The Vishalakshi Temple has ancient origins, mentioned in the Kashi Khanda of the Skanda Purana (circa 7th-8th century CE) as one of the sacred sites in the Kashi Kshetra. The original temple structure was repeatedly destroyed during the Muslim invasions of Varanasi, particularly under the rule of Qutb-ud-din Aibak (13th century), the Sharqi rulers of Jaunpur (15th century), and the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (1669 CE) who demolished the nearby Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
The present structure was built in the 18th century under the patronage of Ranoji Scindia, the Maratha ruler of Gwalior. The Bhumihar Brahmin community of Varanasi carried out major renovations in the 19th and early 20th centuries, including the construction of the Dravidian-style gopuram. The temple has historically served as the Shakti counterpart to Kashi Vishwanath in the sacred geography of Varanasi. The Kashi Yatra pilgrimage, a traditional circuit of temples in Varanasi, begins at Vishalakshi Temple.
In 2021, as part of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project, the approach to the temple was significantly improved with better access from the Ganges ghats.
