Maihar's history can be traced since the Paleolithic Age. The town was previously the capital of the princely state of Maihar. The state was founded in 1778 by Rajputs of the Kachwaha clan, who were decided land by the ruler of the nearby state of Orchha. The state became a princely state of British India in the early 19th century, and was administer as part of Bundelkhand Agency in the Central India Agency. In 1871 the eastern states of Bundelkhand Agency, including Maihar, were divided to form the new agency of Bagelkhand in Central India. In 1933 Maihar, along with ten other states in western Bagelkhand, were transfer back to the Bundelkhand Agency. The state, which was watered by the Tons River, consists mainly of alluvial soil covering granite, and is fertile except in the hilly district of the south. A large area was beneath forest, the produce of which provided a small export trade. The name of the ruler was maharaja. The state suffered harshly from starvation in 1896–1897. Maihar became a station on the West Central Railway line between satna and Jabalpur, 97 miles north of Jabalpur.

Apart from above there is a very famous place of worship by the name of Sharda Devi temple situated on the top of the a Trikuta hill around 5 km from the heart of the town. This temple is recognized for the 1063 steps to the top. Millions of devotees host the temple all round the year.

There is one antique inscription near the feet of stone sculpture of Sharda Devi situated in Sharda Devi temple. There is another famous place of worship Lord Narsingh along with Sharda Devi.