Kalahandi was a princely state forming part of the South Kosals. After Independence, it became part of
Orissa. The climate is somewhat hot with the summer temperature often touching 45°C. The region receives an average rainfall of 1,378 mm. Kalahandi District has an area of 8,197 sq km and is home to 1.3 million people. The town of
Bhawanipatna is the headquarters.
Kalahandi has many large scale industries such as Western Sugar and Chemical Industries Ltd, Konark Growers Cooperative Spinning Mills Ltd, and Kesinga and Orissa Regional Cooperative Oil Seed Growers Union Ltd. The region has rich deposits of graphite, manganese, iron, and quartz.
Kalahandi is home to the Indravati river, Ravanadhara waterfall, hot water spring Banshakela, and the Upper Kolab Irrigation and Power Project. Some important places worth visiting are Junagarh Fort, Karlapat, Khariar, Belkhandi, Yogimath, and Patalganga.
