Kurnool

Kurnool is a historic city in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, located on the banks of the Tungabhadra and close to the Kundu River. Because it sits on routes linking the Deccan plateau with coastal Andhra and Karnataka, Kurnool developed early as a strategic military and trade centre. The wider region has ancient roots, with nearby sites such as Kurnool district’s cave shelters and prehistoric remains showing very early human presence in the area.

In medieval times, Kurnool and its surroundings came under major South Indian powers, including the Western and Eastern Chalukyas, the Kakatiyas, and later the Vijayanagara Empire, which strengthened forts, temple patronage, and irrigation-based agriculture across Rayalaseema. After Vijayanagara’s decline, the area saw shifting control under local chiefs and Deccan rulers, including the Qutb Shahis and the Nizams, reflecting the changing politics of the Deccan.

Kurnool gained particular prominence in the early 19th century when it became the headquarters of the Kurnool Nawabs, and later it was brought under British administration as part of the Madras Presidency. In the post-independence period, Kurnool served as the capital of Andhra State (1953–1956) before the formation of Andhra Pradesh. Today, Kurnool remains an important administrative, educational, and commercial hub, blending Rayalaseema heritage with modern growth.