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Kota
An amazing,
juxtaposition of majestic medieval age and modern
industrialization, mainly the Hydro Electric Plant on the Chambal
River and
the Nuclear Power Plant has a few traces of its past still left.
The fort overlooking the river Chambal is the foremost
tourist attraction. It also houses the museum with a rich
collection of art and artefacts and some elaborately
painted chambers.
 Earlier it was a part of
Bundi state, but later it grew to be a bigger state.
What retains the past glory are the untouched wealth of
impressive forts, opulent palaces and temples
dating back over several centuries. These temples were conquered by the Hada
chieftain Rao Deva. It was at the time of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir that Rao Ratan Singh gifted this
territory to his son Madho Singh. The Kota state
reflects in the form of a beautiful collection of
Stone Idols (murties) in the Raj Mahal, embellished with
gold stained glass work on the walls, the silver mirror work on
ceilings and the marvelous wall paintings.
The Akh-Ade-ka-Mahal
displays the regalia and paraphermedia of the state. Besides there is, Badal Mahal (the private living quarter)
with the Kota Miniature show casing into beauty. The
paintings of various schools of periods set in glass on
the walls, the ladies interactions echo in the Zanana
Mahal worth a look.
Other edifices of the by gone
era are depicted in Brij Raj Bhawan Palace, the Jag Mandir an
Island Palace and a splendid haveli (mansion) with beautiful
frescos and royal cenotaphs. Kota today is well known for its
dams and famous Kota Saris, woven in the nearby village
Kaithoon, these are made of cotton silk in an assortment of
colours, and delicate golden thread. Miniature paintings of
the hunting scenes, portrays the forest, while attracted many
of the royals and aristocrats who passionately indulged in
this wild sport, announcing Kota as the Magic along the Chambal river.
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