The Mahakali Temple has ancient origins, but the current structure was built by the Maratha rulers, particularly the Scindia dynasty of Gwalior and the Holkar dynasty of Indore, during the 18th century. Ujjain was an important cultural and religious centre under the Paramara dynasty (9th-13th centuries), but most of the existing temple structures date to the Maratha period. The Maratha queen Ahilyabai Holkar (1725-1795) is credited with renovating and expanding many temples in Ujjain, including the Mahakali Temple.
The Scindia family donated the silver-plated doors and many of the temple's ritual vessels. The temple was once part of a larger complex that included a Sanskrit school (pathshala), which operated until the early 20th century. In the 19th century, the temple survived the administrative upheavals of the Maratha decline and the subsequent British takeover of the region, maintaining continuous worship throughout.
The temple has been maintained by the Ujjain temple trusts and continues to be an active centre of Shakta worship.
