Ujjain to get back its ancient forest: “Mahakal Van” revived through sacred groves

Ujjain: Long before its temples, Ujjain was described as Mahakal Van — a vast sacred forest. Now the Forest Department is bringing that green cover back.

Led by IFS officer Anurag Tiwari, the department is creating Aastha Vans — sacred groves along the Panchkoshi Yatra route. Each grove will have native trees and plants linked to local deities, and aim to restore species like tamarind and miswak that have disappeared from the city.

“Instead of managing them, we’re handing Aastha Vans to temple trusts and Gram Panchayats to become custodians,” Tiwari says.

The project also includes a 6-day Van Mela that drew 1.5 lakh visitors and Rs 1 crore in herbal sales, crackdowns on illegal wildlife trade, and a planned 210-hectare naturalistic zoo ahead of Simhastha Kumbh 2028.

The goal: reconnect Ujjain’s faith with its forests, and help the holy city rediscover the ecology that once defined it.