Although records are obscure, according to tradition, around the 17th century a branch of the
Kadamba dynasty of
Bonai State was ruling in the region and the chiefs were feudatories of
Bamra State until the 18th century, when the rulers of
Sambalpur State freed it from its dependence. During the 19th century, Raja Bishan Chandra Jenamuni, whose reign lasted 75 years, was recognized as Raja and in 1867 a
sanad was granted by the British recognizing Rairakhol as a state in its own right. The state was under the political control of the Commissioner of the
Chhattisgarh Division of the
Central Provinces until 1905, coming then under the
Bengal Presidency. His successor, Gaura Chandra Deo, adopted Bir Chandra Jadumani Deo Jenamuni, a scion of the Kadamba dynasty branch of Bonai as his successor. On 1 January 1948, he signed the
instrument of accession to the Indian Union. The princely state then became part of
Sambalpur district. ==Rulers==