In ancient times Rajnandgaon, like the rest of the Chhattisgarh plain, was part of Dakshina Kosala.

Coins of the Indo-Sassanians have been found near Rajnandgaon dating from the 3rd century CE, implying the region had indirect contact with the rest of the world.

In the 4th century CE, Dakshina Kosala was one of the regions which was subdued by Samudra Gupta on his southern expedition.

After the struggle of Rani Durgavati, these rulers, as well as the Kalachuris of Raipur who ruled the southern part of the district, became vassals of the Mughals.

The Maratha general, Bhaskar Pant, quickly overthrew the last king of the Haihaiyavansis and took over what is now Rajnandagaon district.

In 1753, the Bhonsles of Nagpur confiscated all the territory that is now Chhattisgarh, and Raghoji gave the area to his son, Bimbaji, who ruled it virtually independently.

Later he helped organize mill workers in Rajnandgaon in a successful 34-day strike after the passage of the Rowlatt Act.

For this he was punished by the authorities of Rajnandgaon state, but later wrote to the British agent to get the order cancelled.

In 1939, the people of Rajnandgaon state launched a Forest Satyagraha, in which the police fired on protestors, killing one.

In the northwest, bordering Balaghat and Kabirdham districts, is the Maikal Hills, the eastern extension of the Satpuras.

[2] According to the 2011 census Rajnandgaon district has a population of 1,537,133,[6] roughly equal to the nation of Gabon[7] or the US state of Hawaii.

Many hundreds of thousands of people from in and around Chhattisgarh flock to the shrine during the navratris of Kavar (during Dussera) and Chaitra (during Ramnavmi).

Another site of interest is the ancient place of Mata Sheetala Devi Shakti Peetha.