CHHATTISGARH a state in central India, formed when the sixteen Chhattisgarhi-speaking southeastern districts of Madhya Pradesh, gained statehood on 1 November 2000. Raipur serves as its capital. It is the 10th largest state of India by area of 135,194 km². Chhattisgarh takes its name from 36 (Chattis is thirty-six in Hindi and Garh is Fort) princely states in this region from very old times, though the listing of these 36 states has always remained a point of dispute.