The history of Koraput goes back as far as 3rd century BC. It originally belonged to the valiant and dreaded atvika people who fought the Kalinga war to restore the empire's glory.The region successively came to be ruled by several dynasites:Satavahans,Ikshvakus,Nalas,Ganga kings and kings of Surya vansha.Finally becoming a district of Odisha state on 1st April 1936

    The origin of the name 'koraput' is obsure.But theories abound.According to Mr. R.S. Bell, former Collector Koraput the name derives from Kora-Putti meaning "the hamlet of the nux-vomica" a tree that has once prevalent in the region. Another theory suggests Koraput is the corrupted form of "Karaka pento", literally meaning "Hail-stone". While a folklore says koraput is anamed after Khora Naiko - a valiant warrior of Nandapur kingdom.

     Koraput abounds in the imprints of Orissa's glorious past. Temples monasteries and other historical monuments from the medieval period, breathtaking in their beauty and of incalculable historical importance, stands as footprints of time telling the story of the ears bygone.