Kurnool, as a village, has existed for more than 2000 years. Kurnool was a major fort during the reign of the Vijayanagar emperors. Nawab Bunglow, The home of The Late Nawab Alaf khan still stands in all its grandeur on the banks of River Tungabadra. It is now being renovated to its former glory by The surviving members of The Nawab's family residing in U.A.E,Begum Tayyaba Sultana, Arjumand Afshan, Ameen Anjuman and Farzan Naveen and their brothers Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk, Nawab Dr. Shafi ul Mulk and Nawab Amair Ul Mulk. The Bunglow is expected to replicate the former glory of The Kingdom of Kurnool .There is still a grand citadel, Konda Reddy Burj, built by Konda Reddy during The Vijay Nagar Times and which symbolizes the architectural glory the town enjoyed in Vijayanagar times and Nawab,s Era.Aurangazeb last Mogul king to rule India, conquered the Deccan in 1687 and left his governors, the Nizams, to rule Andhra centres of Hyderabad and Kurnool.Both The Nizam of Hyderabad and Nawab of kurnool declared independence and became independent rulers of their territory. Nawab Alaf Khan Bahadur was The First Ruler of Kurnool and the descendants ruled Kurnool for over 200 years. Later in early 18th Century The Kurnol Nawabs merged with The Great Tippu Sultan of Mysore and fought The British Empire. They are glorified in The Indian history as one of the rare Dynasties who chose to fight rather than Surrender to The Mighty British Empire. The family of Kurnool Nawabs split during India Partition and some of them moved to Pakistan.Nawab Dawood Khan moved to Pakistan and Nawab Alaf khan, Nawab Anis Ul Mulk and Nawab Azam Ali Khan stayed back in Kurnool.Prominent members of current generation of this family now live in USA, India, Pakistan and U.A.E.
Late Nawab Dawood Khan sons are Col. Asadulla Khan ( pakistan), Saadulla Khan ( Dubai UAE), Masoor Khan (Pakistan) , Latif Khan and Moin Khan MBA the last two are now live in USA.
Nawab Anis Ul Mulk has two sons they both live in USA Dr. Nawab Shuja Ul Mulk and Eng.Nawab Khurram Khan MBA MPM.
Late Nawab Azam Ali Khan son Nawab Daud Khan currently live at kurnool at Uncha Mahal Fort Kurnool.
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. It was the capital of Andhra State from 1 October, 1953 to 31 October, 1956.
In pre-historic times, Kurnool formed a part of Dandakaranya forest and Sri Rama and Sri Lakshmana came to this part of the country in search of Sri Sita. The famous Chinese traveller Hieuntsang, on his way to Kanchi, passed through Kurnool.
The name Kurnool is said to have been derived from Kandenavolu Regarding Kandanavolu (a Telugu name by which it is referred to in the inscriptions and literature of the past), there is an interesting legend. According to the legend, in the time of the Western Chalukyas of Badami in the 11 Century A.D., the Vadderas who carted stones of 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 halting place before crossing the Tungabhadra and greased their cart-wheels with oil, locally supplied by some of the oil mongers and called the place Kandenametta. This circumstance 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 also 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; Metta means headquarters or halting place), a street in the Old Kurnool city.
In some of the inscriptions, Kurnool is referred to as Kannadu or Karu Nadu (Karu means black; Nadu means territory). Some scholars argue that Kurnool derived its name from Kallu which means stone and Nadu which means territory.
Kurnool is also said to have been derived from Skandanavolu, the city of Skanda or Kumaraswamy. The worship of Skanda in Andhradesha is very ancient. 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 stellar or star-shaped temple is on the banks of the Tungabhadra river.