The history of Kodagu has to be traced chiefly from inscriptions till the end of 16 th Century. Kodagu has seen many dynasties ruling over it. Several dynasties ruled only a part of Kodagu at different times while the chieftains and local princes till the end of 17th century ruled other parts of Kodagu, and they owed allegiance to some bigger ruler outside Kodagu.

The various writings & inscriptions carved over the stone and copper plates found in Kodagu points to a plethora of rulers dating back from 888 AD by the Ganga dynasty to 1633 AD by the Haleri dynasty. The Gangas, Kadambas, Cholas, Kongalvas, Changalvas, Hoysalas, and Nayakas have ruled Kodagu.

A young prince from Ikkeri founded the Haleri dynasty. The Haleri dynasty ruled over the whole of Kodagu for the first time in the history of Kodagu for 234 years.

Muddu Raja, the grandson of Vira Raja, changed the capital to Madikeri from Haleri in 1681. The place was called Muddu Raja Keri, which name is stated to have changed in course of time into Madikeri. He ruled over Kodagu for fifty-four long years.

Chikkavirappa Wodeyar (1736-1766) was a weak ruler. Hyder Ali, soldier (captain) in the army of the Raja of Mysore became the ruler of Mysore. Chikkavirappa gifted a place named Kodali Mande to Hyder Ali in 1756. Yet Hyder Ali sent an army under his general, Fazal Ulla Khan, to Kodagu in 1765, which was defeated. Hyder Ali took possession of Kodagu after the death of Linga Raja. The enraged Kodavas fell on the Muslim garrison at Madikeri in 1782 and driving them out of Kodagu, declared independence. After the demise of Hyder Ali in the same year, Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore succeeded him, and tried many times to conquer Kodagu in vain.

After many wars, the British captured Madikeri in 1834. A Col. Frazer, the British Commander and Political Officer called for an assembly at Madikeri. The invitees were under the impression that they would be treated as the real representatives and thus agreed to be ruled by the East India Company. Thus, the valiant Kodavas who had fought against Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan for over three decades were subjugated.

In 1834 Amara-Sullia and Puttur taluks that formed part of Kodagu, were separated and added on to South Kanara, the neighbouring district. Kodagu was under the Government of India as a non-regulative province. The tax system was streamlined; road communication was established; schools were opened, imperial currency was introduced; and facilities for medical treatment were provided.

After Independence, a member represented Kodagu in Lok Sabha and another in the Rajya Sabha for three years in rotation. When the States were reorganized, the States Reorganization Act 1956 provided, among other things, for the formation of a new Karnataka State. It included Coorg or Kodagu as a district.