Andhra Pradesh Tourism – The Royal City of Kurnool

The small city of Kurnool was once the city of the Vijaynagar Kings. Although much of its previous grandeur has been lost, you can still explore the ruins of this great city.Visitors get a welcome feeling here as it is far from the major cities and is a calm place to escape to. Even today Kurnool has its rich history, culture and traditions kept safely here which attracts tourists to this place. The Bala Sai Baba Temple is visited round the year by the followers of Sai Baba, who come here to pay their respects. Visitors coming here can explore the beauty of the temple and also if you have the time then sit down and listen to folklore by the Sadhus sitting here.Photo Courtesy: Arpan Ganguly The Kurnool Museum is filled with historical and archaeological artifacts, which have been excavated from the different areas of Kurnool itself. You can see many artifacts here like broken sculptures from the temples in the vicinity, weapons used by the local chieftains and many more. The museum provides an insight into the history of this city.Photo Courtesy: Arpan Ganguly The Shirdi Sai Baba Temple at Kurnool is believed to have been constructed 70 years back. The temple that is shaped like a star attracts the followers of Sai Baba, who come here to meditate and pay respect to their Guru. The temple also houses the idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Hanuman here.Photo Courtesy: Arpan Ganguly The Kurnool Fort also known as the Konda Reddy Buruju stands at the city center and was built by Achyuta Devarayalu of the Vijayanagara Empire. Although now in ruins there is a portion of it which still stands strong. There are many inscriptions and carvings on the walls of the fort. There are also two small shrines at the foot of the fort that is dedicated to Goddess Yellamma.Photo Courtesy: Veera.sj The Jagannatha Gattu Temple is a popular tourist attraction in Kurnool and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There is a Shivalinga here which according to popular beliefs is said to be brought here by the Pandava Prince Bheem. You can visit this temple and see the beautiful carvings on its walls.Photo Courtesy: Gowrisk The Nallamala Forest is a part of the Eastern Ghats. This vast undisturbed stretch of forest is located in the Nallamala Hills, and used to be a hunting ground for the kings. The forest is rich in wildlife, and one can see animals like tigers and leopards aplenty here.Photo Courtesy: Tambako The Jaguar The Venkanna Bavi Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Although the temple has lost its prominence, it is still visited by tourists to see the carvings and structure of this temple. It is now majorly a picnic spot with a small pond close by. You will get a scenic view of the region from here as it is located on a hillock.Photo Courtesy: Arpan Ganguly