Koraput District located in the backdrop of green valleys contemplating immaculate freshness, was established on 1st April, 1936. Decorated by forests, waterfalls, terraced valleys and darting springs, the District draws the nature loving people. The Koraput District lies at 17.4 degree to 20.7 degree North latitude and 81.24 degree to 84.2 degree east longitude. The District is bounded by Rayagada in the east, Bastar District of Chhatisgarh in the west and Nabarangpur District in the south. As far as the history of the District is concerned, the region of Koraput existed far back in the 3rd century BC when it belonged to the valiant and dreaded Atavika people. The region was ruled by several dynasties, like Satavahans, Ikshvakus, Nalas, Ganga kings and kings of Suryavanshi, who nominated the Koraput region before the arrival of British. Finally the Koraput became a District in the year 1936.
The Koraput District covers an area of 8807 sq km consisting total 13,79,647 population as per 2011 census. The District has got 2 sub divisons namely Koraput and Jeypore. There are total 14 Tahsils, 14 Blocks, three Municipalities, one NAC, 23 Police stations, 2028 Villages and 226 Gram Panchayats functioning in the District of Koraput.
Koraput District experiences minimum 12.0 celsius and maximum 38.0 celsius temperature. The District experiences mainly three seasons i.e summer, winter and rainy. Summer occurs from April to June, Rainy season is from June to October and Winter is from November to March. Winter season in Koraput District is longer than other parts of Odisha. The average rainfall in the District is measured to be 1505.8mm(Average) rainfall.
The Economy of Koraput District is primarily based upon forestry and agriculture (including shifting cultivation), the bulk of commodities used domestically for everyday use are agricultural and forest products. The District with semi evergreen to deciduous vegetation endowed with various wild plants as a natural resource. The perennial streams and rivulets, the availability of huge under utilized ground water, the potentials to promote eco tourism, the women self help groups who have taken responsibilities of implementing mid day meal, Public Distribution System and other economic activities and the village and cottage industries in different parts of the District are the strengths of the District’s Economy.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the Economy of the Koraput District because around 83 percent depends on it. The soil and climate in the District are favourable for taking up of agro horticultural activities. The suitability of soil and climatic condition for production of coffee, cashew, cotton, tobacco, vegetable and fruits and the production of these crops strengthen the economy of the Koraput District. The common annual food crops grown in the District are paddy, millet, maize and pulses
.
 The tribals of koraput district - 

The concept of ‘Tribe’ induced to Koraput in the year 1917 by the Government of Madras Presidency under the ‘Agency Tracts Interest and Land transfer Act, 1917. The Act came to force precisely on August 14, 1917 and the whole population of Koraput were termed as the ‘Hill Tribes’ (the list at Appendix -A). The defination of the ‘Hill Tribe’ was :

"Anybody or class of persons residing in the agency tracts; (ie.whole undivided Koraput district & agency tracts of present Gajapati, Kandhamal and Ganjam districts of Orissa) not being a Land Holder (ie. Maharaja of Jeypore Zamindari) that may be notified for the purpose of the Act by the Government."
In independent India the ‘Hill Tribes’ of Koraput were devided into three categories i.e. Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes under
the constitution order of 1950. It seems the experts and the theoreticians have devided the whole population of Koraput artificially without designing the scientific parameter. It also seems that the State designed the so-called developmental Projects / Schemes to make the whole populace of the Hill Tribes as the second rate carbon copy of ourselves which Pandit Nehru feared years back.
The Tourist attraction of koraput district- 
The kolab Dam 

Rani duduma waterfalls 

 

Gupteshwar temple  

Sabari Jagannath temple 

Debrigarh,sunabeda 

The statue of lord hanuman 

The Scenic beauty of koraput district - 

Economy : 

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Koraput one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[6] It is one of the 19 districts in Odisha currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[6]

Agriculture Edit

The district economy mainly depends on agriculture and which mainly depends on rainfall. The rainfall depends on South-West monsoon. Out of total cropping area of 296000ha in Koraput, irrigation potential in Kharif is 30.71% and in Rabi is 21.51%. Generally crops grown during Rabi like Paddy, Wheat, Maize, Ragi, Mung, Biri, Groundnut, Mustard, Field Pea, Sunflower etc. needs assured irrigation.[1]

Jeypore tract of the Koraput district is known as one of the centres of origin of rice. The people of Koraput district, notably the adivasis have generated and conserved many indigenous cultivars of rice that are suitable for both dryland and wetland cultivation. The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in 2012 recognised the service of the communities of Koraput in ensuring food security by declaring the Koraput district as a Global Agricultural Heritage Site

Major Industries Edit

There are only five Large Scale industries located in the district manufacturing & Processing Alumina, Paper, Cement, Aeronautical Engine & hydro electricity. The general pattern of non-agricultural employment, however, leans heavily towards small-scale and household industries

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL) - Sunabeda

NALCO-Damanjodi

BILT PAPERMILL-Jeypore

Kolab Hydroelectric Power Station

Macha kunda Hydroelectric power station-Under Lamptaput Block

Minerals Edit

The principal economic mineral deposits of Koraput district are Limestone & Bauxite, besides this, occurrence of China clay, Nepheline Synite, Gold, Black & Multi colored rocks named as Decorative Stone are also found in this district.[1] The principal mines in the district are

Panchpatmali Bauxite Mines of M/s. National Aluminum & Co. Ltd.

Maliparbat Bauxite Mines of M/s. Hindalco Industries Ltd.,

Ampavally Limestone Mines of M/s. Odisha Mining Corporation Ltd. and M/s. Industrial Development Corporation of Odisha Ltd.

 Naxalism : 

Naxalism is a serious matter of concern in south Odisha, including Koraput district, since around 2000. Earlier, the naxalite activities were confined to districts such as Malkangiri, which share its borders with the neighboring states. With time, the naxal activities has spread to Koraput as well as other districts like Rayagada or Nabarangpur. The inaccessible hilly terrain, dense forests, lack of development, grievances of the tribals and poor, and the absence of administration have been conducive to the spread of left-wing extremism in Odisha. The seriousness of the problem was underlined by a co-ordinated Naxalite attack on the District Headquarters and armoury at Koraput on February 6, 2004.

Naxal group, namely People's War Group (PWG), has carried out numerous operations (attacks on rich farmers, police, bureaucrats and politicians, loots from godowns) within last few years in Koraput as well as in its neighboring districts.

Transport : 

Koraput railway station is a junction station on Kirandul-Visakhapatnam railway line that branches towards Rayagada railway station on the other side. many trains like Kirandul Vskp passenger, Jagdalpur-Howrah, Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Exp halt for 10–25 minutes at Koraput. Other main railheads include Jeypore, Kotpad Road Station, Damanjodi, and Lakshmipur Road. Koraput District is served by NH-26, from koraput to Visakhapatnam. One can go to nearby Malkangiri through Jeypore Road.