Tourist Destinations of Rajasthan

Kota

About This Place

Kota - an amazing juxtaposition of the majestic medieval age and modern industrialisation temples its untouched wealth of impressive forts, opulent palaces and splendid temples.

The present day edifices and heavy industries have made it the industrial heartland of Rajasthan.

History of Kota
The history of the city dates back to the 12th century A.D. when the Hada Chieftain, Rao Deva, conquered the territory and founded Bundi and Hadoti. Later, in the early 17th century AD during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, the ruler of Bundi -Rao Ratan Singh, gave the smaller principality of Kota to his son, Madho Singh. Since then Kota became a hallmark of the Rajput gallantry and culture.

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.

Travel Information of Kota
By Air
Kota does not have an airport of its own. Kota railway station is located at the extreme northern end of the town. There is a small aerodrome, which is not operational. Nearest airport is Jaipur (240 km).

By Bus
The main bus station in Kota is located on Bundi Road near the eastern bank of the Chambal River. There is a good bus service from Kota to Ajmer (6 hours) , Chittorgarh (6 hours), Jaipur (6 hours), Udaipur (6 hours), Jodhpur (11 hours) and Bikaner (12 hours).

By Train
Kota railway station is located at the extreme northern end of the town. As Kota is on the main Delhi–Mumbai railway line via Sawai Madhopur, a number of trains pass through and stop here. The trip to Jaipur takes about 5 hours, while it takes 10 hours to reach Delhi from Kota.

Entertainment
The commanding fort stands overlooking the modern Chambal Valley Project with its many dams- Kota Barrage,Gandhi Sagar,Rana Pratap Sagar and Jawahar Sagar. An old palace,dating back to the time when Kota was under the control of Hada Chieftaincy-Hadoti faces the Kota Barrage. The Durbar Hall is ornate with beautiful mirror work and has ebony and ivory doors. Exquisite miniatures of the Kota school are housed within the Hall. Other noteworthy edifices of the bygone era are the Brij Raj Bhawan Palace, Jag Mandir-and island Palace, a splendid haveli (mandion) with beautiful frescoes and the royal cenotaphs.