Kota is a fascinating mixture of
medieval grandeur and modern industrialisation. An impressive fort stands
like a sentinel over the present day Chambal Valley Project with its many
dams-Kota Barrage, Gandhi Sagar, Rana Pratap Sagar and Jawahar Sagar.
While an old palace, dating back to the time when Kota was part of the
Hada Rajput fiefdom Harawati or Hadoti overlooks the Kota Barrage on the
turbulent Chambal river.
The Hada chieftain, Rao Deva, conquered the territory in the 14th centtury and founded Bundi and Hadoti. Later, during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, at the beginning of the 17th century, Rao Ratan Singh, the ruler of Bundi, gave his son, Madho Singh, the smaller principality of Kota. In course of time Kota came to be regarded as a hallmark of Rajput power and culture.
Durbar Hall has mirror work, ebony and Ivory inlaid doors, and contains a wealth of Rajput miniatures of the Kota School. There are the royal cenotaphs, a haveli (stately home) with delicate frescoes, the Brijraj Bhawan Palace and an island palace-Jag Mandir-gracious remainders of a bygone age.
HOW TO GET THERE :
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Road : Good network of road connection links with many important cities in and outside the state. Some noteable distance are : Udaipur 270 km, Bundi 40 km, Delhi 504 km, Ahmedabad 522 km
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Air : Kota is connected by air. Jaipur 245 km is the other convenient airport.
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Rail : Lying on the Delhi - Bombay route, Kota is well served by regular superfast rail services.
Last modified: 26/02/2004