Kurnool Tourism

Kurnool is a small city in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the sixth most populous city of the state. The area is popular for various tourist attractions. The intricate architecture, regional delicacies and varying religious destinations, Kurnool is known for all of these and beyond.

Tourist Attractions of Kurnool

Whether you are a history buff or adventure lover, shopaholic or nature lover – there is something for everyone in Kurnool. The city is known for its laid-back atmosphere and friendly people. There are many ancient monuments, temples and forts in and around Kurnool district. Kurnool has its own unique travel and tourism features that interest many foreign and domestic travelers.

Belum Caves

Belum Caves, a long cave system in the area is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the area. These caves are the second largest caves in the country after the famous Meghalaya caves. A network of underground caves with three wells like structures, the Belum Caves are enchanting as well as alluring at the same time. There are many natural waterfalls that can be seen in and around the caves which make them all the more beautiful. The secret chambers and passages make exploration through these caves an exciting challenge.

The main attractions of the caves are the beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations. The government of India has declared the Belum Caves as ‘Unique Eco-Tourism Project’. A huge marble statue of Lord Buddha on the caves is a clear sign that the place was a place of worship for many Buddhist monks.

Kurnool Fort

Situated in the heart of the city, the mighty Kurnool Fort is one of the most prominent landmarks of the city. Believed to be built during the 16th century by Achyuta Devarayalu of the Vijayanagar Empire, the fort still stands strong. It depicts the glorious past of the region. Fort Konda Reddy Buruju is a part of the Kurnool Fort. Initially this was a prison and later was converted into a fort in the memory of Konda Reddy who died in the prison. The fort has two storeys and a tall pillar in the center of the structure. The first storey has a 25km long underground passage which directly takes you to Alampur town. Many travelers climb to the highest point in the fort to get a panoramic view of the entire city and its vicinity.  Another ruined portion of the fort is called Erra Buruju. Today the fort is almost in ruins, except a small portion which still stands strong and depicts the grandeur of the era.

Srisialam

Srisailam is one of the 12 Jyotirlingams dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is situated in Kurnool district. The temple is situated on the banks of Krishna River and has elevation of 409 meters. Considering the religious importance that the temple has, it attracts a lot of domestic tourists.

Srisailam Dam

One of the most important dams of the state, it is the third largest capacity hydraulic project in India. The dam is constructed on Krishna River at an elevation of about 300 m. It is situated on the border of Mahbubnagar district, Telangana and Kurnool district. The sheer size of the dam talks about its marvelous engineering. It has 12 gates and is a major tourist destination. At a distance of 175 km from Kurnool city, it is one of the top tourist attractions of the region.

Mahanandi

Mahanandi is a small village situated in the east of Nallamala hills in Kurnool district. A very popular religious tourist destination, it is a serene village surrounded by thick forests. Located within 15km of Mahanandi are the nine Nandi shrines known as Nava Nandis. In fact Mahanandi is one of the nine Nava Nandis.  The 1500 years old shrine of Mahanandiswara Swamy temple is also located in the region. Mahanandi talks about the rich cultural and religious diversity of our country.

The other tourist attractions include of the area include:

Gole Gumbaz – the mausoleum of Kurnool Nawab, Gole Gumbaz is located near Osmania College.

Rollapaddu Wildlife Sanctuary – Rollapaddu Wildlife Sanctuary situated in Kurnool district is primarily known for being the habitat of the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican. The sanctuary is spread over a sprawling area of 614 sq. km and is located at a distance of about 60km from Kurnool city. Visitors can spot wolves, Indian cobra, foxes, jackals, Indian rollers, spy black bucks and sparrows in the sanctuary.



Ahobilam – Ahobilam is situated in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh and is believed to be one of the 108 Vaishnava Divyadesams in the country. The place is known for various temples located in Upper and Lower Ahobilam.

Oravakallu Rock Garden – Oravakallu Rock Garden is located amidst water bodies, the garden is known to have natural rock formations. The Kethavaram Rock paintings, from the Paleolithic era, are located along a stretch of the Orvakal Rock Formations. It is located just 25km from Kurnool on NH – 18 and is a perfect quaint getaway from the city.

Tourism Office in Kurnool

Address of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Branch Office Kurnool
AC/D-6, C Camp, Nandyal Road, Kurnool
Fax – 8518 270104

Hotels in Kurnool

Since the place is known for its tourist attractions there are various types of hotels available. Visitors can choose from a wide array of choices. Be it luxury hotels or guest houses, home stays or budget hotels, Kurnool city caters very well to the altering needs of people.

How to reach Kurnool

Kurnool is a popular city of Andhra Pradesh and can be reached via various modes of transport. Although the most convenient and popular mode of transport is public and private buses and taxis. The city is well connected to other parts of the state via a great road network.

Road
NH 7 connects Kurnool to Hyderabad, Ananpur, Bengaluru and Hindupur. Also there are various state highways connecting Kurnool to other cities of Andhra Pradesh.

The Kurnool Bus Station is the third largest bus station of the state after Hyderabad and Vijaywada. The city is very well connected to other cities of Andhra Pradesh and other cities across other south Indian states through a strong network of buses. The most popular bus services are – Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) and the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).

Air
The nearest airport to Kurnool is the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad. It takes about 3.5 hours to reach this airport. One can also reach the Kempegowda International Airport at Devanahalli, Bengaluru in about 4 hours.

Rail
Kurnool city lies on the the Hyderabad – Guntakal railway line. It has express trains to various major cities of the country – Chennai, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Tirupati etc.

There are four railway stations in Kurnool district –

• Kurnool City
• Adoni
• Nandyal
• Dhone Junction