Malkangiri (ମାଲକାନଗିରି) is a district in southern Odisha, India, bordering Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. Its headquarters is Malkangiri town. Known for forested hills, river valleys and reservoirs, the district includes the Balimela reservoir and parts of the Eastern Ghats.
The district is home to diverse Adivasi communities, including Bonda and Koya people, whose languages, festivals and traditions shape local culture. Farming, forest produce, small-scale trade and public services support livelihoods. Paddy is an important crop. Weekly markets connect rural communities, while Balimela and the Gurupriya bridge are prominent landmarks. The bridge improved access to settlements previously separated from the wider road network by reservoir waters.
Residents’ civic priorities include reliable roads, safe drinking water, healthcare, schooling and mobile connectivity in remote villages. Forest rights, secure livelihoods and access to welfare programmes also matter. Other concerns include irrigation, displacement linked to development projects, and public safety in areas affected by Maoist insurgency.