Raipur district

Raipur district is a district in the Chhattisgarh state of India. Its administrative headquarters is the city of Raipur. The district is rich in mineral resources and there are many wildlife sanctuaries. With a population of 2 million, it is the most populous district of Chhattisgarh. Raipur district, like the rest of the Chhattisgarh plain, was once known as Dakshina Kosala and considered to be under Maurya Empire. In Arang near Raipur, a Gupta inscription dated to the 6th century CE shows Gupta hegemony over the region. In the 7th century CE, the region was ruled by a Buddhist kingdom in Bhandak in modern-day Maharashtra and was described by Xuanzang. A branch of this family later migrated to Sirpur in present-day Mahasamund district, and later took control of the entirety of Dakshina Kosala. This kingdom's prosperity reached its height with Tivaradeva. His son inscribed almost all temples in Sirpur. They were later ousted by the Sharabpuriyas, who took control of the rest of Chhattisgarh and ruled for several centuries. The Haihayas or Kalachuris, who claimed descent from the Chedis, later took control of the region in the early 9th century. The Haihaiya ruled Mughatunga was the first of the dynasty to rule Chhattisgarh, and his grandson set up the capital in Ratanpur, modern Bilaspur district. Their territory included modern Raipur. The Kalachuris controlled the region from Ratanpur the next three centuries, building many temples throughout their kingdom. By the 12th century, many small portions of their realm were given as fiefdoms to minor princes of the family and their power declined. The Haihaiyas of the Raipur branch then began to gain strength: one of their kings conquered 18 , or forts, of the enemy - lending an etymology to Chhattisgarh, the 36 forts. They ruled until the reign of Amar Singh Deva in 1741. In the mid-16th century, Kalyan Singh, current ruler of Raipur, took audience with Akbar and was rewarded with the title of Raja and other high titles. This was the first Muslim influence in Chhattisgarh, which would always remain limited.