Things to do in Kota

Kota is the third-most populous city of Rajasthan and is the major coaching hub in northern India for the competitive entrance exam preparation of engineering and medical colleges.
Not so much popular among tourists, Kota has a rich culture and history to warrant a weekend getaway or as a detour on your way to popular tourist destination like Udaipur and Jaipur.

Use this Kota travel guide to plan your trip to Kota.

Table of Contents
1 Best time to travel
2 How to reach Kota
3 Things to Do in Kota
3.1 1) 7 Wonders Park
3.2 2) Toy Train ride at Chatra Vilas Garden
3.3 3) Dinner at Amar Punjabi Dhaba
3.4 4) Brij Vilas Palace Museum
3.5 5) Kotah Garh
3.6 6) Kota Zoological Park
3.7 7) Chambal Garden
3.8 8) Jagmandir Palace
4 How to get around in Kota
5 Stay in Kota

Best time to travel

Winter starting from November to mid-March is the best time to travel to Kota when the climate is cool and ideal for sightseeing.
Like every other place in Rajasthan, summers are long, hot and dry, starting from March end to June end.
Monsoon season from July to September is met with the lower temperatures but high humidity and frequent downpours.

How to reach Kota

Kota is around 250 kilometres away from the state capital, Jaipur and around 500 kilometres from country capital, Delhi.

• Flight – Although Kota has its own airport, no flight has operated since 1999. To reach Kota by plane, one has to take a flight to Jaipur first and then take a train/bus/taxi to reach Kota.
• Train – Multiple trains operate from both Delhi and Jaipur daily. There is no Shatabdi service to Kota. So, try to book a train ticket at least 1 month in advance to avoid being waitlisted.
• Bus – Buses runs frequently from both Delhi and Jaipur to Kota. But Bus from Delhi takes around 8-9 hours and can get really uncomfortable if it is non-Volvo.
• Car – If you are looking to drive, the roads are in good condition between Jaipur and Kota. It is also very economical and comfortable option from Jaipur.

Things to Do in Kota

1) 7 Wonders Park

The newest attraction of Kota, 7 wonders park has become the city’s premium attraction. It was opened to the public in 2013 and houses replicas of seven famous monuments of the world – Eiffel Tower (France), Taj Mahal (India), Statue of Liberty (USA), Pyramid of Giza (Egypt), The Christ Redeemer (Brazil), Colosseum (Italy), Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italy). In the evening all the replicas are illuminated by the lightning effects. If you have longed to see these famous monuments, 7 wonders park provides the cheapest option.

Address – Kotri Mini Flyover, Ballabhbari, Gaytri Vihar, Kota
Opening Hours – 2:30 PM to 10 PM
Suggested Duration – 1-2 hours
Ticket Cost – Rs 10 (12 years +), Rs 5 (3-12 years)

ALSO READ: WHAT TO EXPECT AT 7 WONDERS PARK

2) Toy Train ride at Chatra Vilas Garden

Chatra Vilas Garden is located next to Kishore Sagar Lake. It is a very huge garden and has multiple playground equipments for kids. It has boating and toy train ride facility too which makes it an ideal picnic spot for the families. Toy train ride is the highlight of the garden which would be liked by people of all the ages. Duration of the ride is around 15 minutes and in that little time, it provides the multi faceted experience of the train going underground, through tunnels, and over the water bridge.

Address – Sarovar Road, Nayapura, Chatra Vilas Garden, Nayapura, Kota
Opening Hours – 7 AM to 9:30 PM
Suggested Duration – 1-2 hours
Ticket Cost – Rs 5 (Garden), Rs 25 (Train ride)

3) Dinner at Amar Punjabi Dhaba

Amar Punjabi Dhaba is a pure vegetarian restaurant owned by Amar Punjabi groups who also owns Lilac Hotel. Food is delicious and of top-notch quality without burning any hole in your pocket.

Travel Tip – They also provide delivery service at the railway station. If you have onward/return journey with your train and food is not included in the fare, you can book your meal through them.

Address – Near Kota Railway Station, Station Road, Bhimganj Mandi, Kota
Phone – +91 744 246 4141
Opening Hours – 9:30 AM to 11 PM
Average Meal Cost – Rs 150

4) Brij Vilas Palace Museum

Brij Vilas Palace Museum is also known as Government Museum. It has a huge collection of artefacts belonging to Kota and its nearby region. You will rarely see such a collection in any museum which highlights the heritage of local culture. The museum is divided into different section – archaeological findings belonging to 4th – 13th century AD, paintings, costumes and handicrafts, and weaponry. All those sections detail the era of erstwhile kings of Kota, who belonged to the Hadoti and Bundi dynasties.

Address – Chatra Vilas Garden, Nayapura, Kota
Opening Hours – 10 AM to 5 PM (Monday closed)
Suggested Duration – 1-2 hours
Ticket Cost – Rs 20
Other info – Photography not allowed inside the museum

5) Kotah Garh

Kotah Garh, also known as city Palace, has 2 section – museum and Sheesh Mahal. Museum was opened in 1970 and has a collection of regalia, arms, ammunition, and some old photographs of royalties of Kota. Sheesh Mahal includes access to various rooms of the palace like Meeting room, darbaar, and bedroom used by Maharaja Ummed Singh II during his rule. Maharaja’s bedroom is decorated with beautiful murals all over its walls.

Address – SH 33, Garh Palace, Kishorepura Darwaja, Tipta, Garh Palace, Kota
Phone – +91 744 238 5040
Official Website – http://www.kotahfort.com
Opening Hours – 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Suggested Duration – 1-2 hours
Ticket Cost – Rs 40 (museum only), Rs 100 (incl. of Sheesh Mahal), Rs 20 (5-12 years or student), Rs 300 (Foreigners incl. of Sheesh Mahal)
Photography Fee – Rs 50(still photography), Rs 100 (videography)

6) Kota Zoological Park

Kota Zoological Park is a very small zoo and houses a little over a dozen animals, birds, and reptiles like tiger, black buck, duck, hyena, turtles. It is located adjacent to Chatra Vilas Garden and is worth adding to your itinerary if you are going to Chatra Vilas Garden.

Address – Chatra Vilas Garden, Nayapura, Kota
Opening Hours – 9 AM to 6:30 PM
Suggested Duration – 30 minutes
Ticket Cost – Rs 20

7) Chambal Garden

Chambal garden is located on the banks of the Chambal river. The highlight of the garden is a pond filled with gharials. The pond can be crossed via a suspension bridge or by a boat to allow a closeup view of the fish-eating reptiles. It has also a toy train which gives the complete tour of the garden.

Address – Nagar Nigam, Rawabhata Road, Pratap Nagar, Dadabari, Kota
Opening Hours – 10 AM to 7 PM
Suggested Duration – 1-2 hours
Ticket Cost – Free (garden), Rs 50 (boating), Rs 100 (toy train)

8) Jagmandir Palace

Jagmandir is a palace built on an island in the middle of Kishore Sagar Lake. It was built by one of the queens of Kota in 1740. One can enjoy its beautiful architecture built with red sandstone or take a stroll in the garden. Jag Mandir can be reached by boat.

Address – Rampura, near 7 Wonders Park, Kota
Suggested Duration – 1 hour
Ticket Cost – Free (garden), Rs 100 (boating)

ALSO READ: 5 DAY KOTA & JAIPUR ITINERARY

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How to get around in Kota

• Auto-Rickshaw (Tuk-Tuk): It is the most convenient option to travel around in Kota. Auto-Rickshaws are readily available all around Kota and you won’t have to wait for more than 2-3 minutes to get one. Drivers do not go by meter and may over-charge you. So, be prepared to haggle to agree on a reasonable price.
• Cab: Among app-aggregator apps, only Ola operates in Kota. There is not a lot of Ola cabs and sometimes you may get either waiting time of more than 10 minutes or no cab notification.
• Bus: Roads in Kota are in very good shape and buses ply frequently to all the popular attractions.

Stay in Kota

Kota is not a popular tourist destination which is reflected in the hotel prices. There are only a handful of hotels that may cost more than Rs 5k for a single night.

Hotel Surya Royal: Located near the 7 wonders park, Hotel Surya Royal is a 3-star hotel centrally located in Kota. All the modern amenities with buffet breakfast are provided.
Price range: Rs 1500 – Rs 2500

Hotel Lilac: It is a 3-star hotel located just a kilometer away from the railway station. Buffet breakfast with a variety of Indian cuisines is served. It also offers complimentary pickup and drop service to the railway station. I stayed there during my visit and had a disappointing experience due to the presence of lint in linens.
Price range: Rs 2000 – Rs 3000

Country Inn And Suites By Radisson: Located outside of city center, Country Inn is a 4-star hotel with 85 rooms, all equipped with modern amenities like Internet, television, coffee/tea maker, mini bar and electronic safe. It also offers facilities like a health club and spa. The hotel also has a restaurant, a coffee shop and two bars.
Price range: Rs 3500 – Rs 4500

WelcomHeritage Umed Bhawan Palace: Built by Maharaja Umed Singh II, ruling king of Kota in the early 1900s, WelcomHeritage Umed Bhawan Palace subtly blends Rajput and Victorian architecture. Lush lawns and courtyards, picturesque ceilings, marble corridors, hunting trophies of yesteryear, along with exquisite royal heirlooms are the special features of the palace. The 32 room palace is replete with modern amenities and strikes a stark balance with contemporary living and Rajasthan’s culture.
Price Range: Rs 6000 – Rs 7500

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