Places to Visit in Kota
Places to Visit in Kota:- Kota is one of the major cities in Rajasthan which is situated on a river bank. Chambal River flows through Kota and it is a major river in Rajasthan. Kota is famous for its educational institutions, power plants, and chemical industries.
In the medieval era, Kota was a princely state and was ruled by the Rajput kings. They built some magnificent palaces in Kota, which even today, are its top tourist attractions. The Chambal river is a big attraction too, and the crocodile safari and boating are the top things to do here.
Top things to do in Kota Barrage[/caption]
Kota Barrage is a scenic point in Kota. It is a huge dam, where water is released for agricultural purposes. It was constructed in 1960 so that the waters that were stored by Gandhi Sagar Dam, Jawahar Sagar Dam, and Rana Pratap Sagar Dam could be channelized more effectively to parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Though this was not meant to be a tourist attraction, visitors find the place very relaxing. During monsoons, when the water is released, the powerful force of the water could be heard for miles. The mighty force of the water creates a scenic view that tourists love to behold.
Top things to do in Kishore Sagar Lake[/caption]
The lake in Kota is called Kishore Sagar Lake. A prince of Bundi called Dehra Deh in 1346 built it. This artificial lake is the biggest attraction in Kota. Tourists can be seen boating around the lake and enjoying the scenic beauty of the surroundings. The evening is the best time to come here as the sunsets from here are very beautiful. There is an island in the middle of the lake and the palace known as Jagmandir Palace is built on this island. It has wonderful architecture and you can visit this palace on a boat ride. The museum inside has rare exhibits that showcase the royal history of Kota.
Things to Do in Seven Wonders Park[/caption]
One of the best attractions in Kota is a unique theme park known as Seven Wonders Park. This park is very unique because it has a replica of all the major monuments in the world. You will find the replica of the Seven Wonders of the World such as the Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Christ the Redeemer, Great Pyramid, and many others. The park is beside Kishore Sagar Lake, which is another top attraction in Kota. All tourists love seven Wonders Park and people come to have a relaxing time here. There are food stalls here that offer mouth-watering street food.
Things to Do in Jag Mandir Palace[/caption]
Jag Mandir Palace is situated on an island in Kishore Sagar Lake. The Jag Mandir Palace is spectacular in its architecture and is made of red sandstone. One of the queens of Kota built this palace in 1740. Tourists can reach this palace by boat ride in Kishore Sagar Lake. The reflection of the palace on the waters of the lake is spectacular.
Things to Do in Garadia Mahadev Temple[/caption]
The most scenic place in Kota is on the Chambal River and it is a temple called Garadia Mahadev Temple. This is a small shiva temple and is situated on a rocky cliff near the river gorge. The area is full of rocks and waterfalls. The viewpoint on the Chambal river is a few steps away from the temple. This is the best scenic point in Kota and offers panoramic views of the Kota river and its gorge. The incredible Chambal River flowing in the gorge and the lush greenery is a scenes that can’t be described in words.
Things to Do in Chambal Garden[/caption]
One of the best places to visit in Kota is a garden called Chambal Garden. This garden is full of lush green trees, flowers, and ponds. The garden is among the several gardens that you can visit on your trip to Kota. One of the most amazing things about Chambal Garden is that it is located beside the mighty Chambal River. You can have incredible scenic views of the Chambal River and the river gorges from this garden. You can walk on the pathways and admire the greenery around you. There are slides for children and water fountains with superb architecture. Animal sculptures and realistic dinosaur models are created in this garden and it adds to the scenic beauty of this garden. There is a small pond in this garden with many crocodiles in it. Children can enjoy the toy train ride in this garden.
Things to Do in Abheda Mahal[/caption]
One of the magnificent palaces that you can visit in Kota is called the Abheda Mahal. Maharaja Ummed Singh built the palace in the 18th century. Today, the palace is a tourist attraction in Kota. You can see miniature paintings, armor, royal attire, fresco paintings, and other priceless art collection in the palace. There is a pond behind the palace where you can spot turtles and lotus flowers. According to legends, this pond had crocodiles at one point of time in history. There are spacious rooms, royal chambers, long corridors, arched pillars, and vintage décor in the palace. The wall paintings here have rich colors and artistic paintings of flora and fauna, and rich cultural themes. Two bathing ghats were used by royal ladies in earlier times.
Things to Do in Khade Ganeshji Temple[/caption]
This is a temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh in Kota. The amazing thing about this temple is that this is the only temple that has a standing idol of Lord Ganesh. Therefore, the temple is famous as Khade Ganeshji Temple. The temple is more than 600 years old and is located near the Chambal River. Locals have tremendous faith in this temple and come every day to pray and get blessed by the deity of this temple.
Things to Do in Maharao Madho Singh Museum[/caption]
Kota has some of the best museums, and Maharao Madho Singh Museum is one of the finest museums here. The museum is in the Old Palace and has a rich collection of artifacts and rare objects. The royal kings and queens of Kota once used the objects which are kept here on display. Among these are the royal costumes they wore, the weapons they had, amazing paintings and frescoes, manuscripts, terracotta figures, metal sculptures, and other things. The museum has two floors and there are various galleries that you can explore in this museum. These galleries were once the royal quarters of the queens and royal family members. These are named Arjun Mahal, Chhatri Mahal, Laksh Bhandar, Raj Mahal, and others. Rao Madho Singh built the Od Palace in the 17th century.
Things to Do in Mathuradheesh Mandir[/caption]
One of the temples that you can visit in Kota is a temple called Mathuradheesh Mandir. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, who is worshipped here in the form of Mathuradheesh or the Lord of Mathura. The temple follows the Hindu sect of Vallabh Sampradaya and has a haveli style of architecture. The temple was formed in 1738. There is an interesting story behind the temple. According to locals, the idol of Mathureshji was brought to Kota. The chariot on which the idol was brought stopped moving when it was in front of the haveli of Dwarkadassji, a minister of the king. The minister offered his haveli to be converted into a temple and enshrine Lord Mathureshji in its place.
Things to Do in Godavari Dham Temple[/caption]
One of the sightseeing places in Kota is a temple called Godavari Dham Temple. The temple is on the banks of the Chambal River and is a temple of Lord Hanuman. Locals have a huge faith and devotion to this temple. Tourists also visit the temple due to its immense religious importance. The temple is visited by a large number of devotees of Lord Hanuman on Tuesdays and Saturdays, which are the days of Hanuman. There are many idols situated in this temple such as the ones of Parvati, Shiva, Bhairav, etc.
Things to Do in City Palace[/caption]
The City Palace in Kota is also called Kota Garh. Kota City Palace is among the finest tourist landmarks in Kota. It is one of the best-remaining monuments that boast of the royal times of Kota. The Kota City Palace is a blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architectural styles. The interiors have the finest décor and vintage art. Wall art, paintings, mirrorwork on the ceilings, marble tiles, floral decorations, chandeliers, and crystal work, all are unbelievable. The museum has a remarkable collection of weapons, royal costumes, handicrafts, and other vintage art.
Things to Do in Kaithoon[/caption]
If you want to discover the exquisite making of Kota Doria sarees, then the place to visit is a place in Kota called Kaithoon. Here, you will see various artisans weaving fabrics on their tools. Kota Doria is a fabric weaving technique that is specialized only in Kota. The sarees have golden and silver threads and various designs and prints. You can buy these sarees at Kaithoon. It is quite an experience to see the workers and their fabric-weaving techniques. The hand-woven technique was getting lost but was revived and is today the hallmark of Kota.
Things to Do in Gaipernath Waterfall[/caption]
One of the stunning waterfalls in Kota is called Gaipernath Waterfalls. The waterfall is located in a rocky area and the flow of cascading waters is a sight to behold. There is a small temple at this spot. Locals visit Gaipernath Waterfall for picnics and relaxation. The flowing waters of the waterfalls form the pool of water below. There are quite a few monkeys at the temple. This is one of the places which you must come to if you are in Kota.
Things to Do in Brij Vilas Palace Government Museum[/caption]
The Government Museum in Kota is a must-visit place if you want to know about the history of Kota. The museum is in the Brij Vilas Palace. The museum has a variety of artifacts that showcase the royal past of Kota. Among the exhibits kept here are sculptures, coins, weapons, photographs, and archaeological objects excavated here.
Things to Do in Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary[/caption]
To see wild animals on your trip to Kota you must visit Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary. This wildlife sanctuary is situated near Bundi and is 56 km from Kota. The sanctuary was once the hunting ground of the maharajas of the Bundi royal state. The various wild animals that you can spot in this sanctuary are leopards, wolves, sloth bears, and chinkara deer. There are many reptiles and birds also that you can spot here. Much of the sanctuary is hilly terrain. The other famous wildlife sanctuaries near Kota like Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary and Jawahar Sagar Sanctuary are quite close to this sanctuary.
Things to Do in Kansua Temple[/caption]
One of the temples in Kota is the one called Kansua Temple. The locals also call this temple by its other name which is Karneshwar Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the deity of this temple is a four-headed shiv linga. The temple and its architecture are quite old and according to popular beliefs, the Pandavas built the temple in their exile period. The temple is still visited by a huge number of devotees of Lord Shiva. Madho Rao gifted this temple to Jehangir, who was a lover of art and architecture. The temple was built somewhere around the 7th century.
Things to Do in Shivpuri Dham[/caption]
One of the religious places in Kota is a place called Shivpuri Dham. The temple here has around 525 shiv linga and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This is one of the unique temples in Kota and is said to be a very sacred temple. Devotees of Lord Shiva come here in their thousands at the time of religious festivals like Mahashivratri. There is a big statue of Lord Pashupatinath in this temple.
Things to Do in Chambal River Safari[/caption]
One of the best places to visit in Kota is the Chambal river, and going on a boat safari in the Chambal River is a thrilling experience. You can spot so many aquatic creatures during this Chambal River Safari tour. Crocodiles, turtles, snakes, and gharials can be seen lying on the sandbanks and marshes.
There are many birds that you can spot here too, like egrets, and skimmers, which are very common sightings. A naturalist can lead you to the best spots to see animals. Tourists have got remarkable sightings of otters, hyenas, and river dolphins. You have to take the help of binoculars to spot these creatures.
Top 19 Places to Visit in Kota
You can plan your trip to Kota and visit all the famous landmarks. You can contact Shrine Yatra if you need to know about our Kota tour packages. The best places to visit in Kota are given below for your reference.1.) Kota Barrage
[caption id="attachment_6904" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Top things to do in Kota Barrage[/caption]
Kota Barrage is a scenic point in Kota. It is a huge dam, where water is released for agricultural purposes. It was constructed in 1960 so that the waters that were stored by Gandhi Sagar Dam, Jawahar Sagar Dam, and Rana Pratap Sagar Dam could be channelized more effectively to parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Though this was not meant to be a tourist attraction, visitors find the place very relaxing. During monsoons, when the water is released, the powerful force of the water could be heard for miles. The mighty force of the water creates a scenic view that tourists love to behold.
2.) Kishore Sagar Lake
[caption id="attachment_6905" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Top things to do in Kishore Sagar Lake[/caption]
The lake in Kota is called Kishore Sagar Lake. A prince of Bundi called Dehra Deh in 1346 built it. This artificial lake is the biggest attraction in Kota. Tourists can be seen boating around the lake and enjoying the scenic beauty of the surroundings. The evening is the best time to come here as the sunsets from here are very beautiful. There is an island in the middle of the lake and the palace known as Jagmandir Palace is built on this island. It has wonderful architecture and you can visit this palace on a boat ride. The museum inside has rare exhibits that showcase the royal history of Kota.
3.) Seven Wonders Park
[caption id="attachment_6906" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in Seven Wonders Park[/caption]
One of the best attractions in Kota is a unique theme park known as Seven Wonders Park. This park is very unique because it has a replica of all the major monuments in the world. You will find the replica of the Seven Wonders of the World such as the Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Christ the Redeemer, Great Pyramid, and many others. The park is beside Kishore Sagar Lake, which is another top attraction in Kota. All tourists love seven Wonders Park and people come to have a relaxing time here. There are food stalls here that offer mouth-watering street food.
4.) Jag Mandir Palace
[caption id="attachment_6907" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in Jag Mandir Palace[/caption]
Jag Mandir Palace is situated on an island in Kishore Sagar Lake. The Jag Mandir Palace is spectacular in its architecture and is made of red sandstone. One of the queens of Kota built this palace in 1740. Tourists can reach this palace by boat ride in Kishore Sagar Lake. The reflection of the palace on the waters of the lake is spectacular.
5.) Garadia Mahadev Temple
[caption id="attachment_6908" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in Garadia Mahadev Temple[/caption]
The most scenic place in Kota is on the Chambal River and it is a temple called Garadia Mahadev Temple. This is a small shiva temple and is situated on a rocky cliff near the river gorge. The area is full of rocks and waterfalls. The viewpoint on the Chambal river is a few steps away from the temple. This is the best scenic point in Kota and offers panoramic views of the Kota river and its gorge. The incredible Chambal River flowing in the gorge and the lush greenery is a scenes that can’t be described in words.
6.) Chambal Garden
[caption id="attachment_6909" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in Chambal Garden[/caption]
One of the best places to visit in Kota is a garden called Chambal Garden. This garden is full of lush green trees, flowers, and ponds. The garden is among the several gardens that you can visit on your trip to Kota. One of the most amazing things about Chambal Garden is that it is located beside the mighty Chambal River. You can have incredible scenic views of the Chambal River and the river gorges from this garden. You can walk on the pathways and admire the greenery around you. There are slides for children and water fountains with superb architecture. Animal sculptures and realistic dinosaur models are created in this garden and it adds to the scenic beauty of this garden. There is a small pond in this garden with many crocodiles in it. Children can enjoy the toy train ride in this garden.
7.) Abheda Mahal
[caption id="attachment_6910" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in Abheda Mahal[/caption]
One of the magnificent palaces that you can visit in Kota is called the Abheda Mahal. Maharaja Ummed Singh built the palace in the 18th century. Today, the palace is a tourist attraction in Kota. You can see miniature paintings, armor, royal attire, fresco paintings, and other priceless art collection in the palace. There is a pond behind the palace where you can spot turtles and lotus flowers. According to legends, this pond had crocodiles at one point of time in history. There are spacious rooms, royal chambers, long corridors, arched pillars, and vintage décor in the palace. The wall paintings here have rich colors and artistic paintings of flora and fauna, and rich cultural themes. Two bathing ghats were used by royal ladies in earlier times.
8.) Khade Ganeshji Temple
[caption id="attachment_6911" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in Khade Ganeshji Temple[/caption]
This is a temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh in Kota. The amazing thing about this temple is that this is the only temple that has a standing idol of Lord Ganesh. Therefore, the temple is famous as Khade Ganeshji Temple. The temple is more than 600 years old and is located near the Chambal River. Locals have tremendous faith in this temple and come every day to pray and get blessed by the deity of this temple.
9.) Maharao Madho Singh Museum
[caption id="attachment_6912" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in Maharao Madho Singh Museum[/caption]
Kota has some of the best museums, and Maharao Madho Singh Museum is one of the finest museums here. The museum is in the Old Palace and has a rich collection of artifacts and rare objects. The royal kings and queens of Kota once used the objects which are kept here on display. Among these are the royal costumes they wore, the weapons they had, amazing paintings and frescoes, manuscripts, terracotta figures, metal sculptures, and other things. The museum has two floors and there are various galleries that you can explore in this museum. These galleries were once the royal quarters of the queens and royal family members. These are named Arjun Mahal, Chhatri Mahal, Laksh Bhandar, Raj Mahal, and others. Rao Madho Singh built the Od Palace in the 17th century.
10.) Mathuradheesh Mandir
[caption id="attachment_6913" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in Mathuradheesh Mandir[/caption]
One of the temples that you can visit in Kota is a temple called Mathuradheesh Mandir. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, who is worshipped here in the form of Mathuradheesh or the Lord of Mathura. The temple follows the Hindu sect of Vallabh Sampradaya and has a haveli style of architecture. The temple was formed in 1738. There is an interesting story behind the temple. According to locals, the idol of Mathureshji was brought to Kota. The chariot on which the idol was brought stopped moving when it was in front of the haveli of Dwarkadassji, a minister of the king. The minister offered his haveli to be converted into a temple and enshrine Lord Mathureshji in its place.
11.) Godavari Dham Temple
[caption id="attachment_6914" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in Godavari Dham Temple[/caption]
One of the sightseeing places in Kota is a temple called Godavari Dham Temple. The temple is on the banks of the Chambal River and is a temple of Lord Hanuman. Locals have a huge faith and devotion to this temple. Tourists also visit the temple due to its immense religious importance. The temple is visited by a large number of devotees of Lord Hanuman on Tuesdays and Saturdays, which are the days of Hanuman. There are many idols situated in this temple such as the ones of Parvati, Shiva, Bhairav, etc.
12.) City Palace
[caption id="attachment_6915" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in City Palace[/caption]
The City Palace in Kota is also called Kota Garh. Kota City Palace is among the finest tourist landmarks in Kota. It is one of the best-remaining monuments that boast of the royal times of Kota. The Kota City Palace is a blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architectural styles. The interiors have the finest décor and vintage art. Wall art, paintings, mirrorwork on the ceilings, marble tiles, floral decorations, chandeliers, and crystal work, all are unbelievable. The museum has a remarkable collection of weapons, royal costumes, handicrafts, and other vintage art.
13.) Kaithoon
[caption id="attachment_6916" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in Kaithoon[/caption]
If you want to discover the exquisite making of Kota Doria sarees, then the place to visit is a place in Kota called Kaithoon. Here, you will see various artisans weaving fabrics on their tools. Kota Doria is a fabric weaving technique that is specialized only in Kota. The sarees have golden and silver threads and various designs and prints. You can buy these sarees at Kaithoon. It is quite an experience to see the workers and their fabric-weaving techniques. The hand-woven technique was getting lost but was revived and is today the hallmark of Kota.
14.) Gaipernath Waterfall
[caption id="attachment_6917" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in Gaipernath Waterfall[/caption]
One of the stunning waterfalls in Kota is called Gaipernath Waterfalls. The waterfall is located in a rocky area and the flow of cascading waters is a sight to behold. There is a small temple at this spot. Locals visit Gaipernath Waterfall for picnics and relaxation. The flowing waters of the waterfalls form the pool of water below. There are quite a few monkeys at the temple. This is one of the places which you must come to if you are in Kota.
15.) Brij Vilas Palace Government Museum
[caption id="attachment_6918" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in Brij Vilas Palace Government Museum[/caption]
The Government Museum in Kota is a must-visit place if you want to know about the history of Kota. The museum is in the Brij Vilas Palace. The museum has a variety of artifacts that showcase the royal past of Kota. Among the exhibits kept here are sculptures, coins, weapons, photographs, and archaeological objects excavated here.
16.) Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary
[caption id="attachment_6919" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary[/caption]
To see wild animals on your trip to Kota you must visit Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary. This wildlife sanctuary is situated near Bundi and is 56 km from Kota. The sanctuary was once the hunting ground of the maharajas of the Bundi royal state. The various wild animals that you can spot in this sanctuary are leopards, wolves, sloth bears, and chinkara deer. There are many reptiles and birds also that you can spot here. Much of the sanctuary is hilly terrain. The other famous wildlife sanctuaries near Kota like Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary and Jawahar Sagar Sanctuary are quite close to this sanctuary.
17.) Kansua Temple
[caption id="attachment_6920" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in Kansua Temple[/caption]
One of the temples in Kota is the one called Kansua Temple. The locals also call this temple by its other name which is Karneshwar Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the deity of this temple is a four-headed shiv linga. The temple and its architecture are quite old and according to popular beliefs, the Pandavas built the temple in their exile period. The temple is still visited by a huge number of devotees of Lord Shiva. Madho Rao gifted this temple to Jehangir, who was a lover of art and architecture. The temple was built somewhere around the 7th century.
18.) Shivpuri Dham
[caption id="attachment_6921" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in Shivpuri Dham[/caption]
One of the religious places in Kota is a place called Shivpuri Dham. The temple here has around 525 shiv linga and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This is one of the unique temples in Kota and is said to be a very sacred temple. Devotees of Lord Shiva come here in their thousands at the time of religious festivals like Mahashivratri. There is a big statue of Lord Pashupatinath in this temple.
19.) Chambal River Safari
[caption id="attachment_6922" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Things to Do in Chambal River Safari[/caption]
One of the best places to visit in Kota is the Chambal river, and going on a boat safari in the Chambal River is a thrilling experience. You can spot so many aquatic creatures during this Chambal River Safari tour. Crocodiles, turtles, snakes, and gharials can be seen lying on the sandbanks and marshes.
There are many birds that you can spot here too, like egrets, and skimmers, which are very common sightings. A naturalist can lead you to the best spots to see animals. Tourists have got remarkable sightings of otters, hyenas, and river dolphins. You have to take the help of binoculars to spot these creatures.
