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The Gond Dynasty governed the Garha Mandla region and had notably lost their allegiance to several Muslim rulers of Delhi.

Hirde Shah, a Gond ruler, relocated the seat of government from Garha to Ramnagar. His grandson, Narind Shah, took residence in the fort after he ascended to the throne in 1731.

In 1742, the Marathas invaded the Gond kingdom and killed Raja Maharaj Shah. However, they allowed his son to succeed him on the condition that he would pay an annual tribute of 4 lakhs. This demand devastated the Gond kingdom; some of their land was seized by Raghoji Bhonsla, and the Mandla court became a site of numerous conspiracies and assassinations.

In 1781, the Marathas took complete possession of Mandla and made it a Subah subordinate to Jabalpur.

Balanagar Gadha was the name given to Mandla during the Maratha occupation and used as a mint name on coins.