Chhattisgarh is a young and a new state but the reference of this state can be traced in ancient texts, and inscriptions.
In ancient times Chhattisgarh was known as Dakshin Kosala and it is said that Lord Rama has spent some time here when he was on his 14 years exile.
The unbroken history of Chhattisgarh or of South Kosala can be traced back to fourth century AD. In the 10th century the region was ruled by a powerful Rajput family who called themselves as Haihaya dynasty. This dynasty continued ruling Chhattisgarh for six centuries and about the 14th century it split into parts. The Chalukya Dynasty established its rule in Bastar in the middle ages.
The Marathas attacked Chhattisgarh in 1741 and destroyed the Haihaya power. In 1745 AD after conquering the region, they deposed Raghunathsinghji, the last surviving member of the Ratanpur house. In 1758, the Marathas finally annexed Chhattisgarh. It came directly under Maratha rule and Bimbaji Bhonsle, was appointed the ruler. After the death of Bimbaji Bhonsle, the Marathas adopted the Suba system.
In 1818 Chhattisgarh came under some sort of British control for the first time. In 1854, when the province of Nagpur lapsed to the British government, Chhattisgarh was formed into a deputy commissionership with its headquarters at Raipur.
The First war of independence in 1857 was spearheaded in Chhattisgarh by Vir Narain Singh who was a benevolent zamindar of Sonakhan.
