Kalahandi

Kalahandi was a hill kingdom in western Orissa, centred on Kalahandinagara, later called Junagarh. In 1337 the Naga chiefs were traditionally said to rule the area for the Eastern Ganga dynasty.

As Ganga power weakened after the 14th century, the Naga rajas transferred their allegiance to the Suryavamsi Gajapatis. Independent from 1568, they claimed eighteen hill forts and had Khond chiefs crown each new raja. In 1788 the Nagpur Marathas intervened, and Raja Purussottama Deo accepted recognition as their tributary.