1. Simhastha (Kumbh Mela)

It is held when a rare configuration of planets takes place with the Sun in the zodiac sign Aries and Jupiter in the zodiac sign Leo. This configuration happens once in 12 years. This year the Simhastha Kumbh is happening in Ujjain from 22nd April till 21st May.

2. Bhasma arti at Mahakaleshwar Temple

Of the 12 Jyotirling in the country, Mahakaleshwar is the only Dakshin mukhi (South facing) idol which is considered special in tantric traditions. It is only in this temple that Bhasma arti is done for the lord every morning

3. Kark Rajeshwar Temple

The temple is situated on the Tropic of Cancer (kark rekha). Varamihira, one of the nine gems in King Vikramaditya� s court used to visit this temple regularly and carried out his astrological and astronomical experiments here. In ancient times the central meridian line was assumed to pass through this point (Surya Siddhant 1/624). Even today Hindu calendar astronomical calculations are made by placing Ujjain on the Zero longitude.

4. Holy dip in Kshipra River

Majority of Indian rivers flow towards the south but Kshipra is 'Uttargami' (north flowing) river. According to sacred texts like Skanda Purana and Bhagwat Purana, a dip in Kshipra is considered to remove all sins and problems. The dip in the month of Vaishakh (May) holds special significance. A number of ghats dot its banks. The more popular ones are the Ram Ghat, Gandhavati Ghat, Sunhari Ghat, Ganga Ghat, Narsingh Ghat, Rinmukteshwar ghat and Siddhnath ghat.

5. Siddhavat and the legend of Vikram and Betal

Siddhavat is the banyan tree on banks of river Kshipra. King Vikramaditya is believed to have meditated here for magical powers to control the ghost (Betaal). Popular folklore has it that every time Vikramaditya used to answer Betal's question correctly, he used to run away from his shoulders and hang upside down from this banyan tree.

6. Meet holy men from all the 13 Akhadas

Adi guru Shankaracharya established the akhadas sometime in early 8th century AD. This Simhastha is one of those rare occasions when saints from all the thirteen akhadas have come to participate. Each akhada has its own camp (Chawni), sign (nishan), flag, deity and organizational structure. Simhastha offers a rare occasion to peep in the lives of these holy saints.

7. Naga Sadhus

Shankaracharya organized the Hindu ascetics in ten sects (Dashnami Sampradaya) under four mathas. In the 16th century, Madhusudana Saraswati of Bengal organized armed saints (Naga or naked) in order to protect Hindus from the tyranny of the Mughal rulers. These fierce warrior like sadhus had been part of these ten sects before also but it was in the 16th century that they actively played a role in protecting the religion. Most of the time these sadhus stay away from human habitation nut during Kumbh they come down to participate in the rituals.

8. Tales of Sinhassan Battisi

Kashmiri Pundit Soma Deva Bhatta wrote about Vikramaditya in Katha-Saritsagara in the middle of the 12th century AD. He wrote it primarily for the entertainment of Queen Suryamati, wife of King Anantdeva of Kashmir. The 32 stores of Sinhassan Battisi form part of this work. It is the tale in which king Bhoj, the Tanwar king of Dhar, attempts to sit on the throne of Vikramaditya. Thirty two female statues which adorn that throne challenge him to ascend the throne only if he has magnanimity equal to Vikramaditya. This leads to 32 attempts (and 32 tales) of Bhoj to ascend the throne and in each case Bhoj acknowledges his inferiority. Finally, the statues let him ascend the throne when they are pleased with his humility. The Vikram tila near Rudra Sagar is associated with this legend. A Grand statue of Vikramaditya complete with 32 statues has been erected at this tila.

9. Bhairogarh Prints

Bhairavgarh in Ujjain became the hub of Batik printing, when craftsmen from Gujarat and Rajasthan came here during the reign of the Mughals, around 400 years ago. The popular motifs are flowers, creepers and other abstract designs. Bed sheets are the most popular items printed with these unique designs.

10. Dal, Bati, Churma and Namkeen

The entire Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh is famous for its Dal Bati Churma. Several restaurants in Ujjain offer this dish on their menu. Another popular breakfast and snacks item is Gathiya and Sev. Several variations of these namkeen can be serving in the restaurants here.