Kurnool, also known as Kandenavolu, is one of the most prominent towns in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Predominantly a heritage city, Kurnool offers a lot more than just temple visits and performing religious ceremonies. Of course, if you are planning for a devotional trip to Kurnool, it is just about ideal but for people who look beyond that, Kurnool will not disappoint you. Below we list some of the top things that you can do here and spend a memorable vacation with your loved ones.

The first thing that we Indians prefer doing when we visit any new place is to visit the most famous religious spot in and around the city we are traveling to. Srisailam is also one such popular pilgrimage site that holds enormous religious significance for thousands of Hindus across Andhra and India. And therefore, the first thing to do in Kurnool is to visit the holy site at Srisailam and pay your tributes to the Gods. This place is 180 km away from Kurnool and located on the banks of the Krishna river. It's one of the famous twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Srisailam is known for Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple — a dedication to Lord Shiva — and Srisailam Dam. The temple was exalted during the Vijayanagar Empire structured in a typical Dravidian style with lofty towers and sprawling courtyards talks a lot about the beauty of the temple. It houses the shrine of Lord Mallikarjuna in the form of a linga protected by a three-hooded cobra. So visit this place to pay homage and seek blessings.

The second most recommended thing to do in Kurnool is to take a holy dip in Pushkarini. It's located in the Mahanandi village at a distance of 90 km from the Kurnool city center. It's a holy Shivaite pilgrimage center that is visited by thousands of devotees from across the country. There are around 9 Nandis (bulls) within the 15 km radius of the village known by the name Nava Nandis. The primary temple Mahanandiswara is a dedication to Lord Shiva that was built in the 7th century by Chalukyas. Several temples were then built in the 10th century AD by the Nandas and that's how this place got its name. Pushkarini is a crystal clear water stream or pool built inside and outside of the temple. The inner pool is quite mysterious as it is still unknown how the water flows continuously throughout the year in the pool. Devotees take a holy dip in the pool during their visit to the temple. The water in the inside pool flows from the basement of Garbha Gruha where the main idol of Shiva Ling is installed. So bathing in the Pushkarini pool is one of the most tried things during the Kurnool trip.

Konda Reddy Fort or the Konda Reddy Buruju is one of the mightiest forts in Andhra Pradesh. And visiting this fort to experience its stronghold is probably one of the first things that you should do as a visitor. This grand structure is just 2 km from Kurnool railway station. The construction of the fort started during the 12th century by Devaraya II and Achyutaraya of the Vijayanagara Kingdom. You'll love the architecture of the fort and admire its history as you learn more about it from the local guides. The fort has three levels, the ground level is closed for visitors whereas the first one has a few enclosures that have large portico and the second one houses a huge tower that was used for observations. Overall, this is a historic site that you must visit during your trip to Kurnool.

The next thing to do in Kurnool is to visit the heritage site at 40 km from Yaganti, the Belum Caves. These are one of the oldest cave structures in India and they are also the second-largest in the country. These caves are 3235 m long with extended passages. Right after you enter the caves, you’ll come across the deepest point of the caves that is 118 feet. It is said that these caves are a million years old and were formed by the disruption in limestone deposits in the area by Chitravati River that flows 32 km south of the caves. What's in it for you? Well, the interior of the caves look marvelous and offer a sublime inside view of the caves. The other thing that will grab your attention is the huge Buddha statue near the caves. Legends say that ancient Buddhist monks used these caves for meditation. They used the huge meditation hall in the caves for practicing meditation and other Buddhist rituals. The state tourism has built bridges and pathways for visitors to reach the caves. There’s also a resort run by the AP Tourism department near the entrance of the cave that can be used for a stay and having snacks.

After having experienced the stronghold of Kondana Fort and the amazing Belum Caves, the next thing that you should look forward to is to visit the famous Orvakal Rock Garden. It's situated 20 km from the Kurnool city center and is filled with the extensive natural beauty of majestic rock formations. Orvakal Rock Garden is located on Kurnool - Nandyal highway, 3 km from Orvakal village. The garden is a rare quartz and silica rock formation with sublime surroundings. A natural lake right at the center of the rock formation simply adds to the beauty of the site. You can enjoy your stay at the cottages near the site and try the delicious cuisine at the local restaurants. These cottages and canteens are managed by AP Tourism. The other thing that you must try here is to visit the metallic garden built at the top of the hill. The garden has huge structures of animals built with iron. A walkway is constructed within the rock formations allowing visitors to explore the place to its fullest. Overall, this is yet another must-visit place during your Kurnool trip.

If you are one of those who love to explore wildlife and watch animals in their natural habitat, then you should take an hour's drive straight to Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary. This site is located 45 km from the city center and is recognized as one of the best sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh. The idea behind developing this sanctuary was to secure the endangered species of the Great Indian Bustard. This wilderness is located 5 km from the Rollapadu village and also known as the Rollpadu Bird sanctuary as it also a huge number of migratory birds. The government of Andhra Pradesh established it in 1988 in an area that spreads over 6 sq. km. The Alaganuru reservoir is 7 km away from the sanctuary and serves as a base for the thousands of migratory birds. Besides birds, you can sight numerous blackbucks and deers. Also, jungle cats, jackals, sloth bears, foxes, bonnet macaques will attract your cameras. Bird lovers will love to sight the Indian rollers, eagles, mynas, flamingos, bar-headed geese, and Demoiselle Cranes can be spotted easily in the area. You can also visit a watchtower, a small bird museum, and a guest house near the sanctuary.

The next on our things-to-do list is to visit the District Archaeological Museum. It's another popular place amongst tourists that is located in Budavarapupeta of Kurnool Town. The museum was made public in the year 1999 by the Archaeological department of India to let people explore more about the local handicrafts and to preserve the tradition and cultural history of the region. Many antiquities in the museum are displayed in the glass laid out in "L" shaped Museum Hall. These are basically stone sculptures congregated from the submergible villages of Srisailam. These objects date back to the Chalukyan era to the late Vijayanagara period. There are around 150 Architectural members such as inscriptions, lintels, door jambs, and so on collected and stored in the backyard. Besides, the museum also has a good collection of archaeological Artefacts, historic arms & weapons, pre, proto, and early historic sculptures, paintings, pottery, and bronzes. There are also shops managed by the museum at the entrance complex just in case if you want to purchase any stuff.

As we already discussed in several other articles, Kurnool was ruled by many rulers. From Cholas to Chalukyas, Vijayanagar Empire to Mughals, and the Nawabs to the British all have ruled this city with pride and contributed towards the architectural glory of the town. One such historic monument is the tomb of Abdul Wahab who was the military commander of the Bijapur army and the first Muslim ruler of Kurnool. When the Sultan of Bijapur, Adil Shah conquered the area, he made Abdul Wahab his chieftain. The successors of Abdul Wahab later ruled this area and later constructed a tomb after his death in 1618. The tomb is constructed on the banks of River Handri. The design of the tomb showcases the class of craftsmanship of Islamic architecture. The tomb has recently been reconstructed by the government ensuring to preserve the old look and feel and it is now in much better condition. To visit this place, it is situated close to the Osmania college and is popularly known as Gol Gummaz by the locals.

Probably one of the best places to enjoy with your family in Kurnool is the 7 Rivers. This amusement resort has everything in store for people of all ages. Crazy rides with cycles, children water play area, swimming pool, there is something or the other here to keep everyone entertained. Having talked so much about the place, you must be wondering what's in it for me. Well, the list of things to do here can go on and on. Pool or Snooker, Rain Dance, 7d Adventure Rides, Bull Ride, Swimming Pool, Cricket Zone, Dashing Cars, Play Station games such as bike race, air hockey, pick me up, hunter games, basketball, car race, X Box, balloon gun shooting, and Family Restaurant. There is an accommodation facility available in the resort. So you can even stay during your trip to Kurnool and enjoy your time with family, friends, and loved ones.

No trip is complete without shopping. And Kurnool being a prominent city in Andhra Pradesh, there is a variety of things that you can purchase. The traditional South Indian dress materials and sarees are available in almost all shops in the city. Try exploring the local bazaar to shop for the best prices and you also get many options to choose form. Take guidance fro the locals to learn more about the options and areas where ethnic items can be purchased. Besides dress materials, you can purchase jewelry, wall paintings, local wooden toys, bangles, artifacts and other stuff that you would love to carry back home. Apart from shopping at the local bazaar, you can try the malls as well. There, you will get varieties along with brands. But the fun and excitement that you get when you shop from the local bazaar cannot be compared to that in the malls. GM Shopping Mall, M&M Shopping Mall are the two famous malls in Kurnool. Vaibhav Jewellers are the leading manufacturers and suppliers of jewelry items across India. So if you want to shop jewelry items, you know where you should be heading.