The Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple history is fascinating. It is said that Brahmaji himself was responsible for the construction of the temple. The name of the temple means the ‘Lord of time’ which refers to the Hindu God Shiva alias Bholenath and Maheshwara. This is where the lord is worshipped along with his family. The Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the 12 temples where Shiva is said to appear to test and observe both Brahma and Vishnu. 

There is no solid evidence to back up Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple history thus it is surrounded by legends and myths. Some of these tales may seem familiar while the rest may seem unheard. One story is that Sati the beloved of Lord Shiva walked into the fire to revolt against her father. Daksha did not agree to the nuptial of Sati with Shiva and was ill-behaved towards Shiva. This caused the demise of Sati and Shiva felt a turmoil of emotions within him, dominated by the fury he performed the dance of Death also known as Tandava. That is when he was named Mahakal.

Dushan one of the demons attacked the devotees of Shiva. Shiva was filled to the brim with rage and he ripped the earth into two pieces, this incident lead to him being known as Mahakaleshwar. It is also said that in the golden era the neighboring Kings were planning a secret attack on the province of Ujjain. When Shikhar a resident of the city and the village priest head of it they began to pray with all their heart to lord Shiva. Lord Shiva heard their urgent plea and decided to take the form of a lingam to protect the city forever. Thus, this jyotirlinga is known as Swayambhu. This temple was attacked and invaded several times and it even turned to ruins but the jyotirlinga remained there. In the 19th century, the Scindia family renovated the temple and that is the one we see today. 
 

The temple of Mahakaleshwar is an architectural marvel in itself. The structure is a beautiful blend of various architectural styles. The styles like Bhumija, Martha, and Chalukya are used in the construction of the temple. The temple is surrounded by a lake and has a very spacious courtyard. The temple has five floors and one of them is underground. The Shivlinga is on the ground level. The two lingams names Nagachandresvara and Omkareshvara are placed on the uppermost and middle floors. There is a Kunda present in the Koti Tirtha and on its east side is a huge veranda. This open area leads to the area where the silver-plated images of Parvati, Ganesh, and Kartikey are placed.

A tourist can attend the various aartis held in the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple during the day. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga aarti timings are :

For the month Kartik to Falgun, the timings change according to the months in the Hindu calendar: 

• Bhasma Aarti: 4:00 am
• Morning Pooja: 7:30 am - 8:00 am 
• Mid-day Pooja: 10:30 am - 11:00 am 
• Evening Pooja: 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm
• Shri Mahakal Aarti: 7:30 pm - 8:00 pm 
• Dwar Closing time: 11:00 pm

 For the month Chaitra to Ashwin: 

• Morning Pooja: 7:00 am - 7:30 am
•  Mid-day Pooja: 10:00 am - 10:30 am
•  Evening Pooja: 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm
•  Shri Mahakal Aarti: 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm
•  Dwar Closing time: 11:00 pm

These timings are subject to change. You can either visit the temple website or ask the people around once you reach there. A devotee or tourist can visit the temple during the festive season. The festivals celebrated with a lot of joy in this temple are Nitya Yatra, Sawarni, Kumbh Mela, Maha Shivratri, Karthik Mela, and Harihara Milana. 
 

• There is no dress code for normal darshans but the devotees are expected to wear decent clothes. 
• If the tourist or devotee are attending the Jala Abhishek then men are expected to wear a dhoti and a shawl whereas the women are expected to wear a saree. 
• It is advised to stay at a hotel close to the temple if the devotee wishes to attend the intriguing Bhasma Aarti.
• To attend the Bhasma Arti one needs to carry along a photo ID other than the PAN card as the authorities do not accept it. 
• Do not litter the temple premise and follow the instructions mentioned.
• If you are claustrophobic then be mentally prepared to face the hustle and bustle caused by the crowd of devotees who wait in lines to catch a glimpse of their almighty. 
• Do not drop the prasadam on the floor and do not spill milk on people around you, carry it carefully.
   

The Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Ujjain temple can be visited any time of the year but the best time to visit this place is from October to March. This is the time of the year when you can comfortably explore the city. You can even plan a visit during any one of the festivals if you want to see how grandly the festivals are celebrated in the temple premise.

• Dewas
• Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary
• Janapav Kuti
• Birla Mandir in Nagda
• Omkareshwar Dam
• Maheshwar
• Mandu
• Hanuwantiya Island
   

• The structure is a beautiful blend of various architectural styles. The styles like Bhumija, Martha, and Chalukya are used in the construction of the temple.
• The Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Ujjain temple is devoted to Lord Shiva and it is said that the Shivling present here is Swayambhu. 
• The temple has five floors and one of them is underground. The Shivlinga is on the ground level. The two lingams names Nagachandresvara and Omkareshvara are placed on the uppermost and middle floors.
• There is a Kunda present in the Koti Tirtha and on its east side is a huge veranda. This open area leads to the area where the silver-plated images of Parvati, Ganesh, and Kartikey are placed.