KOTA

Kota is situated at a center of the southeastern region of Rajasthan a very region widely known as Hadaoli the land of the Hadas. Kota lies along the banks of the Chambal river. the historical places and temples are getting surrounded with signs of modern development. . 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.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.Once you drop in Kota, straight away head for the biggest attraction here, the City Palace. The present structure is the result of constructions carried out by different rulers at different stages without any predefined plan. So, one sees bastions and massive ramparts studded with elegant cupolas and carved balustrades where the Mogul elements of decoration are superimposed on Rajput structures. Do check out some beautiful colored glass and frescoes most of which depict Lord Krishna with the gopis.

History

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 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.

Places to see
Rao Madho Singh Ji Museum

This was formerly a palace and is named after the son of the ruler of Bundi who was made the first ruler of Kota State by the Mughal emperor Jehangir. The museum is closed on Fridays and state holidays. It gives a wonderful glimpse of the glory and history of the place with miniature paintings and ancient armory on display. 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.

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 arresting view of the mighty river.

Chambal Garden

You will certainly feel the change in the environment when you step in this beautiful garden. The lush green garden at Amar Niwas makes a lovely picnic spot and while experiencing the ambiance of the place, you can also enjoy a boat ride.

How to Reach
By Air : Jaipur is the nearest large airport through a local airline has flight to Jaipur from Kota.
By Rail: There are many trains operating from Kota to Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur.
By Road : Good network of road connections link Kota with many cities inside and outside the state. There are several buses from Kota to Ajmer, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Bikaner.