Current Time in Kurnool, India

Kurnool is a city located in the state of Andhra Pradesh in southern India, situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra and Hundri rivers in the southern part of the Deccan Plateau. With a population of approximately 500,000 people, it is the fourth largest city in Andhra Pradesh and serves as the headquarters of Kurnool District. The city holds a distinctive place in the history of modern India as the first capital of Andhra State before the capital was moved to Hyderabad, and it continues to serve as a major commercial and administrative center for the surrounding region.

The history of Kurnool is ancient and layered. The region was part of the Mauryan Empire and later the Satavahana dynasty's territory before coming under the influence of the Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, and Vijayanagara Empire — the last of which had a particularly significant impact on the culture and development of the region. The Vijayanagara period saw significant temple construction and cultural patronage in the area. After the decline of Vijayanagara, the Kurnool Nawabs of the Nawab of Kurnool, who were Muslim rulers under the Mughal umbrella, governed the region until the British East India Company took control in the early nineteenth century.

Kurnool is renowned as a major center of cotton and turmeric trade in Andhra Pradesh. The city's cotton markets serve farmers from across the region, and Kurnool has historically been one of the most important cotton trading hubs in southern India. Turmeric, used extensively in Indian cooking and increasingly valued for its medicinal properties worldwide, is another important agricultural commodity associated with the city and its hinterland.

The Belum Caves, located approximately 100 kilometers from Kurnool, are the second largest natural cave system in the Indian subcontinent and among the longest in the country. These spectacular limestone caves, with their stalactites, stalagmites, and natural formation chambers, stretch for over three kilometers underground and are a major tourist attraction drawing visitors from across India and abroad. Nearby, the ancient temples of Mahanandi and the ruins of the Vijayanagara-era heritage add to the region's appeal for cultural tourism.

Kurnool is also notable as the gateway to the Nallamala Forest and the Sri Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, one of India's largest tiger reserves. This vast forested area supports populations of tigers, leopards, bears, and other wildlife, and the Srisailam temple and dam complex on the Krishna River nearby is both a major pilgrimage center and an important hydroelectric project.

With its rich historical heritage, significant role in India's agricultural trade, extraordinary cave systems, and proximity to important religious and wildlife destinations, Kurnool serves as an important center of the southern Deccan and a rewarding destination for those exploring Andhra Pradesh beyond its more famous coastal cities.