Due to his leave constraint we’ll be arriving Ujjain at 21:00 Hrs 12/12/09 and have to catch a train from Bhopal again on 13/12/09 at 16:55 Hrs. So, as you see we’ve exactly 13 HRS in Ujjain, as we’ve to be on road to Bhopal max by 11:00 AM. And, we’ve decided to pay homage at the three major places i.e. Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ma Harsiddhi Temple, Kaal Bhairav Temple. We’re thinking of attending the Bhasm Arti of Sri Mahakaal, and then darshan and prayers at the latter two. I’d be glad if someone can clarify these queries, since we do not know when we’ll be visiting again and I do not want to miss out a proper Puja and darshan due to lack of information:
1. How much ahead of the Bhasm Arti shall we arrive at the temple so as to get a proper place to sit and attend the Arti?
2. Are there any passes required to attend it? If, yes from when and till when is the ticket counter open?
3. Is one allowed to touch Shivling during the Bhasma Arti or only after that?
4. How long the Bhasm Arti last and how much is the crowd, if lets say, we decide to come back again in a jiffy after the Arti to do the Puja?
5. At what time does Ma Harsiddhi Temple and Kaal Bhairav Temple open?
6. Are we allowed to take pictures inside the Temples?
7. How far are all these 3 temples from each other?
8. If any local person from Ujjain knows the contact number of some Pandits of the temple as well as of some good Taxi provider, please let us know. We’d be greatful.

my mother wants to go to khajuraho. she is 64yrs old. retired teacher. she will travell alone. is it safe for her to visit khajuraho and some other near locations alone? what are the ways i can arrange her a trip? plz suggest a tour plan for 10 days. Kolkata to kolkata. She wants to stay at khajuraho for atleast 4 days.

I think it’s safe to visit Khajuraho alone – the place is really touristy and the main problem is lots of touts, but if she’ll not go to remout regions of village late in the evening (I’m sure she’ll not) – I think she’ll be absolutely safe. I think the best way to get to Khajuraho for a woman at her age – use a train from Delhi or Agra, so she can get from Kolkata to Delhi, than take a train to Khajuraho, spend some time there and go by train again to Agra, for example  Agra is not the most pleasant city of course, but sights there are excellent. From Agra she could catch a train straight to Kolkata or get back to Delhi and have a flight back home