Kota [Rajasthan]

Kota lies on the eastern bank of the Chambal River,Kota was once the part of the erstwhile Rajput kingdom of Bundi. It became a separate princely state in the 17th century. Apart from the several monuments that reflect the erstwhile glory of the town, Kota is also known for its palaces and gardens.

Kota an amazing example of majestic medieval age and modern industrialization. Its wealth of impressive forts, opulent palaces and splendid temples of past centuries retain their former glory. Its present-day edifices and heavy industries have made it the industrial heartland of Rajasthan.

Loctaion
Kota is located in the southern part of the state of Rajasthan, in the northwestern part of India. It is located on the eastern bank of Chambal River and is drained by its tributaries. Kota is on a high sloping tableland forming a part of the Malwa Plateau. The Mokandarra hills run from southeast to northwest axis of the town. It is 36 km from Bundi. Summers are quite hot (April–June) while winters are cool (October–February). It experiences scant rainfall between June and Augus

History Of Kota
The history of Kota is linked with the history of Bundi. Both Bundi and Kota came under the rule of the Chauhans in the 12th century. The descendents of the Chauhans set up their capital at Bundi and ruled from here. While Bundi was the capital, Kota formed the land granted to the eldest son of the ruler. This arrangement continued until 1624. In 1624, Emperor Jahangir, the great Mughal ruler, partitioned Bundi and made Kota an independent state. Rao Madho Singh, son of the ruler of Bundi, ascended the throne of Kota. It became a part of the British Empire in 1818 and later became a part of the Indian state of Rajasthan, when it gained independence in 1947.

Places Of Interest (Kota)

Brijraj Bhawan Palace
Brijraj Bhawan, a colonial style palace, situated on the bank of river Chambal, was build in the early nineties. The palace has large spacious rooms that are tastefully done up with antique furniture. An intresting feature of the palace is the fact that almost all the rooms overlook the Chambal river providing an arrresting view of the mighty river.

Umed Bhawan Palace
Umed Bhawan is one of the most beautiful palaces of Kota. Built in 1009 by Maharao Umed Singh II of Kota. This palace was designed by Sir Swinton Jacob who spent many years in Rajasthan. The overall design of the palace is European. There is an Edwardian drawing room, a billiard room and a very well laid out garden surrounding the palace.There are long corridors, courtyard and Italian marble floors.

Chambel Garden
The lush green garden at Amar Niwas makes a lovely picnic spot. While absorbing the ambience of the place one can enjoy a boat ride.

Maharao Madho Singh Museum
Situated in the old palace, it houses a rich collection of Rajput paintings of the Kota school, exquisite sculptures and other valuable antiques. The museum is the treasure house of artistic items used by the rulers of kota.

Nearby Places (Kota)

Baroli
On the way to Pratap Sagar Dam, lies one of the oldest and most spectacular temple complex in Rajasthan belonging to the 9th century. It is built a little before the classical period of temple building. The craftsmanship of the temples is stunning. There are many other interesting shrines that can be visited here.

Bhanddeora Temple (Ramgarh)
It is built in the 11th & 12th centuries. This temple is called the ' Khajuraho of Rajasthan '. The best way to reach the temple is by a jeep.

Visiting Time
The best time to visit Kota is between the months of October and February, but one may also visit it in October, when the Dussehra festival is celebrated here.

Fairs and Festivals
Dussehra, an important festival of the Hindus commemorating the victory of good over evil, is celebrated in Kota like other parts of India with great fervor. The specialty of Dussehra in Kota is the Dussehra Mela celebrated in the month of October.

Travel Information (Kota)

By Bus : There are several express buses from Kota to Ajmer, Jaipur, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Jodhpur and Bikaner.
By Train : There are many trains operating from Kota to Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur.

STD code : 0744 (Kota)