Kurnool is a city and administrative seat of Kurnool district of AndhraPradesh, about 212 kilometres south of Hyderabad.Kurnool is the Fifth-most populous city of Andhra Pradesh.It is the known as the Gateway to Rayalaseema..Kurnool served as the capital of Andhra State from 1 October 1953 to 31 October 1956.
The name Kurnool derived from "Kandenavolu". The city known as Kandenapalli or the city of Kandena. Kandena is a Telugu word it means Grease.The city was also called as the city of Skanda or Kumaraswamy (the chief God of Wars).
The District of Kurnool is located in the western central part of Andhra Pradesh. The town, although laidback, is home to many ancient monuments, palaces and temples. This is the perfect town for people, who enjoy exploring ancient architecture and historical monuments. Kurnool has plenty of them! There are ruins of a mediaeval fort that was constructed during the reign of Vijayanagar Empire. These ruins have inscriptions in Arabic and Persian.
The other places of interest are the mausoleum of Abdul Wahab, the remains of the palace belonging to the last Hindu king of the region and the Kondareddy Buruz.The flood wall that was constructed to protect the city from the rising river waters is considered to be an engineering feet. The wall forms a part of a fort wall. There are even important temples in the area, such as Nagereswarswami Temple and Peta Anjanyeswami Temple.
Accommodation
Haritha Hotel, Kurnool
The hotel is located in a well-landscaped parcel of land and offers 6 air-conditioned suites, 12 air-conditioned rooms, 6 standard rooms and a dormitory with 7 beds. The hotel is equipped with a banquet hall, making it perfect for parties, conferences and meetings.
Belum Caves
Belum Caves, running a length of 3,229 metres, are the second longest caves in India and are popular for their stalactite and stalagmite formations. The caves have long passages, fresh water galleries, siphons and spacious chambers. These caves have been formed naturally due to constant flow of underground water.
At their deepest point, the caves descend to 150 feet from the entrance level and this point is referred to as Pataalaganga. The caves are about 110 kilometres from Kurnool. There is a giant Buddha statue located just outside the caves, which is an indication that the Buddhist monks worshipped here thousands of years ago. However, it is the shivalingam that is present inside the cave attracts devotees and visitors.
Accommodation
Haritha Hotel, Belum Caves
Guests can enjoy discovering the marvel of Belum Caves when they stay at the Haritha Hotel here. The hotel offers a 22-bed dormitory and is comfortable and clean.
Mahanandi
The picturesque village of Mahanandi is located east of Nallamala Hills, near Nandyal, in Kurnool District. The village is enveloped by dense verdant forest. About 15 kilometres from the village are nine shrines to Nandi. Mahanandi is one of the nine shrines. The other eight are Shivanandi, Vinayakanandi, Somanandi, Prathamanandi, Garudanandi, Suryanandi, Krishnanandi (also known as Vishnunandi) and Naganandi The Mahanandiswara Swamy Temple is about 1,500 years old and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The shivalinga in the temple is considered to be unique because it is formed by a rough, uncut rock containing two cavities. Devotees are allowed to touch the shivalinga. There is a huge Nandi located in front of the main shrine. The tower above the shivalinga is what makes this temple unique. It is constructed in the North Indian style of architecture.
Accommodation
Haritha Hotel, Mahanandi
This hotel offers air-conditioned rooms, air-conditioned deluxe rooms, standard rooms and a dormitory with 5 beds. The staff is courteous, polite and friendly, making holidays unique and memorable.
Mantralayam
The town of Mantralam is located on the bans of Tungabhadra River in Kurnool District, along the border of the neighbouring state of Karnataka. The town is popular for the Samadhi of Saint Raghavendra Teertha and is a highly sought-after religious destination by devotees of Lord Vishnu.
The followers of the saint believe that he was the incarnation of Bhakta Prahlad, who was character from the Hindu epic Mahabharatha and an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. Raghavendra Teertha Swamy was a great scholar, humanitarian and a dedicated devotee of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that he performance many miracles during his lifetime.
Srisailam
Srisailam Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Mallikarjuna, is located on top of the Nallamalai Hills. The hills are towards the right side of the Krishna River in Kurnool District. The hill is a popular pilgrimage site for Shaivites. The temple is one of the most ancient kshetras in the country.
The unique feature of this temple is that it houses both the Jyothirlingam and Mahaskthi which is rarely found in Shaivite temples.The other attraction of Nallamalai Hills is the presence of the Srisailam dam. This dam spans the Krishna River and is located in a deep canyon in the forest of the hills. The dam is about 512 metres in length and lies at an elevation of 300 metres.
Accommodation
Haritha Hotel Srisailam
With a beautiful landscaped garden and lush greenery, the Srisailam Haritha Hotel offers a tranquil setting. It has air-conditioned, non-air-conditioned and dormitories for guests who are looking for rest and relaxation.
Ahobilam
Ahobilam is located in the Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh and is considered to be one of the 108 Vaishnava Divyadesams in the country. The region is famous for its two beautiful temples located in lower Ahobilam and upper Ahobilam. According to local legend, this was the spot where Lord Narasimha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, blessed Prahlada and slayed Hiranyakshipu. The region gets its name from the local language and is based on a famous shloka.
Accommodation
Haritha Hotel, Ahobilam
Guests can enjoy the history of the region when they stay at the hotel in Ahobilam. The hotel has 4 air-conditioned rooms and 4 standard rooms.
Oravakallu
Orvakallu is a natural landscape of regal rock formations around a long, meandering body of water. It is located about 25 kilometres from Kurnool, on National Highway 18. It is relatively easy to find. These natural rock formations are perfect for trekking, as visitors can climb up the rocks, which are of multitude shapes and sizes.
On reaching the highest point, visitors are rewarded with a breathtaking view of the water body that has wide open spaces and clear blue skies as its backdrop. Orvakallu is a great place to enjoy a picnic under the shade of the mighty rocks; and it also offers a great photo opportunities for visitors who want to take back souvenirs of their memorable holiday in Andhra Pradesh.
Yaganti
Located in Kurnool District, Yaganti is about 100 kilometres from the city of Kurnool. It is home to a famous temple, Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple that is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and Nandi Bull, Lord Shiva’s trustworthy steed. The distinctive feature of the temple is the presence of Pushkarini, which is a small pond in the premises of a temple.
The water flows into the pond from the mouth of Nandi Bull and comes from the surrounding hills. While it is not known how the water makes its way into the pond, it is full throughout the year. Besides the marvellous pond, the temple architecture is also worth checking it. It showcases the skills of Viswakarma Sthapathis.
Rollapadu sanctuary
Spread over an area of 614 square kilometres, the Rollapadu Sanctuary is located in Kurnool District, about 60 kilometres from the city of Kurnool. It is teeming with wildlife and deciduous forests.
The Sanctuary is situated along the Eastern Ghats and is home to many different species of birds and animals. Visitors can spy black bucks, bonnet macaques, Indian bustards, Indian rollers, sparrows, myna, Russell’s vipers, Indian cobra, wolves, foxes, jackals and many other creatures that call this sanctuary their home. This sanctuary is well-known for its Great Indian Bustard population and is considered an endangered species. The thorny bushes and open grasslands provide the perfect habitat for birds and animals.
