Kurnool district and its synonymous headquarters are a study in history and resilience. Situated in the interiors of Andhra Pradesh, Kurnool has its fair share of natural wonders likes caves, rivers, thickly forested slopes and, of course, a city bustling with people, trade and tourists. Would you imagine that the city derived its name from a Telugu word meaning ‘grease city’, simply because it was the stopping place for bullock carts transporting stone for temple construction at Alampur? With a history dating back as far as the 11th century, this region was ruled by the Cholas, the Kakatiya kings and Achyuta Raya who gave the city a lasting memorial in the form of the Kurnool Fort. Naturally blessed, and with a deep and impactful culture pervading it, Kurnool is intriguing to travelers, both local and foreign.
Forts, dams, ancient structures and temples, Kurnool is replete with things to see and experience. Srisailam is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Mallikarjuna. Situated on an elevation along the River Krishna as it winds its way through the Nallamalai Hills, Srisailam commands a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside. The hill this temple is situated on is much revered by devotees and has been a pilgrimage site for the Saivite sect for centuries. Another temple, Manchalam, is located in sylvan surroundings on the banks of the Tungabhadra River.
History buffs will be thrilled to visit Kurnool Fort in the heart of the city. Splendidly built and standing tall despite the centuries, the fort is an amazing complex that lets the traveler in for a slice of the lives of people long gone by. The Konda Reddy Buruju is a prison and is accessed through a tunnel across the River Krishna from Alampur. It is here that freedom fighter Konda Reddy breathed his last, fighting the Jagirdars in pre-British India. There is a passage under this prison, said to contain treasure, and after repeated attempts to steal it, the passage has been permanently sealed away.
The Kurnool caves, or Belum caves as they are popularly known, and the Srisailam Dam are two other must-visit places. The cave complex is among the largest and most extensive in the world and is known for its stalactite and stalagmite formations, intricate passageways, chambers, fresh water galleries, wells, waterfalls and siphons. The dam is picturesque and is the ideal place for a family picnic. The Mahanadi and Tungabhadra Rivers are beautiful through all their stretches as they flow through Kurnool.
The best way to travel in and around Kurnool is by private taxis that are available in the main city. Government buses ply between Kurnool and other cities in the state and so do auto-rickshaws, if you want to cover shorter distances quickly.
On a daily basis there are approximately 273 flights that operate at Begumpet Airport.IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India are the most popular airline brands that fly frequently to this airport.
Besides flying you can also reach Kurnool through train.Kurnool Townis one of the most popular train stations in Kurnool.On an average about 68 trains pass through Kurnool on a daily basis.Dhone Dronachalam to Kurnool, Mahbubnagar to Kurnool, Gadwal to Kurnoolare some of the most popular routes to Kurnool with 65, 60, 60 trains weekly respectively.
By road Kurnool is surrounded by Gadwal, Wanaparthy, Raichur which are 34.7 km, 37.58 km, 54.83 km away respectively. These places are ideal spots for people to plan their short weekend break.
Kurnool has a total of 6 hotels.There are 6 hotels in Kurnool with the popular ones being Hotel SV Regency, Hotel DVR Mansion, The Mourya Inn etc.