Mahakal Darshan Timings 2026: Temple & Aarti Schedule

Mahakal darshan timing at Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Ujjain starts at about 4:00 AM, when the doors open for Bhasma Aarti. The day ends with Shayan Aarti, 10:30 to 11:00 PM. Five aartis run every day. Three of them shift between the summer and winter timetables. These times are as of October 2026; check shrimahakaleshwar.mp.gov.in on the day.

Checked against the official temple timetable on 7 October 2026 by Kshitij Kumawat, Ujjain local guide since 2023. This site is a guide, not a ticket seller. All bookings are made only on the official temple portal.

Mahakal darshan timing at a glance

Need only the basics? This table covers the whole day, using the temple’s aarti times. The general darshan line has no published start or end time, so we describe it instead of giving a time.

For the pre-dawn aarti, start with our Bhasma Aarti booking guide. No official last-entry time is published for the general line, so ask at the counter on the day.

Mahakaleshwar temple timings: summer vs winter aarti table

The Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple Management Committee publishes two aarti timetables on its official temple timetable page. They follow the Hindu calendar, not fixed English dates.

Which timetable applies on your date

Bhasma Aarti and Shayan Aarti keep the same time all year. Only Dadyodak, Bhog and Sandhya Aarti move.

The summer table runs until Ashwin Purnima, also called Sharad Purnima. The winter table starts the next day, on Kartik Krishna Pratipada. In 2026, that means winter timings apply from about 27 October 2026, after Sharad Purnima. The temple has not posted a dated switch notice, so check the portal if you visit in late October.

The winter table then holds until Phalgun Purnima, after which the summer table returns.

For example: visiting on 20 October 2026? Use the summer column, so Sandhya Aarti is 7:00-7:45 PM. Visiting in mid-November 2026? Use the winter column, so Sandhya Aarti is 6:30-7:15 PM and the two morning aartis start 30 minutes later. If your date falls in the last week of October, check both columns and confirm on the portal before you leave your hotel.

Why other websites show different Mahakal timings

Search for Ujjain temple timings or Ujjain Mahakal mandir timing and you will find several versions. Here is what we found when we checked them against the official table:

• “Sandhya Aarti at 5 PM.” The official Sandhya Aarti is 7:00-7:45 PM in summer and 6:30-7:15 PM in winter. The 5 PM figure likely refers to the Sandhya Pujan, which is not on the official aarti table.
• 30-minute aarti windows. Some sites show Dadyodak at 7:00-7:30 AM and Bhog at 10:00-10:30 AM. The official table gives 45-minute windows.
• A different winter evening schedule. One site lists a winter Sandhya at 5:30-6:00 PM. The official winter Sandhya Aarti is 6:30-7:15 PM.
• “Closed on weekends.” At least one site claims this. The official schedule is a daily one, and no other source supports a weekend closure.

The rule is simple: when two sources disagree, trust the official timetable. Travel blogs and older guide pages are not always updated when the temple changes a slot. That is why every time on this page carries an “as of” date.

The darshan clock: a full day at Mahakaleshwar

This timeline puts the rituals and the official booking windows on one clock. Summer times come first, with winter times in brackets. The night aarti gets one row here; for its slots and rules, read our Shayan Aarti booking guide.

Sandhya and Shayan Aarti bookings are first come, first served, and only on the temple website. Both open on the day of the aarti, four hours apart. An evening slot and a night slot need two separate bookings.

The 8:00 AM row matters most for pre-dawn plans. If you missed the monthly window, our page on Tatkal Bhasma Aarti booking at 8 AM explains the next-day route.

The portal also lists Sheeghra Darshan, Pujan and Abhishek bookings among its online services. This page sticks to times. For the meaning of each ritual, see what happens at each Mahakal aarti.

Ujjain Mahakal darshan time on Mondays, Sawan and festivals

On an ordinary Monday, the temple follows the same daily table. The big changes come in Shravan (Sawan), on Mahashivratri and on Nag Panchami.

Dates move every year with the Hindu calendar. Before you plan a festival trip, check the temple portal’s important days list.

Shravan (Sawan) Mondays and Sawari days

In 2026, Shravan-Bhadon ran from 30 July to 7 September. The temple opened at 3:00 AM daily. On Mondays it opened at 2:30 AM, with Bhasma Aarti from 2:30 to 4:30 AM. These times come from a Shravan 2026 schedule report. Press coverage also said the temple prepared for about 4 lakh devotees a day.

The official portal says the Mahakal Sawari goes out on every Monday from Shravan Krishna Pratipada to Bhadrapada Amavasya. In 2026 the Sawari Mondays were 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 August, with the Shahi Sawari on 7 September. Treat 2026 as a guide only; new Sawan timings are announced each year.

Mahashivratri and Shiv Navratri

Shiv Navratri runs from Phalgun Krishna Panchami to Trayodashi. On Mahashivratri, worship and abhishek continue all day, Mahapuja is held at night, and Sehra Darshan follows. Then comes the year’s only afternoon Bhasma Aarti.

As a past example, Mahashivratri 2026 fell on 15 February, with Sehra Darshan on 16 February and Shiv Navratri from 6 February. We have not verified the next date, so check the portal’s important days list.

Nag Panchami

The Nagchandreshwar shrine sits on the top floor of the Mahakaleshwar temple and opens only on Nag Panchami. The day runs differently from the normal schedule; for details, see Nagchandreshwar darshan on Nag Panchami.

Pick your darshan slot

This picker uses the schedule only. Crowds change by day and season, so we do not promise any wait time.

The general queue has no ticket listed on the official portal. Sheeghra Darshan (sometimes spelled Sheegra Darshan) is the paid faster line. As of October 2026, some pujas booked on the portal also need a separate Sheeghra Darshan ticket. For current fees, queues and gates, see Sheeghra and VIP darshan prices.

Before you go: confirm the timing

• Ujjain mandir timing can change, so check the official timetable on the morning of your visit, especially in late October, during Sawan and around Mahashivratri.
• For questions, call the official temple helpline: 1800 233 1008.
• Book Bhasma, Sandhya and Shayan Aarti only on shrimahakaleshwar.mp.gov.in. Anyone else promising a sure seat is not the temple.
• Save your plan offline, with the aarti times for your season written down.

The full offline day plan, with a checklist for each aarti, is in the Mahakal Playbook PDF guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Mahakaleshwar temple open and close?

Doors open for Bhasma Aarti at about 4:00 AM. The day ends with Shayan Aarti from 10:30 to 11:00 PM, which is the last ritual on the official aarti table. The temple does not publish a separate closing time, so treat about 11:00 PM as the end of the day and check the official portal for any change on your date.

What is the Mahakal darshan timing in winter?

The winter table runs from Kartik Krishna Pratipada to Phalgun Purnima. Bhasma Aarti stays at 4:00-6:00 AM, Dadyodak moves to 7:30-8:15 AM, Bhog to 10:30-11:15 AM and Sandhya to 6:30-7:15 PM. Shayan Aarti stays at 10:30-11:00 PM. In 2026, winter timings apply from about 27 October, after Sharad Purnima; check the portal.

Can I do Mahakal darshan at night after Shayan Aarti?

No. Shayan Aarti, from 10:30 to 11:00 PM, is the last ritual of the day on the official timetable, and the day ends after it. For a late visit, join the general line well before night or book Shayan Aarti itself. No official last-entry time is published, so ask at the counter.

Do Mahakal darshan timings change on Mondays?

Not on ordinary Mondays; the same daily aarti table applies. Shravan Mondays are different. In 2026 the temple opened at 2:30 AM on Shravan Mondays, with Bhasma Aarti from 2:30 to 4:30 AM, and the Mahakal Sawari went out on each Monday from Shravan Krishna Pratipada to Bhadrapada Amavasya. New Sawan timings are announced every year.

How do Mahakal timings change in Sawan?

In Shravan-Bhadon 2026, from 30 July to 7 September, the temple opened at 3:00 AM daily instead of about 4:00 AM. On Mondays it opened at 2:30 AM, with Bhasma Aarti from 2:30 to 4:30 AM. Regular timings returned after 7 September. Use 2026 as a guide only and check the announcement before next year’s Sawan.

Is Mahakal darshan possible on Mahashivratri night?

Yes. On Mahashivratri, worship and abhishek go on all day, with Mahapuja at night. Sehra Darshan follows, and then the once-a-year afternoon Bhasma Aarti is held. In 2026, Mahashivratri fell on 15 February and Sehra Darshan on 16 February. The next year’s date is not verified here, so check the official portal’s important days list.

Sources and verification

• Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple – Temple Timings (official)
• Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple – official booking portal
• District Ujjain – Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple
• Free Press Journal – Shravan 2026 Mahakal Sawari schedule (12 Jul 2026)
• Wikipedia – Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga
• Free Press Journal – Mahakaleshwar Temple prepares for 4 lakh daily devotees, Shravan 2026 (30 Jul 2026)