The original name of the Bargarh District was Baghar Kota as known from an inscription of the 11th Century A.D. It was called Bargarh probably from the time of Balaram Dev, the Chauhan Raja of Sambalpur, who made it his headquarters and constructed a big fort for its protection.The old fort walls can be traced near the Jira river towards the plane of Ambapali. Narayan Singh, the last Chauhan Raja granted this place in Maufi (free hold) to 2 Brahmin brothers Krushna Dash and Narayan Dash, sons of Baluki Dash who was killed in action by the Gond. Another part of the District known as Borasambar was formerly the headquarters of the Borasambar Zamindari extending over 2178 Sq.Kms. Later, the headquarters of the Zamindari shifted to Padampur, one of the present sub-divisional headquarter.