Kota

Kota is an important city in the state of Rajasthan and is known for its many industries and power plants. It is referred to as the industrial capital of the state. Asia’s largest fertiliser plant is in Kota. Its strategic location makes it an important trade centre between the neighbouring states of Delhi and Gujarat. The city is located on the banks of River Chambal making it a very fertile area ideal for cultivation of a variety of crops.

Being a city in Rajasthan, there are quite a few Rajput palaces and havelis in Kota, which highlight the Rajput style of architecture. The Jagmandir Palace, located in the centre of the Kishore Sagar Lake, is a beautiful artificial lake. The palace is a magnificent red sandstone monument and is a popular tourist site. The site can be reached via a boat ride across the lake. The Haveli of Devtaji is another popular tourist site and is home to some beautiful wall paintings.

There are quite a few places of worship in and around Kota, especially temples and gurudwaras. The Godavari Dham Temple is a famous Hanuman temple located on the banks of the Chambad River. Khare Ganesha Temple, Tirupati Balaji Temple and the Karneshwar Temple are other temples which are frequented by devotees. Agamgarh Saheb Gurudwara is a famous gurudwara in Kota.

Kota has two of the best museums – the Maharao Madho Singh Museum and the Government Museum. The Maharao Madho Singh Museum has a rare and extensive collection of Rajput paintings belonging to the Kota School of Arts, rare items of armoury and a range of sculptures. The Government Museum houses a collection of rare coins, old manuscripts and instances of Hadoti sculpture.

There are quite a few picnic spots in and around Kota which are ideal for day trips. The Chambal Garden on the banks of the Chambal River is one such spot. Kota is quite well known for its strong educational set-up and there are a number of engineering colleges and institutes here which has given it the tag of 'educational hub of Rajasthan'.

The weather in Kota is extreme with very hot summers. Winter is pleasant with moderate daytime temperatures and cool evenings and nights. The best time to visit Kota is the winter months of December to February.