Kalahandi (locally pronounced
Kalahani), is a district of
Odisha in India. The region had a glorious past and great civilisation in ancient time. Archaeological evidence of stone age and Iron Age human settlement has been recovered from the region. Asurgarh offered an advanced, well civilised, cultured and urban human settlement about 2000 years ago in the region. In South – Asia it is believed that the lands of Kalahandi district and
Koraput district were the ancient places where people started cultivation of paddy. In ancient time it was known as
Mahakantara (meaning Great Forest) and
Karunda Mandal, which means treasure of precious stones like karandam (
Corundum/Manik),
Garnet (red stone), Beruz, Neelam (
Sapphire/blue stone), and Alexandra etc.
Manikeswari (the goddess of Manikya or Karandam) is the clan deity of Kalahandi may also signify its historical name. It was a
princely state in
British India and in post independence period it merged with Odisha state in India as Kalahandi district comprising current Kalahandi district and
Nuapada district. In 1967, Kashipur block from Kalahandi district was transferred to
Rayagada district for administrative reason. In the 1980s, Kalahandi name became associated with backwardness and starvation death, which is known as "Kalahandi Syndrome". Despite its backwardness it is one of the rich regions in terms of history, agriculture, forest resources,
gemstone,
bauxite,
folk dance,
folk music,
folklore,
handicrafts and arts. In 1993, Nuapada sub-division was carved out as a separate district, but
Kalahandi (Lok Sabha constituency) continues to constitute present
Kalahandi district and
Nuapada district together.