Kota Tourism - The City of Miniature Paintings, Saris, Higher Education and Kota Stone

Kota, Also Called The Education City, Is Famous For Kota Style Of Miniature Painting, Kota Saris And Kota Stone, Situated On The Banks Of Chambal River, Kota Is A Royal City Of Rajasthan With A Rich Heritage Over 800 Years Old.

Kota, also sometimes called Kotah, is famous for many things; its rich royal heritage going back 800 hundred years being just one of them. A sprawling city situated on the banks of River Chambal in Rajasthan, Kota has existed at least since the 12th century. Ruled by various powerful dynasties over the centuries, its culture and heritage shows all the diverse influences on the state of Rajasthan, including Rajput, Mughal and British.

There is plenty to see and do in Kota for the tourist. Opulent palaces, impressive forts, riverside gardens, and serene temples all add to the tourist wealth of this city. The Chambal Garden located on the riverside is a beautifully landscaped garden in the Amar Niwas. Maharao Madho Singh Museum in the old palace, the Government Museum in the Brijvilas Palace, the Kishore Sagar Lake (a man made lake constructed in 1346 AD) and the Jag Mandir Palace, a red stone beauty standing in the lake are all well worth a visit. A hot attraction in Kota is its Dusshehra Fair.

Kota's distinctive paintings are calligraphic and have spontaneity about them. They are influenced by both Rajput and Mughal styles. They emphasize the double lidded eye, and are recognized for remarkable shading. Kota Sari is a unique product of this region, made from fine translucent muslin and is popularly known as Kota Doria.

Kota is also famous for its Kota stone, a type of tough fine grained limestone that comes in numerous shades. In recent times, Kota has become famous for coaching institutes that prepare students for education in universities and have an amazing success rate of admissions.

Bundi and Kota are twin cities, barely a short distance of 36 kilometres away that takes about 40 minutes of travel. Tourists can easily cover both at the same time, by making a base in one of the two places. Both Bundi and Kota have excellent quality of hotels available including heritage properties. Bundi and Kota are a part of the Hadoti circuit, so called as they were settlements of Hada rulers.

Shopping In Kota

Steeped in rich cultural heritage, Kota has classy shopping items to offer to tourists. The bazaars of Kota are spilled with various beautiful arts and crafts, which  mesmerize tourists to the hilt. Kota Doria Saris are synonymous with Kota. Beautifully weaved with cotton and silk threads, the saris are famous with tourists. The miniature paintings of Kota are truly a must-buy souvenir. You can also buy some captivating potteries and stone crafts.

Accommodation In Kota

Impressing guests with their royal ambiance and state-of-the-art facilities, the heritage hotels in Kota deserve special mention when it comes to accommodation options. Some of the known heritage hotels in Kota are Hotel Brijraj Bhawan Palace, Hotel Palkiya Haveli and Sukhdham Kothi. Hotels falling into budget categories are also available in Kota.

How To Reach

By Air: The domestic airport at Kota connects it to the main cities of Rajasthan and other major cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Bundi.

By Rail: The railway station at Kota connects it to the main cities of the country.

By Road: Kota is well linked to the major cities of the country by road.