Kurnool

Kurnool
Kurnool Location of Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh and India
Coordinates	15°50′N 78°03′E / 15.83°N 78.05°E / 15.83; 78.05
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
District(s)	Kurnool
Population	269,122 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 274 m (899 ft)

Kurnool (Telugu: కర్నూలు) is a city in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh state in southern India. It is the administrative seat of the district. Kurnool is the gateway to Rayalaseema and the largest city in the area, with a population around 270,000. It has many educational institutions and is also a major hub for banking and insurance companies.

Name

The name Kurnool is said^{[by whom?]} to be derived from Kandenavolu or Kandanavolu (a Telugu name by which it is referred to in the inscriptions and literature of the past). According to the legend, in the time of the Western Chalukyas of Badami in the 11th century AD, the Vadderas who carted stones for the construction of the temples at Alampur (also known as Dakshina Kasi in Mahaboobnagar District), used the site on which the city now stands as a resting place before crossing the Tungabhadra. Here, they greased their cart-wheels with oil, which was supplied by some of the local oil mongers. They called the place Kandenametta.

The strategic position led to the formation of a small settlement on the spot which subsequently came to be known as Kandenapalli, Kandenolu and Kandenavolu, the city of Kandena or grease. It is interesting to note that the site which was used as a halting place by the Vadderas in those days is still known as Bandla Metta (Bandla means carts and Metta means headquarters or halting place). Today this is a street in the Old Kurnool city. Now this place name has become to "Bandimetta".

In some of the inscriptions, Kurnool is referred to as Kannadu or Karu Nadu with Karu meaning black and Nadu meaning territory.

Other scholars argue that Kurnool derived its name from Kallu which means stone and Nadu which means territory. Yet others say the name Kurnool has been derived from Skandanavolu, the city of Skanda or Kumaraswamy. The worship of Skanda in Andhra Pradesh dates back to ancient times. The cities were also named after Skanda, the chief God of War of the Devas.

Kurnool is also referred to as Dakshina Shirdi, as the first ever temple of Lord Shri Shirdi Sai Baba was built in Kurnool. This temple was built even before the Shirdi Temple was constructed. This star-shaped temple is on the banks of the Tungabhadra river.

History

Villages have existed at this site for more than 2,000 years.

Aurangazeb, the last Mogul King to rule India, conquered the Deccan in 1687 and left his governors, the Nizams, to rule the Andhra centres of Hyderabad and Kurnool. Both the Nizam of Hyderabad and Nawab of Kurnool declared independence and became sole rulers of their territories. Nawab Alaf Khan Bahadur was the first ruler of Kurnool and his descendants ruled it for over 200 years. In the early 18th century, the Nawabs merged with the sultan of Mysore and fought the British Empire. They are one of the few ruling dynasties who chose to fight rather than surrender to the British.

Nawab Bunglow, the home of the last Nawab Alaf Khan, still stands on the banks of the river Tungabhadra. It is now being renovated to its former glory by the surviving members of the Nawab family residing in the U.A.E. The bunglow is expected to replicate the former glory of the Kingdom of Kurnool.

The famous Chinese traveller Xuanzang, on his way to Kanchi, came through Kurnool.

Konda Reddy Buruju

There is a fort named Konda Reddy Buruju, constructed as a strategic watch tower by the rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Politics

Kurnool city lies on the southern banks of the Tungabhadra river. It is the headquarters of the mandal, the revenue division and the district of the same name. From 1 October 1953 to 31 October 1956, Kurnool was also the capital of Andhra State (not Andhra Pradesh), which was carved out of Madras State in 1953. ..

Geography and climate

Kurnool is located at 15°50′00″N 78°03′00″E / 15.8333°N 78.05°E / 15.8333; 78.05.^[1] It has an average elevation of 273 metres (898 feet).

Kurnool lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The Handry and Neeva rivers also flow through the city.

The K.C. Canal (Kurnool–[Kadapa) was built by the dutch for trasportation,but later bought by british and converted to irrigational purpose as it was not of much use for trasportation.

The climate is tropical with temperatures ranging from 26°C to 43°C in the summer and 12°C to 31°C in the winter. The rainy season lasts from July to September and generally produces from 90 to 120 mm of rain.

Education

kurnool is never known as a center of education with exception of a medical college until recenltly but the situation changed now with many new schools and colleges opening around the city. Recently permission to setup Rayalaseema University was granted by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the infrastructure development is in full speed. The government medical college is one of the best collages in India.

Religion

On August 6th, 1893, the Roger Memorial Gospel Hall was opened, providing a permanent place of worship for Christians and a center for aggressive evangelistic work. By the end of 1894 the church membership has more than 500 people. In 1900, Rev.W.R.Manley took charge of Kurnool work in the furlongh period of Dr. Staton. In the spring of 1910 to 1912 Rev.G.J.Huizinga took up the reins in the II furlongh period. On the 25th May, 1918, the Kodmur Baptist Church was organized.

From 1813 American Foreign Missions were allowed by the British government to proclaim the gospel & to do social services in India, for their successful completion of their services for more than 100 years and In recognition of Divine Power Revealed in the beginning and growth of American Foreign Missions, 1813 – 1913. American mission society wanted to erection of a commodious and beautiful church, so the name Centennial has been added to church name. In response to the request of Dr. Stanton, of great benefactor Dr. Coles generously agreed to the plan for the erection of a commodious and beautiful church building. On Nov 3rd, 1917, the Foundation Stone was laid by our beloved Senior Missionary, Rev. John New Comb. On Sept. 1st, 1918, the Kurnool Town Church was established. The work of construction was greatly delayed by the war, and the great building was completed on September 21st, 1919. By recognizing to the work of Missionary’s in India the foreign Missionary Society has named this church as the Coles Centennial Telugu Baptist Church.

Kurnool is an old Historic and Picturesque town on the banks of Hundri and Tungabhadra rivers. The Coles Centennial Telugu Baptist Church [1] stands one of the finest sites in the town opposite the Coles Memorial Junior College and High School, on the main through fare of the town. Kurnool, situated in South India, is the first capital of Andhra Pradesh, India. The church building, which is one of the most beautiful edifices in the South India, is a monument to an energetic missionary vision and painstaking efforts of Dr. Stanton. The building is gothic in design spanned by lofty arches and adorned with beautiful rose windows in the gable and chancel. It is flanked by magnificent tower, rising over one hundred feet above the ground, equipped with a tower clock and bell sent out from America by Dr. Coles as a gift, with an inscription of his own design. The church edifice is constructed of beautiful limestone, every stone chisel-dressed. The magnificent building within its walls, an inscription is placed in accordance with the wish of Dr. Coles.

The foundation stone of the Coles Centennial Baptist Church was laid in 1917 by Reverend John Newcombe. It was completed on September 21, 1919. The building was originally meant to accommodate only 50 members, but the church now has almost 10,000 believers with ten sub-branch churches. It is located in the center of the city near the fort. The gift of J. Ackerman Coles, M.D., LL.D., In recognition of Divine Power Revealed in the beginning and growth of American Foreign Missions,1813 – 1913. Also in remembrance of his Father, Abraham Coles, M.D., Ph.D., LL.D. And of his Mother, Mrs. Caroline E. Ackerman Coles, And of all who like them have been identified therewith.

In this inscription is expressed in beautiful language the meaning of this Memorial. It is a gift of love. It is a Memorial to the great Enterprise of Foreign Missions. It is a Temple of the Living God.

Hindus make up the majority of the population. There are other communities such as Muslims and Christians in the area. Among the festivals celebrated are Dasara, Deepavali, Ugadi, Holi, Ramzan and Christmas.

Major religious sites

• Coles Centennial Baptist Church [2]
• The Sai Baba Temple on the banks of the river Tungabhadra near the District Court is famous as Dakshina Shirdi. (see history section, above)
• Sri Nagareswara Temple for Nagara and Eswara, the main god of Kurnool.
• Sri Venkateswara Temple
• Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Temple is a Venkata Ramana colony.
• Sri Nimishambha Temple
• Sri Ayappa Swamy Temple
• Sri Ganapathi Temple, K C Canal
• Roza Dargah
• Lal Masjid
• Jumma Masjid is one of the oldest Masjid of Kurnool.
• Masjid-e-Gounda, Gadda St
• Masjid-e-Quba, Gadda St
• Gopal Diddi Dargah
• Dargah Ameen Baba

Manufacturing

• Rayalaseema Paper Mill is Asia's largest paper mill.
• Sree Rayalseema Alkalis and Allied Chemicals, TGV Group
• Guru Raghavendra Oil Company
• Panyam Cement
• Priya Cement
• Genex Iron

Transportation

Kurnool is regarded as the Gateway of Rayalaseema as one must pass through Kurnool to reach Kadapa or Chittor or Anantapur districts while travelling from Hyderabad. Kurnool is connected to most cities and towns in Andhra Pradesh as well as to Bangalore and Chennai by the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) and the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). National Highway 7 connects Kurnool to Hyderabad (210 km, 4.5 hours), Anantapur (140 km, three hours), Hindupur {245 km, 5.5 hours} and Bangalore (360 km).

For travel within Kurnool, car and autorickshaw rentals are available.

Kurnool lies on the Hyderabad – Bangalore railway line. There are also frequent passenger trains to Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Tirupati, Guntur, Jaipur, Madurai (Shirdi) and Hubli. The four railway stations in Kurnool District are Kurnool Town, Adoni, Nandyala and Dhone junction. Adoni is on the Bengaluru/Chennai-Mumbai Railway Line and several trains run daily to these cities and New Delhi. Nandyal is on the Hubli-Vijayawada Line and has daily trains to Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Vishakhapatnam and Howrah. Dhone junction is situated on the Bengaluru-Secunderabad Line as well as the Hubli-Vijayawada Line. All the trains which pass through Nandyal and Kurnool pass through this junction.

The nearest airport is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, at Shamshabad, Hyderabad, three and half hours drive from Kurnool.

Further reading

• Taming the Wild, by V. Janaki Ram, Lulu Press (2005), ISBN 1-4116-2286-3...a collection of short stories, drawn from real life, by a former police officer who lived in Kurnool.

References

External links

• City of Kurnool, official website
• Coles Centennial Telugu Baptist Church
• Osmania College website
• "Your Kurnool", community news and information
• South India Tourism, section on Kurnool
• Kurnool District, official website
• Falling Rain Genomics, page on Kurnool