The church, a short hop away from the Konda Reddy Buruju, is an exquisite Gothic structure with a stone-brick fagade, red-tiled roofs and tinted windows. The spacious confines of the building can house around 2,000 people. An annexe was later built next to the church for larger congregations.The church was named Coles Centennial Baptist Telugu Church to mark the century-long work of an American mission in the region.

Significance

There are three colonial buildings Coles Memorial (1908), Rogers Memorial (1893) and Rockwood Memorial (1958)-diagonally opposite the church. These are now part of a school.

History

The foundation stone of the building was laid on 3 November 1917 on the initiative of WA Stanton, a Christian evangelist based in Kurnool during World War I. Stanton contacted his friend Ackerman Coles, a doctor in the USA, to solicitfunds for its construction. Interestingly Coles never visited Kurnool,or even India-he was only vicariously responsible for the building of the church.

Photos

How to Reach

The closest airport near is in Hyderabad. 

Kurnool is the nearest train station.

Coles Centennial Church is well connected by Kurnool.

Best time to visit

Highlights

Oravakallu Rock Garden: Oravakallu Rock Garden, Millions of years of wind and water erosion have chiselled the hillocks around Oravakallu, resulting in a beautiful array of shapes and formations.

Gol Gumbadh: Built around 1620A0, Gol Gumbadh is the mausoleum of Abdul Wahab Khan, the first Nawab of Kurnool who owed allegiance to the Bijapur Kingdom.

Jagannatha Gattu: As you head south of Kurnool, you will come across a long, narrow strip of hill that has a remarkably gentle incline.

Mahanandi: The most remarkable thing about the shrine at Mahanandi is its temple tank, which is perhaps the cleanest in all of India.

Ahobilam: Amidst the lush verdure of Nallamala Hills stands an important Vaishnava centre known as Ahobilam, which was founded in the early 16th century.