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INTRODUCTION
Kota, which was once included in the
kingdom of Bundi is located on the banks of river Chambal in Rajasthan. Kota is
the 25th largest district in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan, which is
located 240 kilometers (149 mi) south of state capital, Jaipur. It has been
identified as a counter-magnet city for the National Capital Region to attract
migrants and develop as an alternative centre of growth to Delhi. It is 47th
most populous city of India. Being situated in the desert region, Kota
experiences a warm climate throughout the year barring the mild winter months.
It is a colourful town that offers
trading opportunities for agricultural products such as wheat, millet, variety
of pulses, oil seeds and coriander. It is well known for establishments that
boast of textile weaving and dyeing. This place is much known for its exquisite
saris, woven on silk and cotton with unique assortment of hues. Wedding apparel
dealers from all over India visit this place to collect exclusive merchandise
much of which has delicate designs with golden thread.
Apart from clothing, this stately city
also has an array of other things to offer which include indigenous metal
handicrafts and jewellery. Considered as a business centre for industries such
as textile weaving, oilseed milling, dairying, distilling, metal handcrafts,
chemicals, fertilizers and engineering equipments Kota is a city filled with
life and energy. With some amazing palaces and gardens Kota has its name listed
among the cities worth visiting in Rajasthan.
Kota District is a district which is
located in western part on India, Rajasthan. kota district is the head of
administrative headquarters. During the period around 12th century AD, Rao
Deva, a Hada Chieftain conquered the territory and founded Bundi and Hadoti.
In the early 17th century AD, during the reign
of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, the ruler of Bundi -Rao Ratan Singh, gave the
smaller principality of Kota to his son, Madho Singh. Since then Kota became a
hallmark of the Rajput gallantry and culture.
In Pre Independence days social activist Guru
Radha Kishan worked here along with other prominent freedom fighters and
organised people against insane policies of the government. He left Kota after
local administration came to know about the arrest warrant issued against him
for his activities for freedom movement.
The district is bounded on the north by
Bundi District, on the east by Baran District, on the south by Jhalawar
District, and on the west by Chittorgarh District. It is renowned for its IIT
JEE preparation as well as medical exams preparation. It is now the hub of
educational institutions and is home to Asia's biggest manufacturer of
fertilizer.
Further, Kota is surrounded by four
power stations within its 50 km radius. First is Rajasthan atomic power plant
which is an atomic power plant and is very near to Kota at a place called
Rawatbhata and is situated at a place called Rawatbhata in the Chittorgarh
District.
Second is Kota Thermal Power plant which
generates power from coal and is situated at the bank of Chambal river and is
within Kota city. Third is Anta Gas Power plant which generates power from gas
and is situated at a place called Anta in the Baran District. and the fourth is
Jawahar Sagar Power plant which is hydraulic power plant.
HISTORY
The history of Kota tells much about the
ancient culture and inheritance of the city. Being an important landmark of the
state of Rajasthan in India, Kota has a very enticing past. The city of Kota
earlier known as Kotah is situated on the eastern bank of the river Chambal.
It is located at a central point of the
south-eastern region of Rajasthan in India. Popularly this area is known as
Hadaoli or the land of the Hadas. The Hadas are an off shoot of the well known
Chauhan clan belonging to the Agnikula or the fire dynasty Rajputs.
They initially settled down in the rocky
regions of Mewar close to Bijolianat Bambaoda during the 12th century A.D but
soon spread their control over Bundi in 1241 and the region of Kota thereafter.
Various Phases of History about Kota:
The detailed history of Kota states that
the area was ruled by a Chieftain named Rao Deva of the Hada community.
Initially Kota formed a part of the Jagir of the Hada state of Bundi. Later it
got recognition as a separate state in seventeenth century. A ruler of Bundi
carved out Kota as a present for one of his favourite young princes, Rao Madho
Singh, for having proven his worth as courageous and a successful general at
the tender age of fourteen. In following years, the area of Kota came under the
rule of the leader of the Bhil community.
Till the initial years of 17th century
AD, the region around Kota was ruled by the brave ruler Rao Ratan Singh. In
1631 however Kota was passed on to the hands of Rao Madho Singh, the son of Rao
Ratan Singh by the erstwhile Mughal Emperor, Shahjahan. This was the juncture
when Kota was transformed into an independent state in Rajasthan of that time.
Later, one of the rulers down the line, Maharao Bhim Singh made significant
changes in the historic enhancement of Kota by creating Mansabs of five thousand
in the region.
Attacks by Various Rulers:
The rulers there after fought on behalf
of the Mughal emperors. In the war fought by Emperor Shah Jahan, against the
rebellious prince Aurangzeb, Rao Madho Singh's five sons lost their lives in
the battlefield.
The one, who barely escaped, survived
with almost fifty wounds wedged on him. Kota has a very complicated history
with a lot of twists and turns over the ages. It has faced dangers of attacks
over the centuries by different Mughal emperors as well as the rulers of Mewar
and Jaipur.
Not only that even the Maratha warlords and at
times their own neighbour Bundi threatened the existence of Kota. Rulers of
Kota over years of experience developed a deep sense of diplomacy.
The Rule of Zalim Singh:
During later years Kota saw a great
leader in Zalim Singh. He was a diplomat and a statesman and who has often been
called the 'Machiavelli of Rajwarra' as well as 'Talleyrand of North India'.
Beginning his career as a general with the army of Kota, he became a great name
in the kingdom as the then king expired leaving behind an infant son to be
placed the throne.
Zalim Singh then started his journey by
influencing the kingdom’s aggressive neighbourhood enemies by fighting and
playing them against each other. He was the one to have entirely reorganized
the kingdom, giving it a taste of modern administration. He also adopted the
contemporary European war tactics and weapons for its army and also created a
systematic revenue system which set a tax for everyone.
While bringing these changes he gathered
many enemies with in the kingdom. There were several occasions when people
attempted to kill him. In one such instance, he was set up by one of the queens
who staged an attacked through a group of armed ladies while in purdah palace.
Separate Kingdoms in Kota:
In the year 1817, under the leadership
of Zalim Singh, Kota was one of the very first Rajput states to have signed a
treaty with the British Raj. In the treaty however Zalim Singh included that a
separate kingdom would be carved out of the then existing Kota to be ruled by
his descendants. As a result in 1838, the new kingdom of Jalawar came into
existence. During the revolt of 1857 it is said that the troops in Kota joined
the revolt under the secret help of the ruler.
In 1947, during independence Kota a town
with its heritage buildings like the palaces and various public buildings, an
already existing modern administration as well as good civic amenities. As over
the centuries Kota has been under several influential dynasties of the bygone
era the cultural heritage and the social set-up of the city mirrors the rich
trail of those times.
Starting from the grand palaces, the
incredible waterways, the outstanding architecture of the forts Kota has a
store of far-fetched historic treasures to offer. Starting from 12th century AD
till date, Kota has walked a long way of eventful ride which has been decorated
with series of well noted historic events.
The population of Kota has grown
gradually with an influx from Punjab and with the growth of innumerable
industries locally. Not only does it have historical tales to offer but with
passage of precious time, Kota has proved to be a prominent zone for business
in the state.
CUISINE
The sprawling Kota city basking prettily
along the banks of the Chambal River represents a splendid amalgam of
architectural wonders manifested by the majestic palaces and crenulated forts
as well as urban industrial estates. Apart from the bustling industries, Kota
cuisine is another highlight of the Rajasthan city.
The city that is still alive with
telltale signs of the former Rajput gallantry and valor boasts of a delectable
platter of gastronomic delights for the true connoisseur of good food. While
the palace kitchens prepared a elaborate delicacies, the traditional Kota food
too was no less scrumptious.
Prepared in a land where water and fresh
green vegetables are a luxury and consumed by a warrior race, the
quintessential Kota food is devoid of all frills. Dire natural circumstances
mandated that the food could be eaten several days after its preparation
without being heated and at the same time retain its original flavour.
The dishes prepared usually have a deep
red color and exude a rich aroma that is certain to make a gourmand's taste
buds water with avarice and temptation. The food however, is not very spicy.
Pure and unadulterated ghee is an essential ingredient of majority of the Kota
cuisine. Lapsi, a sweetmeat prepared using broken wheat grains, delicately
fried in a sweetened lump of ghee is also highly popular. The onion kachori is
one of the famous breakfast delights of Kota, which is served with Saunth or
Imli sauce. Kota’s people also loved poha and Imrati in their snacking.
However the talking point of Kota food
is the simple yet delicious combination of the wholesome dal, bati and churma
meaning a platter of lentils, wheat balls and cereals. Sweet dishes and
desserts are also very popular in the region.
CLIMATE
Kota has a semi arid climate with high
temperatures throughout the year. Summers are long, hot and dry, starting in
late March and lasting till the end of June.
The temperatures average above 40 °C in
May and June and frequently exceed 45 °C with temperatures as high as 48.4 °C
also been recorded. The monsoon season follows with comparatively lower
temperatures, but higher humidity and frequent, torrential downpours. The
monsoons subside in October and temperatures rise again.
The brief, mild winter starts in late
November and lasts until the last week of February. Temperatures hover between
26.7 °C (max) to 12 °C (min). This can be considered the best time to visit
Kota because of intense heat in the summer.
The average annual rainfall in the Kota
district is 660.6 mm. Most of the rainfall can be attributed to the southwest
monsoon which has its beginning around the last week of June and may last till
mid-September.
Pre-monsoon showers begin towards the
middle of June with post-monsoon rains occasionally occurring in October. The
winter is largely dry, although some rainfall does occur as a result of the
Western Disturbance passing over the region.
GEOGRAPHY
Kota is located along the banks of the
Chambal River in the southern part of Rajasthan. It is the 3rd largest city of
Rajasthan after Jaipur and Jodhpur. The cartographic coordinates are 25.18°N
75.83°E.
The city of Kota is situated at a centre
of the southeastern region of Rajasthan a region very widely known as Hadoti,
the land of the Hadas. Kota lies along the banks of the Chambal River on a high
sloping tableland forming a part of the Malwa Plateau. Chambal is the principal
perennial river in the district. Its tributaries are Kalisindh, Parvan and
Parvati, which are all perennial in nature.
The general slope of city is towards the
north. The comparatively rocky, barren and elevated land in southern part of
city descends towards a plain agricultural land in the north. The Mokandarra
hills run from southeast to northwest axis of the town. The historical places
and temples are getting surrounded by signs of modern development.
It covers an area of 5217 km2. It has an
average elevation of 271 metres (889 ft). The district is bound on the north
and North West by Sawai Madhopur, Tonkand Bundi districts. The Chambal River
separates these districts from Kota district, forming the natural boundary.
Kota has fertile land and greenery with
irrigation facilities through canals. The two main canals; called as left main
canal (towards Bundi) and right main canal (towards Baran) originate from the
reservoir created by Kota Barrage. The tributaries of these canals make up a
network in the city and surrounding areas of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and
supplement the irrigation of these areas.
Physiographically, the district is characterized
by undulating topography with gentle plains. The land slopes from south to
north and is drained by the river Chambal and its tributaries. In the south
there is 145 km long Mumundra range of Vindhyan hills. The physiography is
rugged and the tributaries of Chambal River drain through undulating plains
which slope from SSE to NNW. The maximum height of the hills in the district is
517 m amsl at village Borabas, block Ladpura and minimum height is 207mamsl at
Khatoli in block Itawa.
TOURISM
Kota is the third largest city in the
North Indian state of Rajasthan after Jaipur and Jodhpur. This city lies in the
eastern bank of the Chambal River and it is popular for its content of medieval
history and modern age industrialization. Kota was once part of the Rajput
Kindom of Bundi and later on in the 17th century it became a separate state.
Apart from the several places of tourist
interests like monuments and forts, Kota is immensely famous for its parks and
gardens. Kota, the city located in Rajasthan offers a numerous tourist spots
for visitors to explore. Places like historical monuments, gardens, forts,
museum to pubs and clubs all are in the city to entertain, explore and have a
flashback to the history of India.
To have a comfortable stay Kota offers
an array of hotels in the city located at the different corner. The luxurious
hotels like Surya Royal, Heritage Umaid Bhawan Palace and many more hotels are
in Kota which offers a royal stay in the city.
Standards rooms, deluxe room, and
presidential suite with ballroom, courtyard, restaurant, lobby, and other rooms
for various recreational activities are well constructed in the hotels to
offers all basic to luxurious amenities in the town. The food includes all
Indian and continental dishes with special cuisines form Rajasthani flavour.
The room rents ranges from Rs. 300 to more than Rs. 6000 as per the hotel and
facilities include.
EDUCATION
The government and private schools in
the city are affiliated with either Central Board of Secondary Education or
Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan and follow a 10+2 plan. The medium of
instruction is either English or Hindi.
The city is specially recognized all
over India as a center for preparation of various national level competitive
examinations through which the students seek admissions in various engineering
and medical colleges of the country. In the past decade the city has emerged as
a popular coaching destination for competitive exams preparation and for profit
educational services.
The education sector of Kota has become
a major contributor to the city's economy. Kota is popularly referred to as
"the coaching capital of India". Over 1.5 lakh students from all over
the country flock every year towards the city for preparation of various exams
such as IIT-JEE, NEET-UG and AIIMS etc. Many hostels and PGs are located in Kota
near the vicinity of coaching centres for students. Students live here for 2–3
years and prepare for the exams. The annual turnover of the Kota coaching
industry is about ₹1500 crore. In a recent raid by Income Tax at a coaching
institute, "Allen Career Institute", an amount of ₹100 crore was
disclosed hidden in institute’s group accounts.
Kota's emergence coaching hub began in
1985 when Vinod Kumar Bansal, an engineer working for J. K. Synthetics Ltd, set
up Bansal Classes that eventually became Bansal Classes Private Limited. Some
of his instructors started their own institutes making Kota a major educational
RAILWAYS
Kota is well connected to all the major
cities of India. Kota Junction is one of the divisions in West Central Railway.
It is an important station on the Delhi-Mumbai main line. There are four
railway stations within Kota and in its vicinity. Another suburban station of
South Kota city is Dakaniya Talav Railway station which has a stoppage of Avadh
Express, Dehradun Express and Ranthambore Express.
The city is a halt for over 150 trains,
including Mumbai Rajdhani Express, August Kranti Rajdhani Express, Mumbai New
Delhi Duronto Express, Indore–Jaipur Express, Udaipur SuperFast (Delhi -
Udaipur City Express), Dayodaya Express , Jodhpur - Indore Intercity, Hazrat
Nizamuddin - Indore Express, Garbha Express, Marusagar Express (Ajmer -
Ernakulam Express / Ernakulam Express), Jaipur - Mysore Express, Jaipur -
Chennai Express, Jaipur - Coimbatore Express, Jodhpur - Puri Express, Jodhpur -
Bhopal Express.
The Delhi Mumbai railway line passes
through the Kota junction. The district has 148.83 km of railway line in the
Kota Ruthia section, 98.72 km on Nagda Mathura (Mumbai-Delhi) section and 24.26
km on Kota Chittorgarh section.
A broad-gauge railway facility between
Kota and Jodhpur via Jaipur exists.
Kota is also an originating point for
many trains like Kota - Damoh Passenger (Kota - Katni Passenger) connecting
Kota to Damoh in Madhya Pradesh. The Kota - Indore Intercity Express connects
to another major city of Madhya Pradesh, Indore Junction.
There is also aJan Shatabdi Express
train, from Kota to national capital Delhi. The other trains include, Kota -
Vadodara Passenger, Kota - Sriganganagar Express, Kota - Ajmer, Kota - Jabalpur
& Kota - Bina Passenger. Patna Kota Express connects Kota and Patna cities
via Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow and Varanasi.
DEMOGHRAPHIC INFORMATION
According to 2011 Census of India, Kota
City had a population of 1,951,014 of which male and female are 1,021,161 and
929,853 respectively. The urban agglomeration of Kota consists of city only.
The sex ratio was 895 and 12.14% were less than six years of age. The effective
literacy rate was 77%, with male literacy at 86% and female literacy at 66%.
Harauti, a dialect of Rajasthani is
widely spoken in Kota with Hindi, Marwari and English being the other languages
spoken.
According to 2011 census, Hinduism is the majority religion in the city practised by about 80.5% of the population. Muslims form large minorities (15.9%) followed by Jains (2.2%), Sikhs (0.9%) and Christians (0.4%).
REFRENCES
http://kota.rajasthan.gov.in/content/dam/doitassets/kota/PDF/kota%20zila.pdf
http://dcmsme.gov.in/dips/DIPR_Jhalawar.pdf
https://www.india.gov.in/official-website-kota-district-rajasthan
https://wcr.indianrailways.gov.in/
https://wcr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1389007913034-Microsoft%20Word%20-%20KOTA.pdf
