Kanker State was located north of Bastar State and, except for the valley of the Mahanadi in its eastern part, it consisted mostly of hills covered by forests in which teak (Tectona grandis), sirsā (Dalbergia latifolia), śāl (Shorea robusta) and bījāsāl (Pterocarpus marsupium) predominated.

[6] Under the Marathas, the Kanker State was held on condition of furnishing a military contingent 500 strong whenever needed.

[4] The state was occupied by the Marathas of Nagpur in 1809 and the Raja of Kanker, Bhup Deo was deprived of his power.

In 1818, the British resident of Nagpur State, Richard Jenkins, restored Bhup Deo to his throne on payment of a tribute of Rs 500.

[5] The state's instrument of accession to the Indian Union was signed by its last ruler Bhanupratap Deo on 15 August 1947.