Tourist Attractions in Kota

Kota is one of the important cities of Rajasthan and also the industrial capital of the state. There are many places in Kota that are worth a visit. Places of tourist attractions in Kota comprise of Jagmandir Palace, Haveli of Deaji, Rao Madho Singh Museum, Kota Barrage, City Fort and Palace, Rana Pratap Sagar Dam and the beautiful Chambal Gardens among many more. Kota is counted among the important historical cities of northern India. This historical city was once included within the empire of the Rajput kingdom of Bundi.

In the year 1624, Kota got the status of an independent state. This happened when Mughal emperor Jehangir defeated the rulers of Kota. Kota is popular as a tourist destination all over the world due to its architectural magnificence which constitutes of beautiful forts, palaces, gardens, temples, museums. This architectural inheritance exhibits the opulence of the bygone era.

Kota reflects the rich heritage in the form of a striking collection of Stone Idols in the Raj Mahal, adorned with glass work which is gold stained on the walls, silver mirror work on ceilings and the marvelous paintings on walls.

Kota as a Shopping Attraction

Considered as the commercial capital of Rajasthan, Kota is ornamented with plenteous of additional beauty which includes fountains, waterfalls, palaces, gardens and forts. Read more about shopping here

Monumental Attraction of Kota

What preserves the glory of the rulers of the area are the intact wealth of remarkable forts, magnificent palaces and beautiful temples that date back to over several centuries. These temples were conquered by Rao Deva the Hada chieftain. 

It was during the rule of the Emperor Jahangir that ruler Rao Ratan Singh gifted this particular territory to his son Madho Singh. The state of Kota reflects its rich cultural heritage in the form of a magnificent collection of stone idols in the Raj Mahal.

Tourists who come to Kota often visit many other places of interested that are located nearby. Some of them are, Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary which is located at a distance of 50 kms from the city, Nahargarh Fort at a distance of 145 km, Bundi 35 kms, Nawal Sagar, Jhalwar, Bhawani Natya Shala etc.

The beautiful city of Kota in Rajasthan is famous for various religious monuments, palaces and forts which draw tourists from all over the world. Most of the monuments are celebrated for their stunning architectural splendor. While on vacation to Kota, tourists can take pleasure of the essence of the customary Rajput way of life that still have been retained in some corners of the city till date.

Haveli of Devtaji in Kota 

The Haveli of Devtaji in Kota is not just simply an impressive palace; it is also an appealing monument for its major historical importance. The Haveli of Devtaji stands witness to the prosperous past of the Rajputs in the region. 

The exquisiteness of this citadel lies mostly in the incredible frescos. These murals display the miscellany of the marvelous tradition of the Rajputs, in which the palace had an important part to play.

A major characteristic feature of most of the palaces in Rajasthan is the existence of a huge number of rooms. The Haveli of Devtaji also follows the same trend. All rooms in this palace are adorned with splendid paintings which say much about the past.

The paintings hanging from the walls of the Haveli allows the visitors to steal a glimpse of the olden glory of the land where the brave Rajputs traded.  

Miniature paintings of forests and hunting scenes stand witness to the royal and aristocratic indulgence in wild sports. The Haveli of Devtaji marks the rich taste of the Rajput rulers and tells much about the pomp and the grandeur that the royalty enjoyed in the bygone days.

Brij Raj Bhavan Palace in Kota

The Brij Raj Bhavan Palace of the previous princely family of Kota, has been converted into a heritage hotel during the 1980’s. The palace which is as old as 183 years, is situated on the river bank of Chambal River. 

It was constructed in 1830 A.D. as a British Residency. However, later in 1900 A.D. It became the State guesthouse of Kota. The palace has seen many VVIP's including Kings and Queens, Viceroys, and Prime Ministers.

To name some noted personalities, in 1903, Lord Curzon visited the palace, and in the year 1911, Queen Mary of England spent a few days here during her visit to India. In 1971, Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi visited the palace which is now a heritage Hotel. It is also the dwelling of Maharao Brijraj Singh and his family.

The palace is built in a splendid colonial style and offers a magnificent view of the Chambal River. The rooms are spacious and are furnished with elegant furniture. The drawing and the dining room has a dazzling appearance and reflects the touch of the royal family. 

The rooms are air-conditioned and have attached bathrooms. They have all the mode amenities and are equipped with colour television and telephones. The lush green and well maintained lawns, beautiful terraced gardens, plenty of trees and a variety of birds add on to the magnificence of the palace.

Brij Raj Bhawan Palace is a splendid heritage hotel which serves and satisfies a range of taste buds. The hotel caters for Chinese, Continental and Indian Cuisine which include a number of specialities of Hadaoti region. The food here is cooked under the special supervision of the royal family so that the legacy and the taste are maintained.

The Akh-Ade-ka-Mahal

The Akh-Ade-Ka- Mahal was an addition to the west of the inner court of the Kota fort between 1723 and 1756.It was later expanded and recast sometime between 1888 and 1940. The famous Hawa Mahal was the next to be added to the entrance of the fort in 1864. It is built on the line of the famous facade of Jaipur.

The Mahal displays the insignia royalty of the state. Besides there is the living quarter of the royalty known as Badal Mahal which showcases the glory of Rajput royalty. Moreover, the paintings of belonging to a range of schools of different periods which are set in glass on the walls are worth a look.

Bhanddeora Temple in Kota

The Bhanddeora temple is situated at about 110 km from Kota. It is at times called the "Khajuraho of Rajasthan". This temple is considered to be an important religious spot of Kota. The temple was constructed sometime between the 11th and the 12th century.

The Bhanddeora Temple is situated on top of the Ramgarh Hill and offers a fantastic view of the extensive city that lies below. The temple is regularly visited by numerous tourists who enjoy the serenity and the ancient architecture.

A trip to the Bhanddeora Temple from Kota would include a jeep trek. Hired cars are easily available from the city of Kota which takes tourists to this famous temple. The carvings on the temple attract tourists. 

The temple was previously a prominent place of worship for the people of the hamlets who lived close on the foothills of the Ramgarh Hill.

The temple has gained popularity as a as a tourist destination as it is easily accessible from Kota. The jeep ride from Kota to Bhanddeora Temple allows the tourist to enjoy an exciting journey through the unique sandy roads with scant vegetation of the desert state.

Wildlife Attraction in Kota

A visit from Kota to Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary is a 50 km journey from the city. This wildlife sanctuary was previously a well-known hunting ground for the royal families of the region. Tigers and deer were the main game for hunting.

Over time the area covering the forest and also the wildlife has depleted. However the tourists have a good chance of spotting a variety of deer and the antelopes which still inhabit the region.

This region also holds some historic value. This area was also used by quite a few martial dynasties as a pass for traveling to Madhya Pradesh.

The name given to the forest, ‘Darrah’ is inferred as the 'pass' in the local language. It reveals the purpose which was served earlier by the region. The Rajputs, Marathas and the British, all used the fitting location of the forest to take refuge during wars.

At present the Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary stretches over 250 square kilometres. Animals like the panthers, sambhars, bears, leopards and wild boars still inhabit the forest. While visiting the Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary from Kota one would need to take permission from the local forest ranger or the district forest officer in Kota.

Archeological Attraction in Kota

When one travels as far as Kota it is also advised to travel further 110kms to Garhgachh. This place contains the red stone temples which are now on the verge of ruins. These ancient temple structures are testimony to the richness of creativity and structural design with was present in the earlier times.

Though the temples now stand in a dilapidated condition it still oozes the glory which it portrayed when it was built. The temples found in this region were built sometime between the 9th and the 13th century. The extraordinary feature of the temples is the red stone. The red appearance of the temples has a mesmerizing effect on the tourists. The tourists have options to travel to by jeeps or private cars from the city of Kota to reach this place.

Other than these places the tourists also have options of wondering through the mighty sand dunes and enjoy the bumpy camel ride. A visit to nearby villages could be interesting too, as the tourists can get a chance to hand pick many Rajasthani handicrafts which are otherwise quite difficult to lay hands on. When in Kota the tourists will never be bored and  will have plenty of options to choose from to keep themselves amused.