Raipur

Tehsil Raipur, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
Raipur About this sound pronunciation is the capital city of the state of Chhattisgarh, India. The population is 1,560,667 (as per census of India, 2001). The city is the administrative headquarters of Raipur District. It was formerly a part of Madhya Pradesh before the state of Chhattisgarh was formed on November 1, 2000. A city, Naya Raipur is being developed near Raipur.On the basis of ruins of a fort and other structures located on the southern part of the city, some historians believe that the city of Raipur was in existence even during the 9th century. However, most historians agree that King Brahmadeva Rai founded the city in the last quarter of the 14th century.

Raipur district is important from historical and archeological point of view. This district was once part of Southern Kosal and considered to be under Maurya Kingdom. Raipur city had been the capital of the Haihaya Kings, controlling the traditional forts of the Chhattisgarh for a long time. The town of Raipur has been in existence since the 9th century, the old site and ruins of the fort can be seen in the southern part of the city. Satawahana Kings ruled this part till the 2nd-3rd century.

In the 4th Century king Samudragupta had conquered this region and established his domination till 5th-6th Century when this part had come under the rule of Sarabhpuri Kings. For a certain period in 5th-6th Century, Nala kings dominated this area. Later on Somavanshi kings took control over this region and ruled with Sirpur (Sirpur-The city of Wealth) as their capital city. Mahashivgupt Balarjun was the mightiest emperor of this Dynasty. His mother, the widow Queen of Harshgupta of the Somavansh, Rani Vasata built the famous brick temple of Lakshman. The Kalchuri kings of Tumman ruled this part for a long time making Ratanpur as capital. The old inscriptions of Ratanpur, Rajim and Khallari refer to the reign of Kalchuri kings. It is believed that the King Ramachandra of this dynasty established the city of Raipur and subsequently made it the capital of his kingdom.

Another story about Raipur is that King Ramachandra's son Brahmdeo Rai had established Raipur. His capital was Khalwatika (now Khallari). The newly constructed city was named after Brahmdeo Rai as 'Raipur'. It was during his time in 1402 A.D. that Hajiraj Naik the temple of Hatkeshwar Mahadev was constructed in the banks of river Kharun.The decline of this dynasty's rule came with the death of king Amarsingh Deo. This region had become the domain of Bhosle kings after the Amarsingh deo's death. With the death of Raghuji the III, the territory was assumed by the British Government from Nagpur and Chhatisgarh was declared a separate Commissionery with its Headquarters at Raipur in 1854. After independence, Raipur district was included in Central Provinces And Berar.