Rohtas has an old & interesting history. In pre-historic days the plateau region of the district has been the abode of aboriginals whose chief representatives now are the Kharwars, the Cheers and the Oraons. According to some legends the Kharwars were the original settlers in the hilly tracts near Rohtas. The Oraons also claim that they ruled over the area between Rohtas and Patna. The local legend also connects king Sahasrabahu with Sasaram, the headquarter of Rohtas district. It is believed that Sahasrabahu had terrible fight with Saint Parsuram, the legendary Brahmin Protector, as a result of which Sahasrabahu was killed. Another legend connects the Rohtas hill to Rohitashwa, son of Raja Harishchandra, a famous king who was known for his piety and truthfulness. The Rohtas Forest Division formed a part of the Magadh Empire since 6th B.C. to 5th Century A.D under the pre Mauryans till Britishers time. The minor rock edict of Emperor Ashok at Chandan Sahid near Sasaram confirmed the Mauryans conquests and Buddhist’s impression in Rohtas Hills.

The Hills have sheltered human activities since the most ancient times, and one still finds several imprints of the activities of our early ancestors, with prehistoric rock shelters dating to even earlier than 10,000 B.C. More than 500 pre-historic rock shelters have been found on the hills, and several of these have been found to contain paintings preserving the artistic impressions of our early ancestors. The Hills contain several early Hindu and Buddhist relics along with medieval ones.

Two forts, Rohtasgarh fort and Shergarh fort lying at strategic vantage points, along with ancient temples and other mysterious and general antiquities randomly found to be often dispersed on the Kaimur Hills. The earliest historical reference of activities on the Rohtas Fort dates from the rule of King (Mahasamant) Sasankadeva, the ruler of Karnasuvarna in the early 7th century, whose seal inscription was found in the Fort Premises, from an unidentified location on the rock face.