Bade Ganesh Temple

Getting there

• By air

  The closest airport is Devi Ahilya Bai International Airport in Indore, 55 km from Ujjain.

• By train

  Ujjain railway station is in the heart of the town.

• By road

  Private and state buses run directly between Ujjain and Indore, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Burhanpur, Dhar and Bhopal. Nanakheda Bus Terminus, one of the two main bus stands, is about 5 km out.

Why devotees come here

Bade Ganesh Temple stands next to the Mahakal Temple campus in Ujjain, on the path to Harsiddhi Temple. It is home to one of the biggest Ganesha idols in India.

Ujjain has more than 100 temples and pilgrimage sites from different eras. Bade Ganesh Temple stands next to the Mahakal Temple campus, on the path leading to Harsiddhi Temple. It is known for its huge Ganesha idol, about 4 metres tall, which reports describe as one of the biggest in India. In the inner chamber there is also a four-faced brass idol of Vishnu.

The Ganesha here was set up by Pandit Narayan Ji Vyas in 1903. His descendants are still the caretakers of the temple and its traditions.

Devotees fondly call this Ganesha 'Bhaiya', which means brother. Because of this, a custom has grown around Rakshabandhan. Women send rakhis to Bade Ganesh first and then tie rakhis on their own brothers. Huge rakhis are tied on the idol's wrist.

Festivals

• Rakshabandhan dayRakshabandhan

  Women send rakhis to Bade Ganesh first, and huge rakhis are tied to the idol's wrist.

Tips for your visit

• Mahakaleshwar Temple is right next door, so you can plan both visits together.
• Mahakaleshwar is one of the 12 jyotirlingas and is famous for its daily Bhasma aarti.

Questions people ask