page_title: Ujjain
section_title: Medieval period
hierarchical_section_title: Ujjain / History / Medieval period
caption_attribution_description: English: The Samrata Yantra of the Vedh Shala, Ujjain, India Français&#160;: Le Samrata Yantra de l'observatoire Vedh Shala, Ujjain, Inde
context_page_description: Ujjain is a city in Ujjain district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the fifth largest city in Madhya Pradesh by population and is the administrative centre of Ujjain district and Ujjain division. It is a famous Hindu pilgrimage centre with the Kumbh Mela held here every 12 years. The famous temple of Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is also located in this city. The city is also a part of the Indore Metropolitan Region, as notified by the State Government under Indore Metropolitan Region Development Authority.
  An ancient city situated on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River, Ujjain was the most prominent city on the Malwa plateau of central India for much of its history. It emerged as the political centre of central India around 600 BCE. It was the capital of the ancient Avanti kingdom, one of the sixteen mahajanapadas. It remained an important political, commercial and cultural centre of central India until the early 19th century, when the British administrators decided to develop Indore as an alternative to it. Ujjain continues to be an important place of pilgrimage for Shaivites, Vaishnavites and followers of Shakta.
context_section_description: Ujjain was an important city and first capital of the powerul Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty. The Pratiharas later shifted their capital to Kanauj. The Paramaras (9th-14th century CE) shifted the region's capital from Ujjain to Dhar. In 1235 CE, Iltutmish of Delhi Sultanate plundered the city, and destroyed its temples. With the decline of the Paramara kingdom, Ujjain ultimately came under the Islamic rule, like other parts of north-central India. The city continued to be an important city of central India. As late as during the times 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.
caption: The Jantar Mantar at Ujjain was commissioned by Jai Singh II (1688-1743) of Jaipur.
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