history
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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