The history of the city dates back to the 12th century A.D. when the
Hada Chieftain, Rao Deva, conquered the territory and founded Bundi and Hadoti.
Later, 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.
The south
eastern region of Rajasthan known as Hadoti comprises of Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar
and Kota is a
treasure of history dating back to several centuries.
Prehistoriccaves,paintings,formidable forts and the mighty chambal river
hurtling from the Vindhyas are dotted in the region. When Jait Singh of Bundi
defeated the Bhil Chieftain Koteya in a battle, he raised the first battlement
or the 'Garh'(fort) over his severead head. The Independant state of kota became a reality in
1631 when Rao Madho Singh, the second son of Rao Ratan of Bundi was made the
ruler, by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Soon Kota outgrew its parent state to become
bigger in area, richer in revenue and more powerful. Maharao Bhim Singh played
a pivotal role in Kota's
history, having held a 'Mansab' of five thousand and being the first in his
dynasty to have the title of Maharao. Kota
is situated on the banks of chambal river and is fastly emerging as an
important industrial centre. It boasts of Asia's
largest fertilizer plant, precision instrument unit and atomic power station
nearby. Surprisingly unexplored, the Kota
region of Rajasthan has some splendid treasures for the tourist to take home
memories of. Its impregnable fortresses, sprawling palaces, exquisitely wrought
palaces and lovely waterways act as a magnificient foil to its exotic wildlife
and delicate fresco Paintings. .
Situtated
on the banks of the Chambal River,at an important juncture of the trade route
between Delhi and Gujrat, Kota
is Rjasthan's Fifth
Largest City.
This Bustling,sprawling city is also called the industrial capital of the
state. The tentacles of the modern world have the city in its grip with the
Chambal Valley Project giving it a major position on the state's industrial
map. Chemicals,fertilizers, synthetic fibres, tyrecord and sophisticated
instruments, industry's mainstay, have helped in pushing this ancient city into
the forefront of modernisation. Yet memories of its ancient links linger
strongly. Present Day Kota owes its foundations to a Kotya Bhil warrior who 800
years ago built a small fortification at akelgarh and put up a protective
mud-wall around it all the way to Retwali. In 1580, Rao Madho Singh
strenghtened both the fortification and the wall. In time to come, Kota
acquired the Hallmark of rajput power as well as culture.
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