Kurnool, The City of Ruins

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.Some of the tourist sightseeing attractions in Kurnool include the Venkanna Bavi Temple, Bala Sai Baba Temple, the Kotla Vijay Bhaskar Reddy Memorial, Kurnool Fort, Nallamala Forest and more. One of the tourist attractions in Kurnool is the Kurnool Fort also known as the Konda Reddy Buruju. The fort that stands at the city center 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. Tourists come here to marvel at the beauty of this fort and explore it.Photo Courtesy: Veera.sj One of the places to visit in Kurnool is the Bala Sai Baba Temple. The 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 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. The temple is crowded by devotees who come here to pray.Photo Courtesy: Gowrisk A sightseeing place in Kurnool is the Kotla Vijay Bhaskar Reddy Memorial, which is built in memory of the Late Chief Minister, who was a resident of this city. The memorial is located on the banks of the Handri river and is visited by his ardent followers. You can go here to pay your respects as well as enjoy a nice stroll on the river banks.Photo Courtesy: Veera.sj Another sightseeing place in Kurnool would include the Venkanna Bavi Temple, which 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 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 Another place to visit in Kurnool is the Nallamala Forest, which 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 Another tourist attraction in Kurnool is the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, which 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.You can visit this place for a spiritual effect and also be amazed by its beautiful architecture.Photo Courtesy: Arpan Ganguly By Air: The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport of Hyderabad is the nearest airport located at a distance of 213 km. Hyderabad airport is connected to all the major cities and towns of the country.By Train: There are four railway stations in Kurnool- at Kurnool town, Adoni, Nandyala and Dhone Junction, which connect Kurnool to all major cities of India.By Road: Bus services are available from cities of Seemandhra and Telengana as well as Bangalore and Chennai. Bus services, both government and private, are cheap and easily available from Hyderabad. Cabs can also be availed from Hyderabad to Kurnool at reasonable rates.Photo Courtesy: McKay Savage