There is no specific historical evidence about the construction of the Omkareshwar Mahadev Temple. However, available historical records suggest that in 1063, King Udayaditya installed four stones with Sanskrit stotrams. Later, in 1195, Raja Bharat Singh Chauhan rebuilt the temple. Mandhata was ruled by different dynasties including Sindhis, Malwa, and Parmar. In 1824, the area came under the control of the British Government.
There are three popular stories associated with the Omkareshwar Temple. According to one story, Narad Muni once visited the Vindhyachal mountain where he praised Vindhyachal, also known as Parvatraj. However, Narad Muni mentioned that the Mount Sumeru was higher than Vindhyachal. Disturbed by this, Vindhyachal decided to worship Lord Shiva to prove his superiority. After six months of intense penance, Lord Shiva appeared and granted Vindhyachal a boon. The linga established by Vindhyachal became Mamleshwar Linga, and the place where Lord Shiva resided came to be known as Omkareshwar Shivling.
Another story tells that King Mandhata performed rigorous penance on the mountain and pleased Lord Shiva. The king asked Lord Shiva to reside there permanently, and since then, the Shivling named Omkareshwar has been revered at the temple.
The third story states that during a fierce battle between the gods and demons, when the gods were defeated, they sought Lord Shiva's help. Impressed by their devotion, Lord Shiva took the form of the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga and vanquished the demons.
The Omkareshwar Temple is estimated to be around 5500 years old based on historical evidence and references in the Puranas.
Omkareshwar is located at the confluence of the Narmada and Kaveri rivers in Madhya Pradesh. The temple complex houses two Jyotirlingas, Mamleshwar Jyotirlinga and Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga. Omkareshwar is situated between the Mandhata mountain and Shivpuri, while Mamleshwar Jyotirlinga is located on the southern bank.
To reach Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, the nearest airport is the Ahilya Devi Holkar Airport in Indore, which is approximately 77 km away. From there, one can reach Omkareshwar by bus or taxi. Saree bus services are available from Ujjain, Khandwa, and Indore in Madhya Pradesh. There is no railway station in close proximity, so one would need to take a bus or taxi after reaching the Indore or Khandwa railway station.