Introduction:

Everyone would love their mother, mother land, mother tongue though you may belong to and
stay in at any part of the world. It’s their love and affection towards them. In the same process, it is must, to
know about the importance, significance, history and background of all of them. Every person through out his
journey of life is always a learning process till death and sometimes has a quest to know things after death. I
feel that I got a learning opportunity to learn about my homeland. I am here presenting some of the facts that I
gathered during this knowing process.

Geography of Kurnool:

Kurnool is called as “The Gateway of Rayalaseema”. It belongs to the Rayalaseema region of

Rivers like Krishna, Tungabhadra, Kundu, Seeleru, Handri flow through this region. It has many pilgrim
centres, picnic spots, historical places and points, hydroelectric dam, tiger reserve forest, etc.

Kurnool was the first capital of Andhra state from October 1st 1953 to 31st October 1956. The then
Governor of the state was Sri C.M. Trivedi; Chief Minister – Sri Tanguturi Prakasham Panthulu; Deputy Chief
Minister – Sri Neelam Sanjeev Reddy; Speaker – Nallapati Venkatramaiah; Deputy Speaker – Pasula Surya
Chandra Rao.

Past History:

Kurnool has a great fascinating historical background. It has stored a lot of history in it. It
used to be a passage for north and south regions. It was a passage for the military and their aid during wars. It
witnessed and was also part of wars. Many telugu scholars in their writings have mentioned about the bravery
and greatness of the people and the rulers of this part.

In ancient scripture of Markendeya purana we will find that it has been stated that sage Agastya came to
Srisailam which is in so called Deccan plateau when the great Himalayan ranges were under water siege which
means mount Vindhyachal and Srisailam were that much highest peaks during that era.

Later some thousands of years ago Kurnool was a part of Dandakaranya. Many of the places were
walked by Lord Rama during his exile on his way from Bilaspur, Bhadrachalam to Hampi, to Vrishyanukha hill
– Kishkinda then later to Lanka in search of Devi Seetha. After that years later, Emperor Nadana ruled cleared
the thorny forest areas of this so called Dandakaranya and established small villages. It was said that he was the
son of Uttunga Bhoja of Chandravamsha. He developed the region from Nandyala to Giddalur and said that he
constructed Navanandis around Mahanandi Kshetra.

Mauryan Period:

Mauryan empire was founded around 320 BC. During his reign, a Greek traveller Megasthanese
in his writings wrote that in the south there were powerful people called Andhra’s having a great army. having
nearly 30 forts. After Chandragupta Maurya, king Bimbisara won Andhradesha. After him king Ashoka ruled
over. His kingdom was divided into Pradesha or provinces which were subdivided into Vishyas or subdivisions
and Jana padas, which were further subdivided into villages. The five chief provinces under Ashoka’s reign
were the Uttarapatha (Northern Province) with its capital at Taxila; Avantiratha (western province) with its
headquarters at Ujjain; Prachyapatha (eastern province) with its centre at Toshali and the Dakshinapatha
(southern province) with its capital as Suvarnagiri. The central province, Magadha with its capital at Pataliputra
was the administrative centre of the empire. Here the Suvarnagiri refers to Jonnagiri of Pattikonda taluk of
Kurnool district.

Satavahana Period:

After king Ashoka’s death around 236 BC Andhra’s declared their independence. Satavahana
who belonged to Andhra occupied Magadha. This dynasty kings 30 of them ruled for 450 years. During the rule
of Srimukha around 225 BC “Sathanakota” at Nandikotkur taluk was one of his forts. At Adoni we can find the
inscripts of the 30th king Pulamai in bramhi script.

Ikshvak’s Period:

After the decline of Satavahanas in the year 225 AD Ikshvak’s became independent. Vishaka
Skandanaga ruled over Mahboob nagar and Kurnool regions right from Nagarjunakonda. On his name only
Skandaniprolu was built which later called as Kandanolu later presently Kurnool.

West Chalukyas:

During 642 AD West Chalukyan rulers like Chandraditya, Aditya, Vikramaditya ruled after
defeating Pallavas. Kurnool came under their rule.

Telugu Cholas:

During 7th and 8th centuries Kurnool was ruled by Telugu Cholas who built Badanepalli presently
under Giddalur.

Rashtrakutas:

Dantidurga during 743 AD along with Chalukyas declared war on Kanchipuram and while
returning back he got Srisailam under his reign till 973 AD.

Kalyani Chalukyas:

Someswara I, Someswara II, Vikramaditya IV, Someswara III, Vikramaditya V, Jagdekamallu

Velnati Cholas:

Goenka I, Kulotunga Chola, Veera Rajendra Chola, Goenka II ruled from Mahendragiri to
Srisailam.

Yadavas:

They came from Devagiri took western part of Kurnool i.e.; Adoni, Parla, Gorantla whose
inscriptions can be found there.

Kakatiya’s:
 Eastern part of Kurnool was ruled by Kakatiya’s by rulers like Ganapathi deva, Rudramamba,
Parataparudra till 1323. Later it came under Mohamad Bin Tughlaq.

Reddy Kings:

Pralaya Vema Reddy started this dynasty. Until 1424 AD Anapotha Reddy, Peddakomati Vema
Reddy, Rajavemudu ruled up to Tripuranthakam, Srisailam parts of Kurnool.

Vijayanagara Rulers:

During the 14th century Harihara Raya II he ruled parts of Adoni to Ahobilam to Srisailam.
Sangama, Saluva and Tulu rulers ruled over Kurnool. Various inscriptions of great Tulu ruler Sri Krishnadeva
Raya can be found at numerous places of Kurnool. Venakatadri the Kurnool fort ruler supported Aliyaramaraja.
During the mid-17th century Vijayanagara empire declined. When Sadasivaraya was a child his minister
Ramaraje controlled the rule. Chenchu Yerragudi Eswara temple was given Inam, Ahobilam temple was given
as Inam to Jambuladinna village, Kandanolu region was given to Tirumalaraya as said by Sadasivaraya
inscriptions.

Nawabs:

Sultans like Bahamani Sultans, Bijapur Adilshahis, Mughal rulers Asafjahis, Nizams Ali khan,
Hyder Ali khan ruled for nearly 150 years. During 1800’s came under British rule as ceded region.

British Rule:

In the year 1800 November 1st Madras government appointed Sir Thomas Munro as the Principal
Collector for ceded regions. From then Kurnool came under British rule. During same time 150 local defenders
(Palegalu) rebelled whom were later brought under his control.

Long before the first war of independence Uyalawada Narasimha Reddy rebelled against the
Britishers. Even Gulam Rasool Khan the last nawab of Kurnool also rebelled against Britishers. Just like in
other parts of our country many movements like home rule movement, quit India movement, swadeshi
movement, library movement, salt satyagraha movement etc, took place and people have contributed to it.
During the visit of Gandhiji during the independence moment many people got inspired from him. Many great
independence fighters, educationalists, musicians, doctors, singers, scholars, poets, cine artists, scientists were
from this part. After that many movements took place in order to attain freedom from them.

Industries:

Rayalaseema is known for its natural resources. Kurnool is the Rayalaseema Ratnagarbha for having 19
different types of minerals. Minerals like limestone, Dolomite, Stealite, White shell, China clay, White clay,
Ellora Osher, Iron, Silicon, Quartz, Barytes, Calcite, Mosaic chips, Granite black and colour, road metal, gravel,
Bentonite can be found in and around Kurnool.

Gold and diamonds can also be found at places like Dronachalam, Orvakal, Bethamcharla, Papili,
Pattikonda, Gonegandla, Yemmiganur, Jonnagiri in small quantities. It was said that nearly 7 big cart baskets of
diamonds from Kurnool.
 Nearly 20 million tonnes of different colour granites are available in Kurnool itself. It has cement
factories, pesticide factories, colour industries, chemical industries are there.

Blackstones, Sand stones for building temples like Srisailam, Yaganti, Mahanandi Alampur etc.

Icons of Kurnool:

Many people were given to the country by Kurnool who stood as a jewel in the crown. Some well-
known personalities are like Andhra Tilak Sri Gadicharla Hari Sarvotham Rao, Arkatu brothers, Damodaram
Sanjeeviah, Sardar Nagappa, Amaravathamma, Khadri Biyabani, Medam Venkaiah Setti, Pendekanti
Venkatasubbaiah, Pinakapani, G. Pulla Reddy, cine actor S. Varalakshmi, etc.

Historical Monuments:

Around Kurnool we can find the Ketavaram rock paintings from the Paleolithic era, Belum Caves are
geologically and historically important caves in the district. There are indications that Jain and Buddhist monks
were occupying these caves centuries ago. In and around Kurnool , Kurnool district you can find many
monumentsal structures related to great rulers inscriptions, temples, mosques and some in the forms of remains.

You can find many of the historical monuments which are still being used as schools, colleges, offices
etc. Monuments like Konda reddy fort (Bastion – Buruzu) which brings forth the image of Kurnool was built by
Achyutadeva Raya between 1529 -1549, Erra buruzu near Victory theatre, Bastions near Kummari street and
one near Saibaba temple, Gopal Darwaja, Gol Gumaz near Osmania college, Nawab fort in the midst of river
Tungabhadra, Ramabotla temple, Kota Anjaneya swamy temple, Nagereswaralaya, Cole’s Centennial church
and Coles college, KVR College. Kurnool Medical college is one of the top most college in the state as well as
in India.

Conclusion:

I would like to conclude that Kurnool, as my birth place I would like it and say one of the best among
the others. Feel great and privileged to be a part in knowing and participating in this great event. I once again
thank the organizers for giving opportunity to know and participate in the competition and present the thing to
best of my knowledge.

Thank You very much.