This district has Historic importance. Once this district is called as Kandhanaole and later it is named as Kurnool. This place was under the rule of Telugu Chola, kakathiya and Vijayanagara Kings, Delhi Sultans and Nizam Nawabs.

The king Polamavema Reddy developed Pilgrimage places for the convenience of the pilgrims during his period. The river Krishna at Srikalahasti is called as Pathala Ganga.