Kota is one of the districts of Rajasthan, a state in western India. The Kota city is the administrative headquarters of the district. It shares borders with Bundi District in the north, Baran District on the east, Jhalawar District on the south and Chittorgarh district on the west. The city is famous for its IIT JEE preparation and is now the hub of educational institutions. Kota is one the  Asia's biggest manufacturer of fertiliser. Kota was formerly known as Kotah. The district is located 240 kilometers south of state capital, Jaipur. Kota is situated on the banks of Chambal river and  is the trade centre for several agricultural products which includes millet, wheat, rice, pulses, coriander and oilseeds are grown. Various industries such as cotton and oilseed milling, textile weaving, distilling, dairying, manufacture of metal handcrafts, fertilizers, chemicals and engineering equipment area located in the district.

These days, historical places and temples are getting surrounded with signs of modern development. The Mokandarra hills extends from southeast to northwest end of the town and Kota is on a high sloping table and forming a part of the Malwa Plateau. Situated at 36 km away from Bundi, the town of Kota was once the part of the former Rajput kingdom of Bundi. It became a separate princely state in the 17th century. Several monuments of Kota reflects the erstwhile glory of the town. Kota is also famous for its palaces and gardens. Kota has very fertile land and is also famous for its greenery with irrigation facilities through canals. Kota is one of the industrial centres in northern India, with chemical, engineering and power plants situated there. The railway junction lies 4.8 km to the north.

Kota History

The history of Kota dates back to the 12th century A.D. when the Hada, the chief of Chauhan Rajput, Rao Deva, won the territory and founded Bundi and Hadoti. Later, in the early 17th century AD during  the of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, the ruler of Bundi - Rao Ratan Singh, gave the smaller province of Kota to his son, Madho Singh. Since then, Kota became a hallmark of the Rajput royality and its culture.

Kota state got its independence in 1631 when Rao Madho Singhal, the second son of Rao Ratan of Bundi was made the ruler, by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. After this incidence, the parent state of Kota quickly outgrew to become bigger in area, richer in revenue and more powerful. Maharao Bhim Singh held a 'Mansab' of five thousand and thus played a pivotal role in Kota's history, being the first in his dynasty to have the title of Maharao. During colonial period, a famous social activist Guru Radha Kishan organised the people against the government policies. When he came to know about the arrest warrant issued against him for his participation in Indian Independence activities from the local administration of Kota, he left the city. In 1579,Bundi state in Hadoti region had become weak and Kota city became independent. That  Kota territory is now known as Kota district and Baran district.

Kota Climate

Due to its proximity to the Tropic of Cancer, the city has a tropical climate with extremely hot summers. The summer season in Kota starts from April and continues till October. Sometimes it may extend till November. The average temperature in the daytime in the months of May- June remains above 40 C.

Winters are comparatively mild with average temperatures being in the range of 26.7 C to 7 C. The average annual rainfall in the Kota district is 885.6 mm. Most of the rainfall can be credited to the southwest monsoon which has its beginning around the last week of May or beginning of June and may last till mid-September. Pre-monsoon shower begins around in middle of June with post-monsoon rains occasionally occurring in October. The winter is mostly dry, although some rainfall does occur due to the Western Disturbance passing over the region.

Kota Tourism

Tourist places in Kota
Magic along the mighty Chambal
Prime Sites:
Chambal Garden
Maharao Madho Singh museum
The government museum
Jag Mandir
Haveli of Devtaji
Kota barrage
Kansua temple with a four faced Shiva lingam,
Bhitria Kund
Adhar-shila
Budh Singh Bafna haveli
Yatayat park
Haryali water park
Godavari dham mandir