Times News Network
Ujjain: The Kal Bhairav temple in Ujjain has introduced a paid VIP darshan facility starting Wednesday, enabling devotees to bypass the regular queue and access the sanctum sanctorum directly after paying Rs 500.
New VIP Darshan System
Modelled on a similar arrangement at the Mahakaleshwar temple, tickets for the VIP darshan are available at an authorised counter outside the temple premises. General darshan remains free for all devotees. Under the new system, ticket holders can enter through the exit route to reach the garbhagriha door directly, avoiding long waits.
Management and Security
Temple management committee chairman and SDM L N Garg stated that the ticketing is currently offline but will move online in due course. The authorised counter was established after pilgrims were previously defrauded by individuals offering fake express darshan services. This move aims to provide a secure and transparent system for devotees seeking quicker access.
Popularity and Footfall
The temple, renowned for the unique tradition of offering liquor to the deity, attracts between 20,000 and 25,000 visitors on ordinary days. On weekends and special occasions, the number swells to between 50,000 and 80,000. Footfall has risen significantly since the development of the Mahakal Lok corridor, with many of the two lakh daily visitors to Mahakaleshwar also stopping at the Kal Bhairav temple.
Future Developments
In view of the growing crowds and the upcoming Simhastha festival, the government has planned a corridor and infrastructure development at the temple at a cost of over Rs 125 crore. This project is expected to enhance the experience for devotees and manage the increasing visitor numbers effectively.
Timings and Additional Information
The temple is open daily from 6:30 am to 9:30 pm, with darshan briefly suspended during the aarti at 8 am and 8:30 pm. Devotees can check gold rates, silver rates, bank holidays, public holidays, petrol prices, diesel prices, CNG prices, and LPG prices in Indore for their convenience.
