The first permanent capital of the Ahom kingdom established by the first most revered Ahom king Chao Lung Siu-Ka-Pha, Charaideo has always held a prominent place in the annals of history. The word Charaideo has been derived from three Tai Ahom words, Che-Rai-Doi. Che means City or Town, Rai means Shine or Dazzle and Doi means Hill or Mountain. In short, Charaideo means, “a shining town situated on a hill top.”

Curved out of Sivasagar district, it was created vide Govt. notification No. GAG(B) 27/01/2016 with the district headquarter located at Sonari. .Charaideo district is located on the eastern part of Sivasagar district.

It is bounded by Dibrugarh district in the North-East, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh in the South, Sivasagar Sadar Sub-Division and Nazira Sub-Division of Sivasagar district in the West. The district shares 35 km boundary with Nagaland and 27 km with Arunachal Pradesh. The main rivers flowing throughout the district are Desang, Towkak, Suffry, Timon and Teok.

The maidams situated in Charaideo make the district an attractive tourist destination. Comparable to the pyramids of Egypt, the maidams are actually burial grounds of Ahom Kings and Queens. They are substances of wonder seen-through the brilliant architecture and expertise of the artsmen and masons of Assam of the medieval era. The district also boasts of ancient ruins and relics which add to its crowning glory.