Kurnool is a city in Andhra Pradesh state of southern India. It is the administrative seat of the district of the same name.

History

During the 18th century Kurnool formed the jagir of a semi-independent Pathan Nawab, whose descendant was dispossessed by the British government for treason in 1838. The Nawab's former territory became a district of Madras Presidency, with Kurnool as it's capital. The district surrounded the princely state of Banganapalle. After India's independence in 1947, Kurnool became part of Madras state, created out of the former Madras presidency, and Banganapalle was added to the district. The eleven northern districts of Madras state became the new state of Andhra Pradesh 1953, and Kurnool served as the state's first capital. In 1956 Andhra Pradesh was enlarged to include the Telingana region, formerly part of Hyderabad state, and the capital of the Andhra Pradesh was shifted to Hyderabad.