Palamu district is situated in the southwestern part of Jharkhand. It shares borders with the Garhwa, Latehar, Chatra, and Gumla districts of Jharkhand, as well as the Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh.

Palamu district is divided into three administrative subdivisions, namely Daltonganj, Hussainabad, and Medininagar. Daltonganj serves as the district headquarters. Palamu has a rich historical heritage and was an important center during the reign of various dynasties. It was ruled by the Chero dynasty and later came under the control of the Mughals. The region witnessed several revolts against British colonial rule.