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Kota (), previously known as Kotah, is the third-largest city of the western Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located about 230 km (143 mi) south of the state capital, Jaipur, on the banks of the Chambal River. As of 2024, with a population of over 1.5 million, it is the third most populous city in Rajasthan, after Jaipur and Jodhpur. It is also India's first and world's second traffic signal free city after Bhutan's capital Thimphu. It serves as the administrative headquarters for the Kota district and Kota division. It was founded as a walled city in the 14th century in the erstwhile Bundi state and became the capital of the princely state of Kota in 1625, following the separation of the Bundi and the Kota state. Kota is renowned for its coaching institutes for engineering and medical entrance exams, such as JEE and NEET. Each year, over 200,000 students move to Kota to prepare for these competitive exams. The city was included among 98 Indian cities for the Smart Cities Mission initiated by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 and was listed at 67th place after the results of the first round were released. Afterward, the top 20 cities were further selected for funding in the immediate financial year.
History
thumb|left|Procession of Raja Ram Singh II of Kota, Later Mughal Period, c. 1850
thumb|left|Chambal riverfront
thumb|left|Statue of King Kotia Bhil Smarak
The history of the city dates back to the 12th century CE, when Rao Deva, a Chauhan Rajput chieftain belonging to the Hada clan, conquered the territory and founded Bundi and Hadoti. Later, in the early 17th century, 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 has been recognized as a hallmark of the Rajput gallantry and culture. of five thousand and being the first in his dynasty to have the title of Maharao. Zalim Singh, a diplomat and statesman, emerged as another prominent figure of the state in the 18th century. Although initially being a general of Kota's army, he rose to the regent of the kingdom after the king died, leaving a minor on the throne. He remained a direct administrator of the state. In 1817, a treaty of friendship was signed between him and the British on the condition of carving out part of the existing state for his descendants, resulting in the formation of Jhalawar State in 1838.
In the 1940s, social activist Guru Radha Kishan organised trade union activities and campaigned against the colonial government. He left Kota after the local administration learned of the arrest warrant issued against him for his participation in Indian Independence activities.
Geography
Kishore Sagar Lake|thumb|left
Kota is situated along the banks of the Chambal River in the southern part of Rajasthan. It is the third-largest city of Rajasthan after Jaipur and Jodhpur. The cartographic coordinates are . It covers an area of . It has an average elevation of 271 metres (889 ft). The district is bound on the north and northwest by Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, and Bundi districts. The Chambal River separates these districts from the Kota district, forming the natural boundary.
The city of Kota is situated at the centre of the southeastern region of Rajasthan, a region very widely known as Hadoti, the land of the Hadas. Kota lies along the banks of the Chambal river on a high sloping tableland forming a part of the Malwa Plateau. The general slope of the city is towards the north. The comparatively rocky, barren, and elevated land in the southern part of the city descends towards a plain agricultural land in the north. The Mukundara hills run from the southeast to the northwest axis of the town.
Kota has fertile land and greenery with irrigation facilities through canals. The two main canals, referred to as the left main canal (towards Bundi) and the right main canal (towards Baran), originate from the reservoir created by Kota Barrage. The tributaries of these canals form a network in the city and surrounding areas of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, and supplements the irrigation of these areas. 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 °C (max) to 12.0 °C (min). This can be considered the best time to visit Kota because of the intense heat in the summer.
The average annual rainfall in the Kota district is 800.6 mm.
| date = May 2012
|source 2 = Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1991–2020)
Kota has been ranked 38th best “National Clean Air City” (under Category 1 >10L Population cities) in India.