Surguja district is located in the northern part of Chhattisgarh State of India. Borders of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh States are adjoining to the district. This district has over extension between south-eastern part of Vindhyachal-Baghelkhand region of peninsular India. It lies between 23o 37’ 25’’ To 24o 6’ 17’’ north latitude and 81o 34’40’’ To 84o 4’40’’ east longitude . 244.62 km long east to west and 167.37 broad norths to south, this land has as area of about 16359 Sqr Km.

HISTORY

The presence of various temples stone carvings and archaic remains show the evidence of existence of this region before Christ(B.C.). In 4Th B.C. Before the arrival of maurya dynasty,this region was in the Lord of Nanda clan. Before 3 B.C. this region was divided into tiny parts and their headman after quarrel among themselves. Then a Rajputa kings belongs to Rakshal clan in palamu district (Bihar) attacked and taken in his control. In 1820 Amar singh was the Kings of Surguja state who had been crowned as “Maharaja” in 1826. In 1882 Raghunath Sharan Singh Deo had taken his control over Surguja state who has been conferred as “Maharaja” by Lord Daffariu. After the contemporary victory of India he established Edward Middle School, Post Office ,Telegraph Office ,Medical stores ,jail and courts in Ambikapur capital of Surguja.

According to holy books Lord Rama had visited Surguja during his fourteen years of "Vanwas" period. There are many places in connection to epic of Ramayana. Many places are named after Lord Rama, Laxmana and Goddess Sita, they are Ramgarh, Sita-Bhengra and Laxmangarh. Verses of Poet Kalidas who wrote "Ramayan" are found at the Sita-Bhengra cave.

Major population comprises tribal population. Among these primitive tribes are Pando and Korwa , who are still living in forest, the Pando tribes believes themselves as the member of "Pandav" clan of epic Mahabharat. Korwa tribes believes to be member of "Kauravs" of Mahabharata.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Deepadih: A Village of Samri Tahsil, formerly it was included in the chalgali tappa of the erstwhile Surguja State, It is situated about 41.6 kms. to the southwest of Samri. The nearest village to its east is Lamka. Depadih is connected with the tahsil headquarters by Kutchha roads.

About 1.5 kms. from the village there are a few ruined temples and tanks. According to some historians Depadih was ruled by a Dravidian monarch, named Samni Singh. According to local tradition Samni Singh was killed in a battle with his contemporary Tanginath.

Deogarh: A village of Ambikapur tahsil, Deogarh is situated on the bank of the Rihand amidst calm and quict scenic beauty. It lies about 1.5kms. to the west of the Bamlaya-Ambikapur Road. From Ambikapur its distance is about 40 kms. towards south. The place is also called Deoria, due to the great number of divinities scattered all around. There are several mounds, formed by the debris of temples, each crowned with a deity.

The archaeology of this place may date back to a very early age. Its Guuri-Shankar temple might have been constructed by a Nagavamsi ruler of the Bhara-siva dynasty during 110 B.C. to 78 A.D. About 475 persons lived in the village in 1971.

Ramgarh Hill: A high hill of the District with a peak, Ramgarh lies to the east of the great road from Allahabad to Rameshwaram, in the extreme south. Allahabad is about 384 km. from this hill. It rises abruptly from the surrounding plains of the former Rampur tappa of the District. The nearrest railway station viz. the Kharsia Railway Station (in Ramgarh District), is about 160 kms. away.

Kailash Caves: Kailash Caves is situated at Sabarbar which is again 60Kms to the east of Ambikapur. These caves were created by Saint Rameshwar Gahira Guruji. Temple of Lord Shiva-Parvati and also temple of different God-Goddess are there in caves. On occasion of Mahashivratri huge festival is organized here. Major attraction of this place are temple of Lord Shiva-Parvati,Yagya Mandap,Sanskrit school, Gahira Guru ashram,Badgdrat Beir and Badh mada.

Shivpur Shiv Temple: Pratappur is 45 kms far from Ambikapur, village Shivpur is 4 Kms from Pratappur. There located ancient Shiv temple in natural atmosphere. Big festival is organized on the occasion of Mahashivratri and Basan Panchami.