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KOTA, INDIA
Along
the eastern bank of the Chambal River lies Kota - an
amazing juxtaposition of the majestic medieval age and
modern industrialisation temples its untouched wealth of
impressive forts, opulent palaces and splendid temples
dating back over several centuries retain the past glory,
the present day edifices and heavy industries have made it
the industrial heartland of Rajasthan.
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.
Prime Site :
Chambal
Garden
A beautifully landscaped
garden at the Amar Niwas. Its lush surroundings make it a
popular picnic spot offering enjoyable boar rides.
Maharao
Madho Singh Museum
Situated in the old
palace, the museum has a superb collelction of Rajput
miniature paintings of the Kota school,exquisite
sculptures,frescoes and armoury. The museum also houses a
rich repository of artistic items used by the Kota rulers.
The
Government Museum
Housed in the Brijvilas
Palace near the Kishore Sagar, the museum displays a rich
collection of rare coins,manuscripts and a representative
selection of Hadoti sculpture.Especially noteworthy is an
exquisitely sculptured statue brought here from Baroli.
Timings: 1000 hrs to 1700 hrs.
Closed on
every Friday and Government holidays. Photography is
prohibited. A prior permission has to be obtained from the
Director of Archaeology and Museums,Jaipur.
Jag Mandir
Amid the picturesque
artificial lake of Kishore Sagar constructed in 1346 AD by
Prince Dher Deh of Bundi, stands the enchanting little
palace of Jag Mandir. The azure waters around the
red-sandstone monument enhances its beauty.Boat-rides can be
enjoyed in the lake. The Keshar Bagh famous for its royal
cenotaphs lies in the vicinity.
Haveli of
Devtaji
The beautiful Haveli of
Devta Shridharji is located in the middle of the busy
market. The haveli is noted for its splendid frescoes and
rooms ornate with lovely wall paintings.
Kota
Barrage
A part of the irrigation
canal system on the Chambal River,this beautiful setting is
ideal for outings and evening strolls.
Other
Places worth visiting
Excursions :
Baroli
(48 kms):
On the way to Pratap Sagar Dam lies one of the oldest and
most spectacular temple complexes in Rajasthan belonging to
the 9th century AD. It was built a little before the
classical period of temple building. The craftsmanship seen
here is stunning. The intricate carvings and an exquisite
image of Natraja (Shiva)- the cosmic dancer on the door of
the mandap, offer fine examples of craftsmanship. Many
interesting shrines also lie close by.
Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary (50 km) :
An erstwhile royal hunting preserve, it is a thickly wooded
sanctuary that lies along the south-eastern border of Kota
adjacent to the mountain range. The wildlife variety
includes panther spotted deer, tiger, wildboar and bear.
Bhainsrodgarh (50-55km.) :
Bhainsrodgarh Fort lies on the right bank of the Chambal
River and a village lies within the fort. The fort is set
amidst scenic surroundings. An ancient temple of Gopi nath
Mahadev on the way is an idyllic picnic spot.
Sitahari (120 km) :
A pictureque picnic spot, situated near the village of
Kelwara in the Baran district on the way to Kota -Shiv Purl.
The old temples of Sita, Laxman and seven water tanks are
worth a visit. The place is the venue of a tribal fair held
in May-June every year.
Shergarh:
(125kms) Situated near Atru village in Baran
district, the fort of Shergarh is an inportant monument.
How to Get there
By Air :
Kota is connected by air. Jaipur, 245 km away is the other
convenient airport.
By Rail :
Lying on the Delhi-Mumbai route, Kota is well served by
regular super fast rail services.
Some important train connections are :
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Golden Temple Express (Mumbai- Kota-Amritsar);
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Rajdhani Express (Mumbai-Kota-New Delhi);
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Dehradun Express (Mumbai-Kota-Dehradun);
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Paschim Express (New Delhi-Kota-Mumbai);
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Avadh Express (Mumbai-Kota-Gorakhpur);
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Swaraj Express (Mumbai-Kota-New Delhi)
By Road :
Good network of road connections link Kota with many
important cities inside and outside the state.
Some notable distances are : Udaipur 270 km, Bundi 40 km,
Delhi 504 km, Udaipur 270 km, Ahmedabad 522 km.
Local Transport:
Un-metered taxis, auto-rickshaws, tempos, cycle rickshaws.
Hospitals In Kota:- Maharao
Bhim Singh Hospital Tel.no. :-323261
Club :-Umed Club
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Where
to stay |
Kota provides a wide range
of hotels options varying from high end heritage hotels
to lower end budget accommodations.
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Hotels Information |
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