| FACTS
& FIGURES
Population : 640,000
Languages : Rajasthani and Hindi
Best Time to Visit : Winters
STD Codes : 0744
THE TOWN
The town of 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.
LOCATION
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 August.
THE PAST
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.
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.
TOURIST SPOTS
There are a number of interesting places
to be visit in Kota. The city fort and palace, one of
its main attractions, is located on the eastern banks
of the Chambal River, near the Kota Barrage. This type
of fort-palace complex is one of the largest to be found
in the state of Rajasthan. The museum within the city
palace is worth visiting, as it houses a good collection
of artifacts. Kishore Sagar tank, built in 1346, located
near the palace is an important tourist attraction.
The little Jagmandir palace, built on a small island
at the center of this tank by one of the local rulers
in 1740, is another place to visit. Adjacent to the
Kishore Sagar is the Brij Vilas Palace Museum, a small
government museum. Other tourist spots in Kota include
a number of gardens. The Chambal gardens and the Chhattar
Bilas gardens are the main ones to be visited. Chhattar
Bilas gardens has a number of royal cenotaphs.
SITES NEARBY
The town of Bundi is 36 km from Kota
and was the capital of one of the erstwhile Rajput princely
states. A number of monuments are to be found in Bundi.
Baroli, 56 km southwest of Kota, is known for its ancient
temples. These temples date back to the 9th century
and are some of the oldest temples to be found in the
state of Rajasthan.
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.
HOW TO REACH
Kota does not have an airport of its
own. 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. Trains to Madhopur take
about 2½ hours. There is a daily train for Chittorgarh
via Bundi, from Kota. The journey to Bundi takes about
1½ hour, while it takes 5 hours to reach Chittorgarh
from Kota. The trip to Jaipur takes about 5 hours, while
it takes 10 hours to reach Delhi from Kota. 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). Buses leave for Bundi
every half an hour and the travel time is 50 minutes.
To move within the city, travelers can either use auto-rickshaws
or cycle-rickshaws. Minibuses link the main bus station
with the railway station.
PLACES TO STAY
Budget hotels are few in Kota. Most
of the accommodation available here is mid range. One
can also find erstwhile palaces converted into hotels
here. Umaid Bhavan Palace and Brijraj Bhavan Palace
are two such hotels. Most of the important hotels in
Kota are located on or around the Station Road.
PLACES TO EAT
Kota does not offer any special cuisine
to the traveler, but one can try food at the restaurants
and hotels within the town. For cheap snacks, there
are several eating joints on the Station Road.
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