During this unprecedented time when there is a lockdown across the country due to the spread out of the Coronavirus, and staying at home staying safe is the first and foremost thing to do at the moment, we brought to you a series ‘Stay Safe, Travel Later’. This will give you the desired information about the most popular destinations of the country where you can travel later when the situation gets normalize.
Kota is the third largest city and one of the popular tourist destinations in the state of Rajasthan. Situated on the banks of the Chambal River, the City of Kota is famous for its distinctive style of paintings, palaces, museums and places of worship. The city is known for Gold Jewellery, Doria Sarees, Silk Sarees and the famous Kota Stone.
Kota boasts a number of tourist attractions be it nature, culture, heritage or wildlife the city has huge potential to attract travellers of all age. Despite being on the priority list of the people of surrounding cities such as Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bundi and Sawai Madhopur from where a large number of tourist visits on regular basis, the City of Kota is still lacking in attracting a large chunk of travellers from various places of India. So in an attempt to promote the destination Whereabouts brings more information on what to see and where to stay while travelling to
the city.
Garadia Mahadev Temple: Garadia Mahadev Temple is a noted shrine of Kota, located near the Chambal River. It is located near NH-76 that leads to Dabi and Chittorgarh. If you are someone who enjoys spectacular views, then this place doesn’t disappoint. It provides one of the most mesmerising views you can hope to find of the Chambal River, gorge and the plains.
The shrine can be reached by descending a few steps where you can pay your respects to Lord Shiva. The place is a tad remote and isolated from regular tourist hotspots but is worth the journey you have to make. Most people recount being stunned by the sheer beauty and memorable view. Thanks to the privacy and view it affords, this spot is quite popular as a picnic destination.
Nature lovers can sit here for hours, absorbing its tranquility and pristine beauty. Budding poets, writers and artists can count on being inspired by the still, blue waters and surrounding wilderness. If peace, blessings, nature’s splendour and privacy is what you’re looking for, you won’t find a better place than this.
Garh Palace/ City Palace:The foremost tourist attraction in Kota is the ‘Garh’. This large complex, also known as the City Palace, is built in a predominantly Rajput style of architecture. The palace is a sprawling complex of suites and apartments built by different rulers of the Rajput dynasty at different times in history. There is a museum inside the palace which gives a lot of information about the rulers of the city.
Khade Ganesh Ji Temple:The Ganesh temple is situated in the southern part of the city. What makes this temple unique is that this is the only temple in India that has a standing idol of Ganesh. One can also visit Rangbadi Balaji temple on the way there.
Mukundara Tiger Reserve: The Mukundara Tiger Reserve is 50kms from Kota. Tigers are often relocated here from Ranthambore Reserve. It has a core area of 417 square kms and a buffer zone covering 342.82 square kms. Other wildlife includes panther, deer, wild boar and bear. This thickly wooded area is home to a large variety of birds as well.
Seven Wonder Park: The Seven Wonder Park a Rs. 20 crores worth project developed along the Kishore Sagar Lake at Vallabh Bari in Kota is a must visit place. The park boasts beautiful replicas of Seven Wonders of the World which includes The Colosseum, The Pyramid of Giza, The Taj Mahal, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty and The Christ The Redeemer. Evening or late night is the best time to visit the park as the replicas looks beautiful in the lighting and the weather also turn pleasant rather than the heat of the daytime.
Abheda Mahal
Located 8 kms away from Kota, on the banks of a tank, this medieval palace was the recreation spot of the rulers of Kota. It is where they went to enjoy the wildlife and natural beauty of the region. Close to Abheda Mahal is the temple of Karni Mata, the reigning deity of Kota.
Gaiparnath Temple
Gaiparnath is a lovely big chasm with an old Shiva temple set in a deep gorge with a spectacular view of the ruggedly beautiful forests and cliffs of the Chambal valley. The pleasant sound of gushing water from the Gaiparnath waterfall near the temple, set against a picturesque canvas of a green landscape make it an idyllic and beautiful spot to visit.
Accommodation
Located on the prominent Bundi Road, in the heart of the city, Clarks Premier Kota boasts of 75 tastefully appointed rooms across different categories to suite every need. The hotel offers 27 Deluxe and 12 Executive categories rooms. There are 12 Suites and another 24 as Studio rooms with separate living area and a kitchenette to cater to bigger space requirement of guests.
Clarks Premier Kota offers a wide array of world-class facility and services. Hotel’s state-of-the-art conference hall can accommodate up to 120 people. It’s F&B offerings are second to none in the city with 86-cover multi-cuisine vegetarian restaurant Bridge and 80-cover multi-cuisine roof top restaurant Aasma as well as Illusion, a 70-cover lounge bar to relax and unwind after a day of hectic business.
Other guest facilities include state-of-the-art health centre, swimming pool, city’s landmark discotheque, high-speed internet, free Wifi, eco-friendly toiletries, travel desk and more.
History of Kota: The history of Kota dates back to the 12th century when Rao Deva conquered the territory and founded Hadoti. The independent Rajput state of Kota was carved out of Bundi in 1631. The kingdom of Kota had a turbulent history as it was raided by various Mughal rulers, Maharajas of Jaipur and even the Maratha warlords. The city of Kota is well known all over the world for its architectural splendour comprising beautiful palaces, temples and museums which exhibit the grandeur of the foregone era.
Reaching Kota
Flight: The nearest airports are Sanganer airport in Jaipur which is 244 kms away
Train: Kota is a major junction in the Western Railway sector, on the Delhi-Mumbai line. Most trains pass through Kota.
Bus/Car: Regular buses are available to Kota from all cities and towns in Rajasthan.
