Kurnool sits where the Tungabhadra and Handri rivers meet, on the road between Hyderabad and Bengaluru, and for three years (1953 to 1956) it served as the capital of Andhra State. Today it is a busy district headquarters rather than a polished tourist town, and it is best understood as a base. The city's own sights are modest and easy: Konda Reddy Buruju, the tower that survives from the old fortifications, and the domed tomb of Abdul Wahab Khan, the first Nawab, beside the Handri.
The real draw lies in the surrounding district. Within a day's drive you can reach the Navabrahma temples at Alampur, built in the Badami Chalukya period, the limestone passages of Belum Caves, the hill temple of Yaganti, the spring-fed tanks of Mahanandi and the Rollapadu sanctuary, one of the few places where the great Indian bustard has been protected. Pilgrims also use Kurnool as the railhead for Mantralayam, the Raghavendra Swamy shrine on the Tungabhadra.
Plan Kurnool around the season. Summers are punishing, with April daytime highs around 40 degrees Celsius, and the monsoon months from June to October are wet. November to February is the comfortable window. Sights are spread out and public transport to rural sites is thin, so a hired car with a driver is the practical choice, especially for parents or older relatives. Facilities at the more remote sites are basic, which is part of the appeal and part of the planning.
Before you plan
Kurnool at a glance
- Best months
- November to February is the most…November to February is the most comfortable; April and May are very hot, and June to October is the wet season.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 days for the city and one or two…2 days for the city and one or two nearby sights; 3 days if you add Belum Caves or Yaganti and Mahanandi
- Airport
- Kurnool AirportKurnool Airport (Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy Airport, KJB) at Orvakal on NH 40, about 18 km from the city; Hyderabad (HYD) is the main alternative, several hours away by road
- Railway station
- Kurnool CityKurnool City (KRNT) is on the Hyderabad–Bengaluru line, about 2 km from Konda Reddy Buruju
- Getting around
- Autos and app cabs within the cityAutos and app cabs within the city; for Belum, Yaganti, Mahanandi and Rollapadu a hired car with driver is far easier than buses
- Daily budget
- A rough guide is ₹1,500–₹3,500 per…A rough guide is ₹1,500–₹3,500 per person per day excluding hotel; hiring a car for day trips is the largest cost
- Senior comfort
- Fair: city sights are short visitsFair: city sights are short visits, but rural sites involve rough roads, heat and some steps; Belum and Yaganti are the most demanding
- Language
- Telugu is the main languageTelugu is the main language, with a large Urdu-speaking community in the city; Hindi and some English are understood at hotels and major sights
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Kurnool: January, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Kurnool itinerary
One good day
1 day in Kurnool
Start early at Konda Reddy Buruju and climb to the upper floors for a view across the city while the air is still cool. Drive to the tomb of Abdul Wahab Khan beside the Handri river, then break for lunch and rest through the hot afternoon. If you have energy left, make the short run out to Orvakal Rock Garden before dusk, or simply spend the evening around the Tungabhadra riverfront.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Kurnool
Do Konda Reddy Buruju and the tomb of Abdul Wahab Khan in the morning, rest after lunch, and keep the late afternoon for Orvakal Rock Garden, about 20 km out on the airport road.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Kurnool
Konda Reddy Buruju and the tomb of Abdul Wahab Khan in the cool of the morning, followed by a long rest and an evening by the river.
Day-by-day plan →
