Dandakaranya region (17° 50′-20° 39′ N and 80° 15′-84° E) occupies an area of about 89,078 sq. km. in the states of Orissa (Koraput and Kalahani districts), Madhya Pradesh (Bastar District), and Andhra Pradesh (E. Godavari, Visliakliapatnamand Srikalulam districts).

The region extends for about 480 km from east to west and 320 km from north to south. Dandakaranya region is characterised by un dulating plateau topography with well marked el evations and depressions. It can be divided into two smaller physiographic units: (i) Dandakaranya Up­lands and (ii) Dandakaranya Ghats.

The former largely consists of die Bastar Plateau (elevation 550- 750 m) which is highly dissected on the west by the Indravati river. Its Abujhmar Hills provide one of the richest iron-ore deposits at Bailadilla Range Bastar Plateau mainly consists of gneisses of Dharwar I and Cuddapah systems. The Dandaktiranya Ghats are marked by Kalahandi Plateau (250 m to 300 m) it is drained by the Tel, Udanti (Malianadi) and the Sabari and Sileru (Godavari). To the north-west of the region lies the Kanke basin (450 m) which is a southward extension of the Chhattisgarh Plain. Similarly the south-western part is occupied by the Godavari-Sabari plain which is also called Malakangiri Plateau (Farmer, 1965).