The territory of the present-day district became Araria sub-division of the erstwhile Purnia district in 1964.In ancient times Araria was ruled by three important clans of Indian history.
In the 6th century A.D. the area south of the Himalayan pilgrim center of Varaha Kshetra, namely the Gupta kings Budhgupta and Devagupta gave Koti-varsha for the maintenance of the said pilgrim centre.