According to the history of Basti District, the tract comprising the present district was remote and much of it was covered with forest. But gradually the area became inhabitant. With the passage of time, the place prospered and in 1801 it became the Tehsil headquarter and was chosen as the district headquarter of the newly established district in the year 1865. Ancient history of Basti District states that in ancient times the country around Basti was known as Kosala.

With the decline of the Guptas in 6th century AD, Basti became isolated. At this time a new dynasty, that of the Maukharies, with its capital as Kannauje, assumed an important position on the political map of northern India and perhaps this kingdom in included present district also. In the beginning of the 9th century AD, the Gurjara Pratihara king, Nagbhatta II made this city the capital of his growing empire which rose to its greatest height in the reign of the famous Mihirbhoj (836-885 AD). Jaychandra (1170-1194 AD), the last important ruler of the dynasty was killed in the battle of Chandawar (near Etawah) and soon after his death Kannauj was occupied by the Turks.

According to legends, for centuries Basti was occupied by the Bhars. However, no definite evidence is available about the origin of Bhars and early history. The evidence of an extensive Bhar kingdom in the district can be traced only from the ruins of ancient brick buildings popularly ascribed to the Bhars and found extant in a number of villages of Basti district.

Medieval history of Basti District suggests that in the beginning of the 13th century, Nasir-ud-din Mahmud, the elder son of Iltutmish, became the governor of Awadh in 1225. In 1479 Basti district remained under the control of the successor of Khawaja Jahan who was ruler of kingdom of Jaunpur. It is said that before the advent of the leading Rajput clans, there were the local Hindu Rajas in the district and they supplanted the aboriginal tribes like Bhars, Tharus, Domes and Domekatars, whom general tradition declares to have been the early rulers of the region. By the last quarter of the 14th century Amorha a part of Basti District was ruled by Kayasth dynasty. Further, according to the history of Basti District, during the reign of Akbar and his successor the district formed a part of the Sarkar Gorakhpur.

According to the modern history of Basti District, huge change occurred when Saadat Ali Khan was appointed governor of Gorakhpur on 9th September, 1772. It further states that the district played a great role in the freedom struggle of 1857. The Non Cooperation Movement began to appear in the district towards the close of 1920. In the preparation for this movement Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru visited the district on October 8, 1919. The Quit India resolution pass by the All India Congress Committee on August 8, 1942, marked the turning point in India`s struggle for freedom. In Basti the movement had taken a serious turn. In 1946, Congress again returned and it formed the Government. Thus, Basti District had contributed tremendously in the country`s independence.