By local belief the area of the district was the capital of king Virat.

Some historians think that Mekala was a small tribe living in the tract of country, comprising the modern Amarkantaka hill and the surrounding territory.

Maharaja Narendra Prasad Singh belonging to the Chauhan dynasty of Singrauli constructed the outer boundary wall of the temple complex.

These references establish that the district was ruled by Bhonsles of Nagpur and also Kalchuris earlier.

[2] Revenue Sub division are: According to the 2011 census, Anuppur district has a population of 749,237,[1] roughly equal to the nation of Guyana[4] or the US state of Alaska.

[1] The district has a population density of 200 inhabitants per square kilometre (520/sq mi).

[1] Anuppur has a sex ratio of 975 females for every 1000 males,[1] and a literacy rate of 69.08%.

Here perennial rivers like Son, Johila and Narmada provide water for irrigation throughout the year, paddy, maize, millet, wheat are the main crops here.