History Of Raipur

Erstwhile a part of Madhya Pradesh and currently the capital city of Chhattisgarh, Raipur has an appealing blend of rich ancient history and culture to boast of. According to the earliest reference of Raipur, the place was a part of the Kosal region that was controlled and administered by the Maurya Dynasty. According to the epigraphists, the place came into existence only in the 9th century. The Kalachuri dynasty descendent was responsible for developing the city. Later the governance in the region shifted hands and was passed on to several dynasties as the place was disintegrated into smaller fragments. With the invasion of the British in the country, Raipur was conquered by the East Indian Company and Chhattisgarh was made into a separate governing body. After independence, the region became a part of Madhya Pradesh and remained a part of the state until recent time. Read the write-up to know interesting facts on the history of Raipur.

Raipur History

Early History
Not many of us are aware that Raipur is one of India's oldest cities. The Mauryas were among the first to rule this place. However, after the fall of the powerful Maurya Empire, the province came under the governance of the Satawahana Kings. The kings belonging to this dynasty monopolized the region during the 2nd and 3rd century. Soon the Somvanshi kings established their rule over this territory. During this period, Sirpur, which is located at a short distance from Raipur, served as the capital of the kingdom. Sirpur, under the administration of competent rulers, saw a cultural boom during this time. By the 4th century, the place saw the rise of the Samudragupta kings who ruled the place for almost 200 years. During this era, Sirpur came to be known as the 'city of wealth' as the capital grew culturally and economically. Rani Vasata, the queen of Harshgupta, played a vital role in erecting several architectural monuments in the city. She is known to be responsible for building the famous Lakshman temple in the region. Later the kings from the Kalachuri kingdom usurped the empire. During the leadership of the Kalachuri kings, Ratanpur became the capital. King Ramachandra of the Kalachuri Empire established Raipur as his capital. According to the legends, there are several versions on how the city came to be known as 'Raipur'. When the dynasty declined with the death of King Amarsingh Deo, it gave rise to the leadership of the Bhosle kings in Raipur for a brief period, until the land was finally passed on to the hands of the British.

Colonial India
Before the region of Chhattisgarh fell under the hands of the English, the region was divided into several fragments and ruled by smaller monarchs. In the year 1854, the place was captured by the British Raj and became an independent governing unit of East India Company. The region during the freedom struggle did not experience any major political disturbance compared to other places in central India.

Post-Independence
When India attained its independence in the year 1947, just like the rest of the states, the region including Chhattisgarh also went through territorial changes. The province merged with the state of Madhya Pradesh. Until 2000 Raipur was one of the districts in the state of Madhya Pradesh. On 1 November 2000, a new state was formed known as Chhattisgarh and Raipur was declared as the capital of the state.