was the capital of the Western province.{{cite book |author=Abraham Eraly |title=Gem In The Lotus |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YokatCwNG90C&pg=PT494 |date=23 January 2002 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-93-5118-014-2 |page=494 }} During the reign of his father Bindusara, Ashoka served as the viceroy of Ujjain,{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-HeJS3nE9cAC&pg=PA152 |title=The Greeks in Bactria and India |author=William Woodthorpe Tarn |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2010 |isbn=9781108009416 |page=152 }} which highlights the importance of the town. As the viceroy of Ujjain, Ashoka married Devi, the daughter of a merchant from Vedisagiri (Vidisha).{{cite book |author=Mookerji Radhakumud |title=Asoka |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uXyftdtE1ygC&pg=PA8 |year=1962 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0582-8 |page=8 }} According to the Sinhalese Buddhist tradition, their children, Mahendra and Sanghamitra, who preached Buddhism in modern Sri Lanka, were born in Ujjain.{{cite book |author=Klaus Schlichtmann |title=A Peace History of India: From Ashoka Maurya to Mahatma Gandhi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1UYKDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT26 |year=2016 |publisher=Vij Books |isbn=978-93-85563-52-2 |page=26 }}

From the Mauryan period, Northern Black Polished Ware, copper coins, terracotta ring wells, and ivory seals with Brahmi text have been excavated at Ujjain. Ujjain emerged as an important commercial centre, partially because it lay on the trade route connecting north India to the Deccan, starting from Mathura. It also emerged as an important center for intellectual learning among Jain, Buddhist, and Hindu traditions.

In the Post-Mauryan period, the Sungas and the Satavahanas ruled the city consecutively. The Satavahanas and the Ror Sakas, known as Western Satraps, contested for control of the city for a period. Following the end of the Satavahana dynasty, the Rors retained Ujjain from the second to the twelfth century C.E.{{cite web

|url=https://ujjain.dcourts.gov.in/about-department/history/

|title=History of Ujjain

|website=Ujjain District Court

|date=4 September 2024

|access-date=4 September 2024

}}

After the Mauryans, Ujjain was controlled by a number of empires and dynasties, including local dynasties, the Shungas, the Western Satraps, the Satavahanas, and the Guptas.

Ujjain remained as an important city of the Guptas during the 4th and the 5th centuries. Kalidasa, the great Indian classical poet of the 5th century who lived in the times of the Gupta king Vikramaditya wrote his epic work Meghadūta in which he describes the richness of Ujjain and its people.{{cite journal|title=Ujjain, a brilliant sliver of heaven on earth|journal=Tattvaloka|date=September 2018|volume=XLI|issue=6|publisher=Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal Educational Trust|location=Sringeri|issn=0970-8901|last=Subramani|first=Dr.Vijaya|pages=40–3}} In the 6th century CE the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang visited India. He describes the ruler of Avanti as a king who was generous to the poor and presented them with gifts.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC&q=hiuen+tsang+at+prayag&pg=PA255|title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization|last=Sen|first=Sailendra Nath|date=1999|publisher=New Age International|isbn=9788122411980|language=en}}

File:Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple Ujjain - panoramio (4).jpg temple is in Ujjain]]

Bhartṛhari is said to have written his great epics, Virat Katha, Neeti Sataka, the love story of Pradyot Princess Vasavadatta and Udayan in Ujjayini, as the city was called during his times. The writings of Bhasa are set in Ujjain, and he probably lived in the city.{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/cambridgeguideto0000banh |url-access=registration |title=The Cambridge Guide to Theatre |author=Martin Banham |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1995 |isbn=9780521434379 |page=[https://archive.org/details/cambridgeguideto0000banh/page/103 103] }} Kalidasa also refers to Ujjain multiple times, and it appears that he spent at least a part of his life in Ujjain.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=exDCAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA8 |title=Translations of Shakuntala: And Other Works |author=Arthur W. Ryder |publisher=The Floating Press |year=2014 |isbn=9781776535132 }} Mrichchhakatika by Shudraka is also set in Ujjain.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OroCOEqkVg4C&pg=PA55 |title=Indian Theatre: Traditions of Performance |author=Farley P. Richmond |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1993 |isbn=9788120809819 |pages=55–57 }} Ujjain also appears in several stories as the capital of the legendary emperor Vikramaditya of the Parmar dynasty. Somadeva's Kathasaritsagara (11th century) mentions that the city was created by Vishwakarma, and describes it as invincible, prosperous and full of wonderful sights.{{cite book |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/oceanofstorybein09somauoft#page/n34/mode/2up |title=The ocean of story |volume=IX |editor = N. M. Penzer |translator=C. H. Tawney |publisher=Chas J. Sawyer |year=1924 |chapter=Book XVIII: Vishamasila |page=2 }} Ujjain was sacked several times by the Arabs of the Umayyad Caliphate in the 8th century CE. The Arabs called the city Uzayn.{{cite book |last=Jain |first=Kailash Chand |title=Malwa through the Ages, from the Earliest Times to 1305 A.D. |publisher=Motilal Banarsidas |year=1972 |isbn=9788120808249 |page=10}}

File:Vedh Shala, Ujjain 01.jpg at Ujjain was commissioned by Jai Singh II (1688-1743) of Jaipur.]]

The Paramaras (9th-14th century CE) built the City of Ujjain and shifted the region's capital from Ujjain to Dhar. Mahmud of Ghazni sacked the city and forced it to pay tribute during his invasion in India. In 1235 CE, Iltutmish of the Delhi Sultanate plundered the city. With the decline of the Paramara kingdom, Ujjain ultimately came under Islamic rule, like other parts of north-central India. The city continued to be an important city of central India. As late as the time of the Mughal vassal Jai Singh II (1688-1743), who constructed a Jantar Mantar in the city, Ujjain was the largest city and capital of the Malwa Subah. The city continued to be developed during Muslim rule, especially under the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. It was used as an important military headquarters.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QRA2mgZnXXMC&pg=PA212 |title=Sawai Jai Singh and His Astronomy |author=Virendra Nath Sharma |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1995 |page=212 |isbn=9788120812567 }}

{{See also|Dewas Junior|Dewas Senior|Dhar State|Indore State|Gwalior State}}

During the 18th century, the city briefly became the capital of Scindia state of the Maratha Empire, when Ranoji Scindia established his capital at Ujjain in 1731. Mahadji Scindia constructed a grand palace with a hundred rooms around which the Maratha sardars constructed their own mansions. Ruined and destroyed temples were restored and newer ones were built.Vijayaraje Scindia, Princess - The Autobiography of Dowager Maharani of Gwalior, P.73 But his successors moved to Gwalior, where they ruled the Gwalior State in the latter half of the 18th century. The struggle of supremacy between the Holkars of Indore and Scindias (who ruled Ujjain) led to rivalry between the merchants of the two cities.{{Cite web|title=Ujjain: राम घाट पर सिंधिया ने किया महाकाल की पालकी का पूजन, उमा भारती भी पहुंचीं|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/madhya-pradesh/ujjain/ujjain-scindia-performs-baba-mahakals-palki-poojan-during-shahi-sawari-uma-bharti-also-present/videoshow/77594453.cms|access-date=18 August 2020|website=Navbharat Times|language=hi}}{{Cite web|title=उज्जैन पहुंचकर बोले सिंधिया- यह मेरा गृह नगर जैसा, कांग्रेस नेताओं ने दिखाए काले झंडे|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/madhya-pradesh/ujjain/jyotiraditya-scindia-reaches-ujjain-from-indore-local-bjp-leaders-give-a-grand-welcome-congress-leaders-raise-black-flags/videoshow/77591082.cms|access-date=18 August 2020|website=Navbharat Times|language=hi}}{{Cite web|title=उज्जैन में मिले 21 नए कोरोना पॉजिटीव – AV News|url=https://avnews.in/today-ujjain-covid-heatlh-bulletin/|access-date=18 August 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326221547/https://avnews.in/today-ujjain-covid-heatlh-bulletin/|url-status=dead}} On 18 July 1801, the Holkars defeated the Scindias at the Battle of Ujjain. On 1 September, Yashwantrao Holkar entered the city, and demanded a sum of 15 lakh rupees from the city. He received only 1/8th of this amount; the rest was pocketed by his officers. A force sent by Daulatrao Scindia later regained control of Ujjain.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D_v3Y7hns8QC&pg=PA61 |title=History of the Marathas |author=R.S. Chaurasia |publisher=Atlantic |year=2004 |isbn=9788126903948 |page=61 }} After both Holkar and Scindias accepted the British suzerainty, the British colonial administrators decided to develop Indore as an alternative to Ujjain, because the merchants of Ujjain had supported certain anti-British people. John Malcolm, the British administrator of Central India, decided to reduce the importance of Ujjain "by transferring a great part of that consequence it now enjoys to the Towns of Indore and Rutlam cities, which are and will continue more under our control."{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pAJDrdP6sikC&pg=PA63 |title=Smuggling as Subversion: Colonialism, Indian Merchants, and the Politics of Opium, 1790-1843 |author=Amar Farooqui |publisher=Lexington |year=1998 |pages=62–63 |isbn=9780739108864 }}

After Indian independence, Ujjain was placed in Madhya Bharat state, which in turn was fused into Madhya Pradesh in 1956.{{Cite web|title=उज्जैन में महाकालेश्वर की धूमधाम से निकली शाही सवारी|url=https://www.livehindustan.com/astrology/story-mahakaleshwar-shahi-sawari-2020-held-in-ujjain-3425436.html|access-date=18 August 2020|website=Hindustan|language=hi}}{{Cite web|title=उज्जैन में बाल-बाल बचे सिंधिया, समर्थकों की धक्का-मुक्की में गिरी रेलिंग|url=https://aajtak.intoday.in/story/jyotiraditya-scindia-reaches-ujjain-to-attend-mahakal-shahi-sawari-when-railing-fall-down-1-1220577.html|access-date=18 August 2020|website=aajtak.intoday.in|date=18 August 2020 |language=hi}}{{Cite web|date=18 August 2020|title=उज्जैन: महाकाल की शाही सवारी के दौरान बड़ा हादसा टला, बाल-बाल बचे Scindia|url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/states/big-accident-averted-in-ujjain-jyotiraditya-scindia-narrowly-escapes/730500|access-date=18 August 2020|website=Zee News Hindi}}{{Cite web|date=18 August 2020|title=सिंधिया ने कहा: भले ही उज्जैन में उप चुनाव नहीं लेकिन उज्जैन आसपास होने वाले चुनाव का केंद्र बिंदु बना रहेगा|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/mp/ujjain/news/scindia-said-even-though-there-is-no-by-election-in-ujjain-but-ujjain-will-remain-the-focal-point-of-the-elections-around-127626123.html|access-date=18 August 2020|website=Dainik Bhaskar|language=hi}}

Ujjain is located in the west-central part of India, and is north of the upper limit of the Vindhya mountain ranges. Located on the Malwa plateau, it is higher than the north Indian plains and the land rises towards the Vindhya Range to the south. Ujjain's coordinates are {{Coord|23|10|N|75|46|E|}} with an average elevation of 494 m (1620 ft).{{Cite web|url=https://dateandtime.info/citycoordinates.php?id=1253914|title=Geographic coordinates of Ujjain. Latitude, longitude, and elevation above sea level of Ujjain, India|website=dateandtime.info}} The region is an extension of the Deccan Traps, formed between 60 and 68 million years ago{{cite web |url=http://ksgeo.kj.yamagata-u.ac.jp/~iwata/personal/Deccan-e.htm |title= Geochronological Study of the Deccan Volcanism by the 40Ar-39Ar Method |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060225205236/http://ksgeo.kj.yamagata-u.ac.jp/~iwata/personal/Deccan-e.htm |archive-date=25 February 2006 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mantleplumes.org/Deccan.html|title=Deccan Traps|website=www.mantleplumes.org}} at the end of the Cretaceous period. The city is on the bank of the river Shipra which flows into the nearby Chambal.

Climate of the city features a typical version of the humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa). Summers usually starts by the middle of March which lasts up until late June. During which temperatures normally reaches up to 45 °C, with average maximum peaking in May with 41 °C.{{Cite web|title=Controversial UP MLA Vijay Mishra held near Ujjain for alleged extortion|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/aug/15/controversial-up-mla-vijay-mishra-held-near-ujjain-for-alleged-extortion-2183660.html|access-date=18 August 2020|website=The New Indian Express|date=15 August 2020 }} Monsoon starts in late June and ends in late September. These months see about 36 inches (914 mm) of precipitation, frequent thunderstorms and flooding. This season usually features wet phase of comfortable with average temperatures around 24 °C (76 °F) but this is accompanied with frequent downpours. This wet phase is followed by dry phase which results in humid weather with high temperatures. Temperatures rise again up to early November when winter starts,{{Cite web|title=Ujjain: प्रेमिका की पुल से नीचे फेंक कर दी हत्या, सीसीटीवी फुटेज से पकड़ाया, देखिए वायरल वीडियो|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/madhya-pradesh/ujjain/man-kills-girlfriend-by-throwing-her-from-overbridge-at-ujjain-caught-through-cctv-footage-watch-viral-video/videoshow/77272990.cms|access-date=18 August 2020|website=Navbharat Times|language=hi}}{{Cite web|date=17 August 2020|title=Madhya Pradesh: Over 12 cows die in Mahakal Temple in Ujjain|url=https://www.zee5.com/zeekannada/madhya-pradesh-over-12-cows-die-in-mahakal-temple-in-ujjain/|access-date=18 August 2020|website=ZEE5 News|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Murder at Ujjain Hotel: 2 बार प्रेमी से शादी कर चुकी थी, तीसरी बार परिवार की मर्जी से करना चाहती थी, इसलिए मार डाला|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/madhya-pradesh/ujjain/murder-at-ujjain-hotel-police-solves-tanu-parihar-murder-case-within-24-hours-accused-lover-arrested/articleshow/77554556.cms|access-date=18 August 2020|website=Navbharat Times|language=hi}} which lasts up to early March. Winters are cool, dry and sunny with occasional cold snaps during which temperature may drop to close to freezing (0° to 3 °C). Otherwise temperatures are very much comfortable, with average daily temperatures around 16 °C (61 °F).

{{Weather box

| location = Ujjain (1991–2020, extremes 1954–2012)

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

| Jan record high C = 34.6

| Feb record high C = 39.0

| Mar record high C = 42.5

| Apr record high C = 45.2

| May record high C = 46.0

| Jun record high C = 45.5

| Jul record high C = 41.1

| Aug record high C = 37.0

| Sep record high C = 39.8

| Oct record high C = 39.8

| Nov record high C = 36.6

| Dec record high C = 34.9

| year record high C = 46.0

| Jan high C = 26.4

| Feb high C = 29.4

| Mar high C = 34.9

| Apr high C = 38.9

| May high C = 40.9

| Jun high C = 37.3

| Jul high C = 31.0

| Aug high C = 29.1

| Sep high C = 31.5

| Oct high C = 33.8

| Nov high C = 30.9

| Dec high C = 28.2

| year high C = 32.5

| Jan low C = 8.7

| Feb low C = 10.6

| Mar low C = 14.8

| Apr low C = 19.5

| May low C = 24.8

| Jun low C = 25.0

| Jul low C = 23.2

| Aug low C = 22.2

| Sep low C = 21.4

| Oct low C = 18.0

| Nov low C = 13.7

| Dec low C = 9.4

| year low C = 17.4

| Jan record low C = 0.0

| Feb record low C = 1.0

| Mar record low C = 4.6

| Apr record low C = 10.1

| May record low C = 12.0

| Jun record low C = 18.7

| Jul record low C = 18.0

| Aug record low C = 16.5

| Sep record low C = 11.8

| Oct record low C = 8.1

| Nov record low C = 2.8

| Dec record low C = 0.5

| year record low C = 0.0

| rain colour = green

| Jan rain mm = 6.6

| Feb rain mm = 2.9

| Mar rain mm = 6.7

| Apr rain mm = 2.4

| May rain mm = 7.3

| Jun rain mm = 113.5

| Jul rain mm = 331.1

| Aug rain mm = 249.7

| Sep rain mm = 163.2

| Oct rain mm = 26.8

| Nov rain mm = 14.1

| Dec rain mm = 4.6

| year rain mm = 928.9

| Jan rain days = 0.5

| Feb rain days = 0.5

| Mar rain days = 0.4

| Apr rain days = 0.4

| May rain days = 0.7

| Jun rain days = 6.3

| Jul rain days = 12.1

| Aug rain days = 10.2

| Sep rain days = 6.8

| Oct rain days = 1.6

| Nov rain days = 1.0

| Dec rain days = 0.3

| year rain days = 40.8

| time day = 17:30 IST

| Jan humidity = 40

| Feb humidity = 31

| Mar humidity = 24

| Apr humidity = 20

| May humidity = 22

| Jun humidity = 42

| Jul humidity = 68

| Aug humidity = 76

| Sep humidity = 64

| Oct humidity = 42

| Nov humidity = 40

| Dec humidity = 41

| year humidity = 42

|source 1 = India Meteorological Department

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf

| archive-date = 5 February 2020

| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf

| title = Station: Ujjain Climatological Table 1981–2010

| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010

| publisher = India Meteorological Department

| date = January 2015

| pages = 769–770

| access-date = 28 December 2020}}

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf

| archive-date = 5 February 2020

| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf

| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)

| publisher = India Meteorological Department

| date = December 2016

| page = M133

| access-date = 28 December 2020}}

}}Ujjain has been ranked 26th best “National Clean Air City” under (Category 2 3-10L Population cities) in India.{{Cite web |date=7 September 2024 |title=Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2024 |url=https://prana.cpcb.gov.in/ncapServices/robust/fetchFilesFromDrive/Swachh_Vayu_Survekshan_2024_Result.pdf |website=Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2024}}

File:Elephant in Ujjain.jpg

According to the 2011 census, Ujjain had a population of 515,215, comprising 265,291 males and 249,924 females, giving a sex ratio of 942 per 1000. The overall literacy rate was 85.55%, with male literacy at 91.16% and female literacy at 79.62%.{{cite web |title=Cities having population 1 lakh and above |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf |publisher=Census of India 2011 |access-date=17 September 2019}} {{Dead link|{{subst:DATE}}|date=April 2025}}

{{bar box

|title=Religions in Ujjain City (2011){{cite web |title=Table C-1 Population By Religious Community: Madhya Pradesh|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11381/download/14494/DDW23C-01%20MDDS.XLS|website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}

|titlebar=#Fcd116

|left1=Religion

|right1=Percent

|float=left

|bars=

{{bar percent|Hinduism|darkorange|77.51}}

{{bar percent|Islam|green|18.88}}

{{bar percent|Jainism|pink|2.44}}

{{bar percent|Christianity|blue|0.51}}

{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.66}}

}}

{{Pie chart

|caption = Languages of Ujjain (2011)

|label1 = Hindi |value1 = 84.17 |color1 = orange

|label2 = Urdu |value2 = 5.82 |color2 = green

|label3 = Malvi |value3 = 3.59 |color3 = deeppink

|label4 = Gujarati |value4 = 1.98 |color4 = lavender

|label5 = Marathi |value5 = 1.93 |color5 = maroon

|label6 = Sindhi |value6 = 1.46 |color6 = yellow

|label7 = Others |value7 = 1.05 |color7 = grey

}}

Hindi is the most-spoken language. Being the heartland of the Malwa region, Malvi is also widely spoken.{{Cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Madhya Pradesh|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10249/download/13361/DDW-C16-TOWN-STMT-MDDS-2300.XLSX |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}

Most of the regions surrounding the city are administered by the Ujjain Municipal Corporation (UMC). The city is administered by a Divisional Commissioner and a Collectorate Office as well as the Mayor. They are responsible for the town and Country Planning Department, Forest Department, Public Health Engineering, Public Works Department and MP Electricity Board.{{cite web |url=http://www.ujjain.nic.in/ |title=Welcome to official website of District Administration Ujjain (M.P.) India |publisher=ujjain.nic.in |access-date=21 August 2015 |archive-date=30 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630201443/http://ujjain.nic.in/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BJP-clean-sweeps-in-Madhya-Pradesh-civic-polls/articleshow/48501303.cms |title=BJP clean sweeps in Madhya Pradesh civic polls - The Times of India |newspaper=The Times of India |date=16 August 2015 |publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|access-date=21 August 2015}}

Ujjain has been a metropolitan municipality with a mayor-council form of government. The Ujjain Municipal Corporation (UMC) was established in 1956 under the Madhya Pradesh Nagar Palika Nigam Adhiniyam. The UMC was established in 1886 as Nagar Palika, but the Municipal Corporation of Ujjain was declared on a par with the Gwalior Municipal Corporation. The UMC is responsible for public education, correctional institutions, libraries, public safety, recreational facilities, sanitation, water supply, local planning and welfare services. The mayor and councillors are elected to five-year terms.{{cite web|url=http://www.ujjain.nic.in/Administration/CommissionerTenure/comm.html|title=Welcome to official website of District Administration Ujjain (M.P.) India|publisher=ujjain.nic.in|access-date=21 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806164101/http://www.ujjain.nic.in/Administration/CommissionerTenure/comm.html|archive-date=6 August 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ujjain.nic.in/Benificiary_List/patta/Patta-benificiary.html|title=Welcome to official website of District Administration Ujjain (M.P.) India|publisher=ujjain.nic.in|access-date=21 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706114354/http://www.ujjain.nic.in/Benificiary_List/patta/Patta-benificiary.html|archive-date=6 July 2015|url-status=dead}}

The Ujjain Development Authority, also known as UDA, is the urban planning agency serving Ujjain. Its headquarters are located in the Bharatpuri area of Ujjain. It was established under the Madhya Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act, 1973.{{cite web|title=Information at a glance|url=http://www.mpurban.gov.in/Pdf/CDP/Indore%20CDP_%20Final.pdf|publisher=MPurban|access-date=12 December 2015}}

Ujjain Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 29 Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh state in central India. This constituency came into existence in 1951 as one of the 9 LokSabha constituencies in the erstwhile Madhya Bharat state. It is reserved for the candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes since 1966. This constituency covers the entire Ujjain district and part of Ratlam district. Previously, Dr. Chintamani Malviya of the Bharatiya Janata Party was the member of parliament who won in the 2014 Indian general elections.{{cite web |url=http://eciresults.nic.in/ConstituencywiseS1222.htm?ac=22 |title=Constituencywise-All Candidates |publisher=Eciresults.nic.in |access-date=17 May 2014 |archive-date=17 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517180755/http://eciresults.nic.in/ConstituencywiseS1222.htm?ac=22 |url-status=dead }}

The Current Member of Parliament from Ujjain is Anil Firojiya (BJP) after the Lok Sabha Election of 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/ujjain-election-results-2019-live-updates-winner-loser-leading-trailing-2154519.html|title=Ujjain Election Results 2019 Live Updates: Anil Firojiya of BJPWins|website=News18|date=23 May 2019|access-date=23 May 2019}}

• Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga
• Chintaman Ganesh Temple
• [https://ujjain.nic.in/en/tourist-place/harsiddhi/ Harsiddhi Temple]
• Kal Bhairav Temple
• Sandipani Ashram
• Mangalnath Temple
• ISKCON Temple

• Maharshi Panini Sanskrit University
• Vikram University
• Avantika University

• Ruxmaniben Deepchand Gardi Medical College

Govt. Medical College

Amaltas Medical College

• Ujjain Engineering College (Govt.)
• School of Engineering Vikram University (Govt.)
• MIT Group of Institutes, Ujjain
• Shree Guru Sandipani Institute of Science and Technology
• Prashanti Institute of Technology
• Alpine Institute of Technology

• St. Paul's convent H.S. School
• Christu Jyoti Convent School
• Ujjain Public School
• Lokmanya Tilak higher Secondary School, Ujjain
• St. Mary's Convent School
• Nirmala Convent School
• Takshshila Junior College
• Kalidas Montessori Sr. Sec. School
• Carmel Convent Sr. Sec. School{{cite web | url=http://www.thelearningpoint.net/home/school-listings/cbse-1/KALIDAS-MONTESSORI-SR-SEC-SCHOOL-BAMBAKHANA-UJJAIN-MADHYA-PRADESH-1030008 | title=KALIDAS MONTESSORI SR SEC SCHOOL BAMBAKHANA UJJAIN MADHYA PRADESH - the Learning Point }}

Major industrial areas surrounding Ujjain are 'Dewas Road Industrial Area', 'Maxi Road Industrial Area' Vikram Udhogpuri, and 'Tajpur Industrial Area'.{{Cite web|title=InvestMP - MPIDC|url=https://invest.mp.gov.in/|website=MPIDC}}

Indore and Dewas are the cities where majority of the industries are present. Both Indore and Dewas are in close proximity to Ujjain, providing employment to people in Ujjain and nearby areas.

The Government of Madhya Pradesh has allotted 1,200 acres for the development of an industrial area on the Dewas-Ujjain Road (MP State Highway 18) near Narwar village. Originally named "Vikramaditya Knowledge City", the area was envisaged as an educational hub. Due to diminished investment prospects, it was renamed to "Vikram Udyog Nagari" ("Vikram Industrial City"). As of 2014, the government has conceptualised it as a half-industrial, half-educational area. The stakeholders in the project include the state government and the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) Trust.{{Cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/ujjain-s-knowledge-city-renamed-vikram-udyog-nagari-114050500951_1.html|title=Ujjain's 'Knowledge City' renamed 'Vikram Udyog Nagari'}}

Ujjain does not have any airport but has an airstrip on Dewas road which is used for air transport purposes. In 2013, the Government of Madhya Pradesh started a Ujjain-Bhopal air services as a joint venture with Ventura AirConnect. Due to very low booking, the ambitious project was scrapped. The main reason for the failure of the plan was due to improper timing of flights. The nearest airport is the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport at Indore (57 km).

File:Ujjain_statioin.jpg

Ujjain Junction is the main railway station of Ujjain, and it is directly or indirectly well-connected to all the major railway stations in India.{{cite book |author=Agam Gupta |title=Unfolding Faith: A Journey to the Kumbh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vfkHAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA31 |date=September 2013 |publisher=Partridge Publishing |isbn=978-1-4828-1213-8 |pages=31–}} It lies on the Indore–Dewas, Ratlam–Bhopal, Indore–Nagda and Guna–Khandwa route. To the west it is connected to Ratlam Junction, to the north it is connected with Nagda Junction, to the east it is connected with Maksi Junction, Bhopal Junction, and to the south it is connected to Indore Junction BG, Dewas Junction Harda BG.{{Cite web|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/station/map/ujjain-junction-ujn/10|title=Ujjain Railway Station Map/Atlas WR/Western Zone - Railway Enquiry|first=Biplob|last=Kagyung|website=indiarailinfo.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://irfca.org/docs/electrification-history.html|title = [IRFCA] Electrification History from CORE}}

C&W Training Centre/Ujjain/WR

There are six railway stations in the Ujjain city and its suburbs:

File:Ujjain_Indore_Highway.jpg

Dewas Gate Stand and Nana Kheda Bus Stand are the two bus stands in the city that provide service to destinations located in the states. A large number of state run private buses are available for Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Ajmer, Khajuraho, Harda, Indore, Bhopal, Pune, Mumbai, Kota, Mandu, Jhalawar and various other locations. The city has a well connected road network including Indore Road, Badnagar Road, Dewas Road, Agar Road, Nagda Road and Maksi Road. There are three national highways; 47 connects to Ahmedabad, proposed 148NG connects to Garoth and 552G connects to Indore.{{Cite web|url=http://udaujjain.org/uda/?page_id=42|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208120000/http://udaujjain.org/uda/?page_id=42|url-status=dead|title=UDA|archivedate=8 December 2015}}{{Cite web|url=http://india.gov.in/ujjain-city-development-plan-ujjain-municipal-corporation|title = National Portal of India}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.mpurban.gov.in/Pdf/CDP/Ujjain%20CDP_Final%20.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=5 December 2015 |archive-date=8 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208205744/http://www.mpurban.gov.in/Pdf/CDP/Ujjain%20CDP_Final%20.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://jnnurmmis.nic.in/toolkit/CDP_Ujjain.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=5 December 2015 |archive-date=8 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308184258/http://jnnurmmis.nic.in/toolkit/CDP_Ujjain.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Other regional highways passing through the city are:

• Indore – Ujjain Road via SH 27 part of NH 552G
• Kota / Agar – Ujjain Road via NH 552G
• Bhopal / Dewas – Ujjain Road via SH 18 now NH 148NG
• Ratlam / Barnagar – Ujjain Road via SH 18 now NH
• Jaora / Nimach – Ujjain Road via SH 17
• Maksi – Ujjain Road (Connects to NH 3)
• Harda - Ujjain Road (Connects to Via National Highway 59A NH 47) and SH 18
• Ujjain - Garoth Proposed New Green Field Four Lane National Highway No NH 148NG

Ujjain depends on an extensive network of auto rickshaws, city busses, private taxis and Tata Magic, that operate throughout the city, connecting one part with another. UMC has recently introduced city buses with a public private partnership project as the city was identified urban agglomerations with less than 1 million population under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.[http://jnnurm.nic.in/ Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510225954/http://jnnurm.nic.in/ |date=10 May 2012 }}[http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/smart-cities-under-jnnurmii-kamal-nath/1045847 Indian Express]

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the city. Ujjain is also home to the Ujjain Divisional Cricket Association which is affiliated to BCCI. The city does not have any big stadium, but hosted Ranji Trophy matches at Pipe Factory Ground in 1977 and 1980.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricket-grounds/indian-iron-and-steel-company-stanton-pipe-factory-ground-ujjain-58508|title=Indian Iron and Steel Company Stanton Pipe Factory Ground - Cricket Ground in Ujjain, India|website=ESPNcricinfo}}

Kite flying is another popular activity in the city around Makar Sakranti.{{cite web | title=देश - National | website=Dainik Bhaskar | date=10 December 2022 | url=https://www.bhaskar.com/national/ | language=hi | access-date=10 December 2022}}

{{Further|Smart city}}

Ujjain city was shortlisted under the Government of India's flagship programme Smart Cities Mission. Under the mission, UMC ([http://nagarnigamujjain.org/ UMC, Ujjain] Ujjain Municipal Corporation) shall participate in the smart cities challenge by Ministry of Urban Development. As part of this, UMC is preparing a Smart City Proposal (SCP). SCP will include smart city solutions based on the consultations to be held with the key stakeholders of the city. UMC invited the suggestions from citizens of Ujjain to make ‘Ujjain as a smart city’. The citizens were able to post their views pertaining to basic services such as water supply, sewerage, urban transport, social infrastructure and e-governance.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mygov.in/group-issue/smart-city-ujjain/|title=Smart City Ujjain|date=21 September 2015|newspaper=MyGov.in|access-date=18 January 2017}}

Notable people who were born or lived in Ujjain include:

• Sage Sandipani
• Varāhamihira
• Bhāskara II
• Brahmagupta
• Chashtana
• Kālidāsa
• Devi (wife of Ashoka)
• Shivmangal Singh Suman
• Shreeram Shankar Abhyankar
• Bharthari
• Yashoda Devi
• Vivian Dsena
• Thawar Chand Gehlot
• Gundecha Brothers
• Satyanarayan Jatiya
• Hukam Chand Kachwai
• Sachida Nagdev
• Naman Ojha
• Paramartha
• Sartaj Singh
• Saumya Tandon
• Vikramaditya
• Viraj Mahajan{{cite web | title= How LinkedIn Became Sexy | website=Mid-Day | date=27 November 2022 | url=https://www.mid-day.com/sunday-mid-day/article/how-linkedin-became-sexy-23257626 | language=En | access-date=27 November 2022}}
• Juhi Parmar
• Goverdhan Lal Oza
• Sharma Bandhu
• V. S. Wakankar
• Sharad Joshi
• Mohan Yadav

• Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga
• Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga
• Ujjainiya
• Ujjaini Mahakali Temple
• Maratha Empire
• Scindia
• Gwalior State
• Dewas Junior State
• Dewas Senior State
• Dhar State
• Indore State

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|author1=Rahman Ali|author2=Ashok Trivedi|author3=Dhirendra Solanki|title=Buddhist remains of Ujjain region: excavations at Ṣodañga|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SwpuAAAAMAAJ|year=2004|publisher=Sharada Pub. House|isbn=978-81-88934-15-7}}
• {{cite book|title=Sacred Complex of Ujjain|author=Dipak Kumar Samanta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vDnkAAAAMAAJ|year= 1996|publisher=D.K. Printworld|isbn=978-81-246-0078-8}}
• Hunter, Cotton, Burn, Meyer. [https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/ "The Imperial Gazetteer of India"], 2006. Oxford, Clarendon Press. 1909.
• {{cite book |title=Ujjain|first=Keshav Rao Balwant |last=Dongray |publisher= Alijar Darbar Press, Gwalior|year=1935|url=https://archive.org/stream/ujjain035489mbp#page/n5/mode/2up }}
• {{cite book |author=Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya |title=Historical Geography of Madhya Pradesh from Early Records |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1977 |isbn=978-0-8426-9091-1 |page=275 }}

Ujjain Metropolitan areas

Sodang, Surasa, Tajpur, Chandesra, Chintaman-Jawasia, Chandukhedi.

{{Commons category|Ujjain}}

{{Wikiquote}}

{{EB1911 poster|Ujjain}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20151125123834/http://nagarnigamujjain.org/ Official website of Ujjain Municipal Corporation]
• [http://www.ujjain.nic.in/ Official website of Ujjain district] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630201443/http://ujjain.nic.in/ |date=30 June 2015 }}
• [http://www.simhasthujjain.in/ Official website of Ujjain Kumbh Mela]

{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205051830/http://www.simhasthujjain.in/ |date=5 February 2017 }}

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