The district of Gajapati came on the map of the Republic of India in the year 1992 when land was separated from the Ganjam district. The district of Gajapati gets its name from the very first chief minister of the state of Orissa, Shree Krushna Chandra Gajapati. The main administrative centre for the district of Gajapati is the city of Paralakhemundi. The district of Gajapati has the peak of Mahendragiri located which has a lot of historical importance for the people of the district as well as the state. The region also has other temples that are mostly linked to the epic of Mahabharata. The district of Gajapati covers a land area of approximately 3850 sq km with a population of around about 5.7 lacs individuals which makes the district third in the rank when it is about having the least population. The population density of the district is about 133 people per sq km. The district of Gajapati is listed as a part of the 250 most backward districts of India.