Before India's independence, Raigarh was a princely state ruled by the Gond dynasty, officially founded around 1625. For centuries, it was a relatively quiet region marked by tribal culture and deep forested terrain.
The city's cultural golden age arrived during the reign of Maharaja Chakradhar Singh (1924–1947). A passionate patron of the arts and a gifted musician himself, the Maharaja invited prominent dancers and musicians from across India to his court. Under his guidance, the distinct "Raigarh Gharana" of Kathak dance was born, blending various classical styles. Every year, the city honors this legacy through the Chakradhar Samaroh, a major cultural festival.
Following Indian independence in 1947, the princely state was merged into the Central Provinces and Berar, eventually becoming part of Madhya Pradesh, and later Chhattisgarh in 2000. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the discovery of massive coal reserves in the surrounding regions triggered rapid industrialization. Raigarh swiftly transitioned from a quiet royal town into one of Central India's most crucial industrial and mining centers.