In the 11th century, it became a separate princely state, established by King Pratap Deo, a scion of the Kadamba Dynasty.

Pratap Deo was said to have found a Honda (Metal Vessel) which was considered to be lucky enough, after which the territory was then named as "Hondpa".

The state merged with Dhenknal from the rule of Kishore Chandra Deo in 1948 and remained under Dhenkanal District until 31 March 1993.

Rajas of the princedom are as follows:[2] The Panchadhara hill, on the northern side of Athmallik acts as a physical barrier for natural disasters such as floods and storms.

Mahanndia was the portrait painter of Indira Gandhi before he went away to Sweden on a bicycle to reunite with his Swedish wife, Charlotte "Lotta" von Schedvin.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a making a film on Mahandia's early life in Athmallik.

A circuit house (reservation authority is sub-collector, Athmallik), an inspection bungalow of public works department (reservation authority is executive engineer, R & B, Dhenkanal), a guest house of Manjore Irrigation Project (reservation authority Executive Engineer) and a dharmasala managed by NAC provide accommodation facilities to the tourists.

However the comfort loving travellers are advised to stay at Angul and cover the shrine in a day by hiring a vehicle.

Pasayat, C. (1994), "Myth and Reality in Little Tradition: A Study of Dandanata in Orissa" in Man in India, Vol.74, No.4, December 1994, pp.