Ram Ghat
Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
Ram Ghat is the main ghat on the Shipra in Ujjain and the heart of its river life. Pilgrims bathe, pray and perform ancestral rites here, and in the evening the river is lit by the Shipra aarti. During the Simhastha Kumbh, held once every twelve years, it is one of the main bathing places.
What to see and do
- Take a dip or sprinkle the Shipra's water, as pilgrims traditionally do
- Watch the evening Shipra aarti from the steps
- See the small shrines and the busy life of the ghat
- Walk along the river to the temples nearby
Ideal for
- Pilgrims who want the river side of Ujjain
- Those performing ancestral rites
- Travellers who enjoy evening aartis
Good to know
- The evening aarti is generally held around 6:30 to 8 pm, but the timing is not fixed, so confirm locally
- Keep your belongings safe in the crowd and do not bathe when the river is high or the water is low and unclean
- The Simhastha Kumbh is planned for 2028, with most sources giving 27 March to 27 May, but dates should be confirmed with the authorities
- It is easy to walk to from the temples in the old city
Spiritual significance
The Shipra is Ujjain's sacred river, and its ghats are where the Simhastha Kumbh bathing takes place once every twelve years.
Why it matters
- A sacred river bath: a ghat where devotees purify themselves before darshan
- The Simhastha Kumbh site: one of the main bathing places of Ujjain's great fair
- Evening aarti: a calm, lamp-lit end to a day of temple visits