The district is named after its headquarters town Malkangiri .During formation of Orissa Province in 1936 Malkangiri was a "Taluk" of Nabrangpur sub-division of Koraput District of Orissa.In 1962 it was upgraded to a subdivision of Koraput District.The present Malkangiri got its identity as an independent district due to reorganisation of districts of Orissa as per notification on 1st October,1992 with effect from 2nd October 1992, an area of 5,791 sq.kms and lies between 17° 45`N to 18° 40`N latitudes and 81° 10`E to 82°E longitude.Oriya is the main spoken language.
The district is divided into two distinct physical divisions.The eastern part is covered with steep Ghats,Platues,Valleys sparsely inhabited by primitive tribes notable among whom are Bondas,Koyas,Porajas and Didayis.The rest of the district is comparatively flat plain broken by a number of rocky wooded hills.Almost the whole of the district is a vast dense jungle. Potteru,Saberi,Sileru,Kolab and Machhakunda are the main rivers flowing in the district.
Balimela
Balimela is a block in Malkangiri District, which is 35 kms. from the east of Malkangiri. A Hydero-electric Project has been established near about the Town jointly by the Government of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. A dam is being constructed at Chitrakonda, 25 kms. from Balimela across the river Sileru and the reservoir would submerge a rich forest area of the District. The total inflow into the reservoir is shared equally by the two Governments. The share of the Andhara Pradesh Government is flow downstream the river while that of Orissa Government is diverted to a high-head power some 15 kms. south of Balimela. It is estimated that the power-house is generating 240,000 KW at 60% load factor. The tail water is subsequently utilised for irrigation about 2.4 lakh acres of land in Malkangiri and Motu plains.
Bonda Hills
Bonda Hill comes under the Khoirputput Block of Malkangiri District. This is the living place of Bondas,the primitive tribal community in Malkangiri District. It is surrounded on all sides by dense hilly forest. The Bondas of the place even now remain nacked, and it is believed that they were cursed by Godess Sita, as they laughed at her while she was bathing in a kunda which is named as Sita Kunda at Bonda Hill. There is one specific festival called "Patkhanda Yatra" at Mudulipada which is celebrated by them in the month of January by the Bondas in which they worship a sword. They believe that this sword is belongs to Pandavas. Apart from these things many more to be seen on the Bonda Hill.
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