Kota Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1 day

Best Time: October to March Read More

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Kota Tourism

Kota, the third most populous city in Rajasthan, lies alongside the banks of River Chambal, the only perennial river in Rajasthan. Locals and tourists visit the river shores for watching crocodiles, sighting birds and for boat riding in general. Kota is famous for its thriving coaching culture for IIT-JEE and Medical entrance preparations and every year more than four lakh students visit and live in the city. Not many cities witness such influx of students every year and this has earned the city various names such as Education City of India and Coaching Capital of India.

It is also considered to be the second most livable city in Rajasthan after Jaipur and is becoming an industrial hub with numerous power plants in and around the city. The sturdy and dark Green coloured eponymous Kota stone also comes from the city and is traded all across the country for building projects of all kinds. 

Kota has also contributed to the rich fabric heritage of India with its trademark Kota Doriya (where Dora means thread) fabric which is known for its delicate, translucent thread weaving pattern, thus giving the textile its name.  Apart from a flourishing industrial scene, the city also offers a glimpse of history in the form of palaces and a flash of nature in the form of various gardens, the most famous being Chambal Udhyan.

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The Coaching Capital of India

Kota is a fort based city situated in the state of Rajasthan. The third most populous city of Rajasthan after Jaipur and Jodhpur, Kota is emerging as an educational hotspot for the entrance exam aspirants from all over India, be it for Indian Institute of Technology or for All India Institute of Medical Sciences. No wonder why Kota is also nicknamed as the 'Coaching Capital of India'. However, there's more to Kota than what actually meets the eye.
Kota is also famous for its clothes, particularly the fine woven muslins, also famous as Kota  Doria. Besides the above, Kota is also equally famous for its limestone, which is fine-grained, tough, and waterproof as well. So next time of Kota, just don't limit to drab coaching institutes only. There's a lot more to be explored.          

Restaurants and Local Food in Kota

Delicious combination of the wholesome Dal, Bati and Churma meaning a platter of lentils, wheat balls and cereals is staple in most parts of the state. Sweet dishes and desserts are also very popular in the region.
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Suggested Itinerary for Kota

Day 1 - If you have reached Kota, take some rest, and begin with a stroll in the main bazaar of Kota, where you can buy some of the exquisite Rajasthani curios and souvenirs, including clothes of Kota muslin.
Day 2 - Start your day with blessings from Khade Ganesh Ji or Garadia Mahadev Temple, then you can proceed towards the Jagmandir Palace, situated in the middle of Kishore Sagar Lake.
Day 3 - This day should ideally be earmarked for destinations such as Kota Palace, built by rulers of Bundi dynasty. Not very far from here is the Chambal gardens, which is another scenic place to visit, only a 7 minute from Kota Garh (or Kota Palace). If you don't wish to visit Chambal Gardens, there is another site worth visiting in Kota, Seven Wonders Park. It is an 11-minute drive from Kota Garh and houses replicas of all the seven wonders of the world right now.

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How to Reach Kota

How to Reach Overview

Kota is well connected to the rest of Bir by rail and road. Regular rail and bus services ply to and fro the city of Kota. There is no direct flight connectivity to Kota, despite the presence of an airport. The nearest functional airport is in Jaipur, which is 183 km away from the city of Kota. 

How to reach Kota by flight

Sanganer Airport located at Jaipur is nearly 245 km from the heart of the city of Kota, and taxi charges about INR 5000 from the airport to the city. Foreign travellers can take connecting flights from Delhi International airport, which is nearly 500 km away from Kota. Taxi charges about INR 9000 from Delhi to Kota.

How to reach Kota by road

There are express and deluxe buses to Kota at regular interval from Jaipur via Tonk, Devli and Bundi with a journey time of about 5 hrs. There are also regular bus connections to Chittorgarh and Udaipur and other places in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh bordering Rajasthan. Local auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are the alternatives for local transport.

How to reach Kota by train

Kota is well connected on the main Mumbai-Delhi rail route via Sawai Madhopur. Plenty of express trains, some super fast and Rajdhani regularly reach Kota from Delhi and Mumbai. It is also connected by a super fast train leaving daily from Jaipur to Mumbai Central.

Local transport in Kota

One could choose from buses, auto rickshaws or cycle rickshaws to move about the city. Tempo, a shared three wheeler, with mostly a fixed route is also a popular and the cheapest choice to move around.

Most frequently searched routes to Kota

Route Name Distance Time
Jaipur to Kota 252 km 4 hours 6 mins
Delhi to Kota 519 km 8 hours 45 mins
Agra to Kota 449 km 7 hours 31 mins
Mumbai to Kota 1,031 km 16 hours 4 mins
Pune to Kota 1,053 km 17 hours 41 mins
Ahmedabad to Kota 541 km 8 hours 38 mins

Kota Photos

Kota, Rajasthan
Seven Wonders Park - Contains Miniatures of Seven Wonders of the World
Godavari Dham Temple - Dedicated to Lord Hanuman
Kishore Sagar Lake - Artificial Lake in Kota, Rajasthan

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FAQs on Kota

What is the best way to reach Kota?

Kota is well connected to the rest of Bir by rail and road. Regular rail and bus services ply to and fro the city of Kota. There is no direct flight connectivity to Kota, despite the presence of an airport. The nearest functional airport is in Jaipur, which is 183 km away from the city of Kota. 
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What are the places near Kota?

The top places near to Kota are Bundi which is 32 km from Kota, Agra which is located 305 km from Kota, Udaipur which is located 230 km from Kota, Jaipur which is located 189 km from Kota, Jhalawar which is located 74 km from Kota

What are the things to do in Kota?

The top things to do in Kota are Seven Wonders Park, Kishore Sagar and Jagmandir Palace, Garadia Mahadev, Kota Barrage, Chambal Gardens, Khade Ganesh Ji Temple. You can see all the places to visit in Kota here

How much does a package cost for Kota?

The packages for Kota start at INR 20500 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

What is the local food in Kota?

Delicious combination of the wholesome Dal, Bati and Churma meaning a platter of lentils, wheat balls and cereals is staple in most parts of the state. Sweet dishes and desserts are also very popular in the region.
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What is the best time to visit Kota?

The best time to visit Kota is during the months of October to March. Kota has a semi arid climate with high temperatures throughout the year. Summers are long, hot and dry, starting in late March and lasting through the end of June. 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 degrees Celcius (max) to 12 degrees Celcius (min). This can be considered the best time to visit Kota, given its unforgiving summers.
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Who should visit Kota?

Ideal for bold adventurers and coaching seekers. Suitable for travellers from Jaipur, Jodhpur etc.

What is not so good about Kota?

Risky without proper guidance.

What is famous about Kota?

A hotbed of education. Home to some of the best handicrafts.

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Kota Reviews

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Nawin Tiwary

on Garadia Mahadev 4 years ago
This place is really heavenly, one of the most untouched beauty in Rajasthan, really fascinating. It's 25 KM away from main town Kota, This place is under Mukundra Wildlife sanctuary, you will find m (Read More)onkey/apes everywhere, be careful, lots of bird there... Entry fee is 85 for Indians and if you are a student, take the benefit by paying 25..

Naveen Kumar

on Chambal Gardens 5 years ago
Good place to see in Kota picnick spot with family week off days can enjoy...

Rohit Shroff

5 years ago
- If you are visiting Kota in winters, do pack some light woolens.
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