Headquarters: Nandyal. This inland district includes Nallamala-side terrain and valleys near the Krishna basin. Locate this district first in relation to the coast, the Godavari or Krishna corridors, the Eastern Ghats or the Rayalaseema plateau. These physical belts often reveal why a crop, port, reservoir or pilgrimage place appears in a district question. Read the number on the accompanying current-boundary map before memorising a headquarters. A town name on a pre-2022 map can remain correct geographically but lead to the wrong present-district option.
Exam anchor: Srisailam and Mahanandi are high-yield pilgrimage-geography associations; the Krishna's gorge setting matters for Srisailam dam. This is a place-to-theme association, not a claim that every landmark in the surrounding region belongs inside the district. Keep a separate column for a river or landscape, a site or activity, and the administrative headquarters. In a map question, begin at the state outline, narrow to the regional belt, and only then select the district polygon. The order is more dependable than recognising a familiar town name in isolation.
Boundary and date caution: Srisailam is both a temple town and a dam name. Do not equate the two institutions or use old Kurnool district counts unchanged. District-level population, area, output and mandal totals are especially sensitive to reorganisation. An exact figure should carry its reference year and boundary vintage; this book does not silently attach an old census total to a new polygon. If the stem quotes an older notification, answer for that date. If it asks for the current district, use the 2026 map and official district portal.
Worked example: Nandyal is a current district with a separate headquarters. Belum Caves and Nallamala-linked destinations can help place its broader area, but a tourism route may cross district boundaries. If an old Kurnool booklet includes Nandyal, date it before applying the label. Natural cave geography and administrative headquarters are separate exam facts.
Active recall: Name the headquarters of Nandyal; place it on the map; give one physical-geography anchor and explain the dated boundary trap above.