Koraput

Koraput, town, southwestern Odisha (Orissa) state, eastern India. The town is located at an elevation above 3,000 feet (900 meters) in the Eastern Ghats mountain range just east-southeast of Jeypore town. Koraput and Jeypore are both in the district of Koraput.

Most people in the surrounding area live in tribal communities and are engaged in agriculture. Some tribes in the Koraput region are the Khond, Koya, Bhumia, Bhatra, and Gond. Rice, sugarcane, and oilseeds are the biggest crops. The region also has rich mineral deposits, including aluminum ore, manganese, and limestone. The Gupteshwar limestone cave temple on Ramgiri Hill and the Duduma and Bagra waterfalls are nearby. At nearly 5,500 feet (1,672 meters) above sea level and about 43 miles (70 km) from Koraput town, Deomali is Odisha’s highest peak.

The Koraput region formed a part of several dynasties over time, including the Satavahanas (2nd century ce), the Nalas (4th century ce), the Eastern Ganga rulers (late 5th and 11th century ce), under whom the region was known as Trikalinga, and the Suryavamshis, or the Jeypore Rajas (15th century ce). The region eventually passed into French possession, followed by British possession, both in the latter half of the 18th century. It became part of the Madras Presidency (mid-19th century), before being included in the new Orissa province in 1936. The district was divided into the four districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, and Nabarangpur in 1992. Pop. (2001) 39,548; (2011) 47,468.