As soon as I entered through Nandi Dwar, a 26feet high gate of the Makakal Lok corridor, I stepped into a huge lounge of a 900 meter corridor illuminated with colourful lights mixing with different shades. Beyond Nandi Dwar is a lotus pond and in the middle is a towering statue of a meditating Shiva surrounded by gushing fountains, standing near beautifully crafted fencing of  the lake in the month of October sooths all your sweat and tiredness, listening  to ‘Jai shree Mahakal’ reverberating across the corridor through the inbuilt sound system.  

‘Mahakal Lok Corridor’ a must -see state- of -the- art development project of Ujjain Mahakal temple and its surrounding areas , the longest of its kind in the country constructed at the bank of Rudra Sagar lake , which has been revamped under the Mahakalo lok corridor as a lake embellished with thousands of flowering water lilys . Propitious Kshipra River flowing at the side of the temple as well as corridor makes the place serene and tranquil. Having colonnade of 200 ornate statues and a 100ft-wide mural wall make the corridor vibrant, while  108 stambhas (pillars) lined  made a symmetrical carve in the corridor. Made of sandstone from Rajasthan, the stambhas have carvings of Shiva performing anand tandav. The tallest is the 54ft-high Shiv Stambh, Atop the Shiv Stambh is a panchmukhi, or five-faced Shiva. Along with this, gushing fountains and mural paintings are other highlights of the place. As many as 50 mural paintings are created on a running panel to depict the stories of Lord Shiva from ‘Shiv Purana’ to the visitors. A total of eight forms of Lord Shiva are available for Mahakal Lok Darshan.The corridor also showcases murals of the stories, which are mentioned in the Shiva Purana.

The best part is that Ujjain Mahakal Lok Corridor is constructed very close to   Ujjain Mahakaleshwar Temple, which houses the Swayambhu form of Lord Shiva. Mahakaleshwar Temple is one of the 12 sacred jyotirlingas in the world and it is one of the must-visit places in Ujjain.

Visitors usually take around two hours to explore the corridor. At the end of the passage is the grand temple, its dome hidden by the roof of a waiting hall. Meant to decongest the temple premises, the devotees while visualising the corridor , they don’t forget to chant Jao Shree Mahakal.

Visiting timings for devotees open from 6 AM till the sleep aarti, 11 PM.The last entry to the corridor is given till 10 PM. Evening is the best time to visit the corridor due its magnificent lighting arrangements which make the corridor visible from faraway places and more attractive.  The most convenient journey is -One can avail night train from Mumbai Central and can reach Ujjain station in the morning around 8am. . From Ujjain station, the Mahakal Corridor is  mere one and half km away , which can be driven by an auto rikshaw or a cab.  Near the Corridor several budget hotels and inns are available throughout the whole year, though October -March is the best time to visit the place.