[3][4] The name of the city is said to have been derived from the name of Brahmeswara, a deity in Hinduism, worshipped in a temple at Lathi, 4 km from the main town.
After Kalinga war, Samapa turned into a provincial headquarter of Maurya empire along with Dhauli as evident from the edicts found at both places.
They migrated to the city from Rajahmundry (they were known as Devangas there) sometime during 1662-1672 on the request of the then Raja Harihar Narayan Deo of Mohuri zamindari.
They started the Ghata Yatra (Pot Festival) for the purpose of highlighting the tradition of worshiping the Goddesses as well as to use it as a platform for sales promotion of their silken products.
An epidemic broke out in 1815 and that forced the authorities to shift the headquarters to Berhampur including the civil and military personnels.
After the auction and abolishing the Ghumusar and Sorada zamindari in 1836, Britishers auctioned Mohuri zamindari in 1850 over non payment of tax dues and introduced Ryotwari system of tax collection which led to Raja Krushna Chandra Narendra Deo out of power.
In 1867, Berhampur was declared as a Municipality area and this being a part of Madras Presidency, it attracted further influx of settlers from south because of better engagement in business sectors.
The colonial town generated a considerable amount of interest among Indian scholars who linked the important issues of modernity, national aspirations, notions of citizenship and the creation of new artistic sensibilities.
After continuous efforts the undivided Sambalpur district was transferred to Orissa division from Central Provinces and Berar on 1 September 1905.
Although Telugus opposed the amalgamation of Berhampur, the leaders of the Andhra Movement advocated that, provinces were to be created on a linguistic basis.
Mahatma Gandhi when he visited Berhampur on 29 March 1921 appealed to the non-odias to yield to the demand of Odisha amalgamation.
The commission recommended the merger on the basis of linguistic pattern and appoint a sub-committee, to conduct detailed investigation.
The Maharaja of Paralakhemundi, leading an Odia delegate to the conference circulated a pamphlet, The Oriyas, their need and reasons for separate state.
O'Oonell as Chairman whose report was opposed by Odias as it only recommended the inclusion of the plains and the agency of Ganjam and excluded areas like Paralakhemundi, Manjusa, Tekali, Tarla etc.
People realised Berhampur could become a noble point in the growth of socio-political consciousness and that territorial dismemberment of Odia speaking areas was the reason for backwardness under British rule.
In line with the recommendation of the Joint Select Committee, the Government of India Act of 1935 was passed by the British Parliament and the Orissa Province was formed in 1st April 1936.
[17] The Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) of Southern range is located in Berhampur and covers the undivided Ganjam, Koraput, Kandhamal, and Kalahandi districts.
The Ghata Yatra was initiated for the purpose of highlighting the tradition of worshiping Thakurani as well as to use it as a platform for sales promotion of silken products.
Buddhi Thakurani is considered as the daughter of the Desi Behera and the deity stays with her father's family during the entire Yatra period.
The Ganjam Urban Transport Services Limited (GUTSL) with joint partnership with Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) have an agreement to run a city-bus service for Brahmapur to urban centres on its periphery (Chatrapur, Gopalpur and Hinjili, Taratarini, Bhairabi) since 27 February 2014.
However, post independence, it has lied in a dilapidated condition with no scope of expansion due to its adjacence to Berhampur University.