Ujjain district is an administrative district in the Malwa region of the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It forms part of the Ujjain division and has its administrative headquarters in the city of Ujjain, one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban centres in India and a major Hindu pilgrimage site on the banks of the Shipra River.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Madhya Pradesh |
| Division | Ujjain division |
| Headquarters | Ujjain |
| Region | Malwa |
| Major river | Shipra (Kshipra) |
The district lies on the Malwa plateau in west-central Madhya Pradesh. The Shipra, a tributary of the Chambal, flows through the district and is central to the religious geography of Ujjain town. The terrain is largely flat to gently undulating, with black cotton soils that support extensive agriculture. The climate is sub-tropical, with hot summers, a south-west monsoon season, and cool winters.
Ujjain district is administered by a District Magistrate and Collector, with a Superintendent of Police heading the district police. For revenue and development purposes, the district is divided into tahsils and community development blocks, and is part of the Ujjain revenue division, which also includes neighbouring districts of the Malwa region. The district sends representatives to the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly and to the Lok Sabha through the Ujjain parliamentary constituency, which is reserved for Scheduled Castes.
The town of Ujjain, historically known as Ujjayini or Avantika, was the capital of the ancient Avanti mahajanapada and later a major centre under the Mauryas, Shungas, Western Kshatrapas, Guptas and Paramaras. It is traditionally associated with the legendary king Vikramaditya and the Vikram Samvat era. Ujjain was an important seat of learning, astronomy and trade, lying on the prime meridian used by classical Indian astronomers.
In the medieval period the region came under the Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughals, and in the eighteenth century it became a prominent centre of the Scindia dynasty of the Maratha Confederacy before the capital was shifted to Gwalior. After Indian independence the area was part of the Madhya Bharat state, and was incorporated into Madhya Pradesh on the reorganisation of states in 1956.
Ujjain is one of the seven sacred Hindu cities (Sapta Puri) and hosts the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, held every twelve years on the banks of the Shipra. The Mahakaleshwar temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas dedicated to Shiva, is located in the district headquarters. Other notable sites include the Harsiddhi temple, Kal Bhairav temple, Sandipani Ashram, and the Vedh Shala (Jantar Mantar) observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh II.
The economy is predominantly agricultural, with soybean, wheat, gram, and oilseeds being important crops grown on the Malwa black soils. The district also has agro-processing units, textile mills and small and medium industries, and pilgrimage-related services contribute significantly to Ujjain city's local economy. Ujjain is connected by the Western Railway and by national and state highways to Indore, Bhopal and other major centres of central India.
The population is largely Hindi-speaking, with Malvi widely spoken as a regional dialect. Hinduism is the predominant religion, and there are significant Muslim, Jain and other minority communities, especially in urban areas. Ujjain city is by far the largest urban centre in the district.
Ujjain is home to Vikram University, established in 1957, which is the principal centre of higher education in the district and serves a wide region of western Madhya Pradesh. The district also hosts numerous government and private colleges, Sanskrit institutions, and schools.