Kota, Rajasthan
Kota, Rajasthan
Kota | |
|---|---|
city | |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 695,899 |
Kota (formerly Kotah) is a city in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. Situated on the Chambal River, the city is the trade center for an area in which cotton, millet, wheat, coriander and oilseeds are grown; industries include cotton and oilseed milling, textile weaving, distilling, dairying, and the manufacture of metal handcrafts. The rail junction, a road hub, lies 4.8 km (3 mi) to the north.The Crosthwaite Institute is located in Kota, as are old and new palaces of the Maharao (the maharajah).
Kota is also famous for its distinctive style of painting. Kota is well known for its saris, stone products and a vibrant education sector. In fact, the numerous coaching centres which prepare aspirants for India's elite engineering and medical colleges have given a totally new character and identity to the city.
History
The city was formerly the capital of the princely state of Kota, formed in 1572.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 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 Third 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 strengthened both the fortification and the wall. In time to come, Kota acquired the Hallmark of rajput power as well as culture.
Geography
Kota is located at 25°11′N 75°50′E / 25.18°N 75.83°E[1]. It has an average elevation of 271 metres (889 feet).
Places of interest
A beautifully landscaped garden at the Amar Niwas. Its lush surroundings make it a popular picnic spot offering enjoyable boar rides
Situated in the old palace, the museum has a superb collection of Rajput miniature paintings of the Kota school,exquisite sculptures,frescoes and armoury. The museum also houses a rich repository of artistic items used by the Kota rulers.
A part of the irrigation canal system on the Chambal River,this beautiful setting is ideal for outings and evening strolls.
Housed in the Brijvilas Palace near the Kishore Sagar, the museum displays a rich collection of rare coins,manuscripts and a representative selection of Hadoti sculpture.Especially noteworthy is an exquisitely sculptured statue brought here from Baroli.
Amid the picturesque artificial lake of Kishore Sagar constructed in 1346 AD by Prince Dher Deh of Bundi, stands the enchanting little palace of Jag Mandir. The azure waters around the red-sandstone monument enhances its beauty.Boat-rides can be enjoyed in the lake. The Keshar Bagh famous for its royal cenotaphs lies in the vicinity
Other Places worth visiting
- Adhar Shila
- Darrah National Park
- Chambal River Ghariyal{Aligator}Reservoir
- Hariyali Water Park
- Godavari Dham Mandir, a temple
- Garh Palace
- Umed Bhavan Palace
- Brijraj Bhavan Palace
- Bheetariya Kund
- Pahadajhar Mahadev Water Fall
- Gapernath
- NavGurukul
- Badoli Temples
- Jawahar Sagar Dam
- Chowpaty Bazaar
- Hadoti Traffic Garden
- Indra market for Shopping perpose
Demographics
As of 2001 India censusTemplate:GR, Kota had a population of 1,568,525. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Kota has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 62%. In Kota, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Economy
The city is the trade center for an area in which cotton, millet, wheat, coriander and oilseeds are grown; industries include cotton and oilseed milling, textile weaving, distilling, dairying, and the manufacture of metal handcrafts.Kota also has an extensive industry of stone-polishing of a particular kind of stone called Kota Stone. Kota stone is blue in colour and is used for floor and walls of both residential and business building. It is a cheap alternative to marble.
Kota in Rajasthan is famous for the fine translucent muslins called Masuria Malmal. Originally, such sarees were called Masuria because they were woven in Mysore. The weavers were subsequently brought to Kota by Rao Kishore Singh who was a general in the Mughal army. The weavers were brought to Kota in the late 17th and early 18th century and the saris came to be known as 'Kota-Masuria'. Kota sarees are popularly known as 'Masuria' in Kota and Kotadoria outside the state. 'Doria' means thread
Kota Stone
The fine-grained variety of limestone is known as Kota stone. The rich greenish-blue and brown colours of this stone are most popular. Kota stone is preferred for flooring and wall cladding, paving and facades of buildings. This is because they have the unique properties of limestones. They are very tough, non water-absorbent, non-slip, non-porous and have excellent stain removability. Moreover, their resistance to wear and delamination is higher than other stones. They are available in different sizes and thicknesses. The varieties include Kota Blue Natural, Kota Blue Honed, Kota Blue Polished, Kota Blue Cobbles, Kota Brown Natural and Kota Brown Polished.
Major companies
Chambal Fertilisers
Established in the year 1985, Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited (CFCL) grew into the largest manufacturer of Urea in the private sector with an installed capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per annum. CFCL has been a dividend paying Company since first full year of commercial production. The fertiliser plant is located at Gadepan, Kota district, Rajasthan. The main activity of CFCL is manufacture of Nitrogenous fertiliser viz. production of Urea. CFCL is also involved in trading of many agric-inputs. The Company has also entered into the software, spinning and miniature potato seeds businesses.
DSCL
DSCL, a Rs. 1350 crore+ diversified business group based in North India. Its primary businesses are:
- Agri-Business (Urea fertilizer, Sugar, Farm inputs marketing such as DAP, Pesticides, Seeds, Agri retailing - Haryali Kisan Bazaars, etc.)
- Plastics (PVC and PVC compounds, Plastic building products - Fenesta).
- Chemicals (Chlor-Alkali, Chlorine based products).
- Other business interests comprise of Cement, Textiles and Energy Services.
Founded by Sir Shriram in 1889 (as DCM limited), today DSCL (which spun of as a separate company in 1990) is managed by Mr. Ajay S. Shriram, Chairman and Senior Managing Director and Mr. Vikram S. Shriram, Vice Chairman and Managing Director.
Instrumentation Ltd
Instrumentation Limited (better known as IL) is Government Of India Enterprise set up in 1964 with the prime objective of attaining self reliance in the field of Control and Automation for process industry. Today IL is manufacturing and supplying state of the art control equipment on turnkey basis to various sector of Industry viz. Power, Steel, Fertilizer, Chemical, Petrochemical, Refineries, Pharmaceutical, Cement, Paper, Textile, Space, and Oil & Gas.
Other major companies
- Kota Super Thermal Power PLant
- NTPC
- RAPP{Rajasthan Atomic Power Project}
- Career Point Infosystems Ltd : Learning Solution Provider company
- IIT/PET/PMT Entrance examination hub
- Edible Oil Processing (Nobel Grain (India) Pvt. Ltd., Bunge (India)Pvt. Ltd.)
- Samcore Ltd
Major educational institutes
- Kota Open University
- Govt. Medical College, Rangbari Road, Kota
- Engineering College , Rawatbhata Road,Kota
- Career Point (Leadning Institute for IIT JEE, AIEEE & AIPMT) (website)
- Bansal Classes, Kota (IIT JEE)(website)
- Insight, Kota (IIT JEE)(website)
- Allen Career Institute ( Pre Medical test)
