Kalahandi region had a glorious past and great civilisation in ancient time. Archaeological record of Tel valley reveals the presence of the primates in its various zones during the Pleistocene phase. Paleolithic is being documented in Kalahandi, like Moter river basin in Dharamgarh region.[5] One of the largest size axe of late stone age culture has been recovered from Kalahandi.[6] Tel river civilisation put light towards a great civilisation existing in Kalahandi in the past that is recently getting explored.[7] The archaeological wealth of Tel Valley suggests that a civilised, urbanised, cultured people inhabited on this land mass around 2000 years ago[3], with Asurgarh as its capital. Kalahandi, along with Koraput and Bastar, was part of Kantara referred in Ramayana and Mahabharata.[8] In 4th century B.C., the Kalahandi region was known as Indravana from where precious gem-stones and diamond were collected for the imperial Maurya treasury.[9] During the period of Maurya emperor Ashoka, Kalahandi along with Koraput and Bastar region was called Atavi Land.[10] This land was unconquered as per Ashokan record.[11] In the beginning of Christian era, it was probably known as Mahavana.[12] In 4th Century A.D., Vyaghraraja was ruling over Mahakantara comprising Kalahandi, undivided Koraput and Bastar region.[13] Asurgarh was the capital of Mahakantara.[14] After Vyaghraraja, Nala kings like Bhavadatta Varman, Arthapati and Skanda Varman ruled over the south part of this region up to about 500 A.D. The territory was known as Nalavadi-visaya[15] and the rest of Mahakantara, the lower part of Tel river valley was ruled by king Tastikara and his scions, the kingdom was known as Parvatad-waraka, whose headquarters was Talabhamraka near Belkhandi.[12] In the 6th century a new kingdom developed in the Kalahandi tract under King Tustikara, but very little is known about other kings of his family. Maraguda valley was identified as capital of Sarabapuriyas.[16] During Sarabapuriyas in the 6th century, Kalahandi lost its political entities and merged with eastern part of South Kosal or Kosal.[17] But this was also for a short period as in succeeding phase it assumed a distinct name Trikalinga. By the 9th–10th centuries the region including Western Odisha, Kalahandi, Koraput and Bastar was known as Trikalinga.[18] The Somavamsi king Mahabhavagupta I Janmejaya (925 – 960) assumed the title Trikalingadhipati.[19] Trikalinga was short lived and Chindakangas carved out a new kingdom called Chakrakota Mandala or Bramarakota Mandala,[20] which later one expanded to whole Kalahandi and Koraput. The Naga dynasty started ruling Kalahandi in 1006. The Nagas of Kalahandi are the only dynasty in Odisha having a record of thousand years (1050–1948). During the 12th century Chkrakota Mandal was incorporated with the Ganga realm of Kalinga, and renamed "Kamala Mandala",[21] thus Kalahandi region became part of Kalinga as a feudatory of the Eastern Gangas under Nagas rules and continued till 14th century. After 14th century Nagas owed allegiance from Eastern Gangas to the Suryavamsi Gajapatis. This territory assumed independence after the downfall of the Gajapatis of Odisha in 1568. According to tradition the Kalahandi kingdom commanded sovereign power over eighteen garbs. It was occupied by the Bhonslas of Nagpur in the middle of the 18th century but still it was a Gadajat under Nagas rule. In 1853 the Nagpur state lapsed to the British Crown as Raghujee III died without an heir. Then Kalahandi became a princely state under British and known as Karonda Mandal. Maharaja Pratap Keshari Deo, the Ex-Maharaja of Kalahandi, in one of his articles expressed his view that the historical significance of naming Kalahandi as Karunda Mandala is based on the availability of Corundum in this region. Manikeswari (the goddess of Manikya), the clan deity of the Naga kings of Kalahandi may have also necessitated the adoption of the name.

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