Kurnool District is one of the 13 districts in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. The district is located in the west-central part of the state and is bounded by Mahabubnagar district of Telangana in the north, Raichur district of Karnataka in the northwest, Bellary district of Karnataka in the west, Ananthapur district in the south, YSR Kadapa district in the South East and Prakasham district in the east. The city of Kurnool is the headquarters of the district. It has a population of 4,053,463 of which 28.35% were urban as of 2011. The district is the 10th largest district in the country and the 2nd largest district in the state, accounting for 17,658 square kilometres (6,818 sq mi).
Kurnool district is the largest district of Seemandhra. It is located at a distance of about 250 km from Hyderabad, the capital city. Kurnool has been named as the gateway to Rayalaseema because to reach Kadapa Chittor or Anantapur one has to pass through Kurnool while travelling from Hyderabad. The place can bring a good feeling among the travellers with its small town charms and the hospitable environment. With a rich history of culture and tradition, the place makes a fantastic tourist destination.
Kurnool is known as the gateway to the Rayalaseema region. It was earlier known as Kandenavolu, as it was a transit place on the southern banks of the Tungabhadra River and acted as a greasing place for the carts. It was ruled by Cholas and later by Kakatiya kings in the 12th and 13th Centuries. Later it came under the influence of Vijayanagar Kings and Achyuta Raya built the Kurnool Fort in 16th Century. It was briefly ruled by local rulers in 16th - 17th century. The town came under the control of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1686. Later the town was ruled by Nawabs from Dawood Khan to Gulam Rasool Khan. In 1839 the British Government took control of the region.
The popular places to visit in the city are the ruins of the fort built by the Vijayanagar Kings, Konda Reddy Buruju and the tomb of Abdul Wahab. Kurnool district is home for the most important pilgrim sites in Andhra Pradesh, including Srisailam, Ahobilam, Yaganti, Mahanndi and Mantralayam, making it one of the top tourist places in the state. Other places of interest in Kurnool include Orvakal Rock Garden, Rollapadu Sanctuary and Belum Caves.
