Last Updated on: 10th December 2025, 08:56 am
Despite being the third-largest city in one of India’s most touristic states, Kota is almost entirely void of foreign tourists. But there’s more to it than first meets the eye. Given its status as a major transport hub and its close proximity to charming Bundi, the city is worth a brief stop. Conveniently, the top things to do in Kota can be seen in a single day.
Following this guide to the city’s main attractions, be sure to check the end of the article for more info on reaching Kota and where to stay.
The City Palace
One of the most fascinating things about traveling through Rajasthan is that nearly every city you’ll visit once functioned as its own kingdom. There is no shortage of medieval fortresses and palaces to explore. But while those of Jodhpur, Jaislamer or Jaipur are widely known, Kota’s Garh Palace gets largely overlooked.
At the time of writing, the City Palace costs Rs 500 for foreigners to enter. Though a sign states that photography with a real camera costs an additional Rs 50, a staff member told me that I wouldn’t have to pay extra.
Despite getting there in late morning, I happened to be only of only a couple of visitors. Now looking back after having visited most major palaces in Rajasthan, that’s truly incredible, as the others are typically jam-packed.
But aside from the lack of crowds, Kota’s City Palace easily holds its own in terms of quality. After all, this was the seat of power for the Kingdom of Kota, which existed independently from 1631 until 1940.
Even if you’re basing yourself in Bundi and don’t have time to stay in Kota, the City Palace is worth the journey to see, as it even surpasses many of Bundi’s minor attractions.
As a whole, however, Kota completely lacks the atmosphere and charm of Bundi.
After walking through the gate of the fortified palace, on the ground floor you’ll find a small museum. It contains various objects belonging to the palace’s former rulers, including a life-size elephant sculpture.
Elsewhere on the ground floor is a hall that’s entirely adorned in miniature paintings. While the Bundi school of painting often comes up in discussions on Rajasthani art, Kota also developed its own distinct style.
Admittedly, I can’t tell the difference between the Kota and Bundi styles, but they’re both indeed beautiful to look at.
As is common at Rajasthani royal palaces, the art here includes various scenes from the great Indian epics, along with some that heroically depict the kingdom’s rulers.
The room features various niches that are also adorned in intricate miniature paintings. One could spend quite some time admiring all of the details, but there are still other rooms to see.
Next, I walked up to the upper floor. The long balcony here is one of the best places to enjoy views of the palace itself. It provides an excellent vantage point of the facade.
Walking through a series of rooms and courtyards, I discovered a terrace with views of the opposite side. And for a few moments, I thought I was hallucinating.
I could see a towering sculpture, a series of traditional buildings, and further in the distance, a seemingly endless series of ghats along the river. Absolutely none of this had come up in my research!
After realizing I wasn’t dreaming, I took a closer look at Google Maps and saw that the place had a name: The Chambal Riverfront Project. But more on it shortly.
Before heading over to check out the riverfront, there were still more elaborately decorated rooms on the upper floor to see, such as Bada Mahal. As mentioned, the artwork here easily rivals the more famous Rajasthani palaces.
The Chambal Riverfront Project
As mentioned, Kota doesn’t get as much attention as other cities in Rajasthan. So this project was opened in 2023 to help change that. But word hasn’t really spread. Despite having done prior research, I was unaware of its existence before seeing it by chance from the City Palace.
There are two sides to the Chambal Riverfront Project: east and west. Both are a staggering 4 km long, with each side entirely lined with monuments.
The east side features replicas of monuments from around the world, while the west side is all Rajasthani architecture. But at the time of my visit, it was only possible to enter and exit via the east side – something I learned the hard way after failing to find an entrance on the west.
It is, however, possible to take a boat to the west side for Rs 150, but the boat will only depart when full.
At the time of my visit, there were two entrances on the east side. So it was possible to enter at one end, walk the entire 4 km, and then come out the other side.
Tickets currently cost Rs 200 for Indians and Rs 500 for foreigners. But unfortunately, despite being outdoors, they’re very strict about photography (smartphones are fine).
After initially being told I couldn’t bring a camera in at all, I attempted to leave it at the entrance, but there were no secure lockers. Upon asking for a refund, however, I was told that I actually could take photos – for an additional Rs 500!
I reluctantly agreed, but was in shock that I’d just paid Rs 1000 for a single attraction.
The sheer size of the Chambal Riverfront Project is absolutely jaw-dropping. In addition to replicas and sculptures, it also features no less than 27 ghats.
The project cost approximately $166.6 million USD to build. But apparently, the whole thing was completed in a mere three years.
And sadly, it shows. As awesome as the whole thing looks from a distance, individual structures appear to have been shoddily built when examined from up close.
Given how massive the whole thing is, I imagine that repair and maintenance are going to be a major headache for many years to come.
Roughly halfway down the east side, I encountered a tower with a viewpoint. They asked for Rs 50 to ascend it, but I said no thanks, as I’d just paid Rs 1000 and wouldn’t pay any more out of principle.
The staff then kindly let me up for free. Apparently, this tower is the very highest point in Kota.
Though I didn’t stop anywhere to eat, there did seem to be an assortment of cafes along the riverfront for a reasonable price. And crucially, plenty of restrooms as well.
I couldn’t help but notice how few visitors there were, and the whole place felt eerily empty.
But the couple of locals I spoke with about the place told me that most people come at night when it’s all lit up. They said the riverfront is really popular for selfies at that time, which I took as a cue to come in the afternoon.
As for the structures on the non-Rajasthani side of the river, it’s a pretty random assortment. A lot of them are actually from India, such as Agra Fort, the Taj Mahal, and some South Indian temples.
As for international structures, I saw Westminster Abbey (UK), Agha Bozorg Mosque (Iran), and Wararai Temple (Thailand), among others.
Note that long before the construction of the Chambal Riverfront Project, one of the main attractions in Kota has been the Seven Wonders Park, which is based on the same concept of displaying replicas of famous structures.
While Seven Wonders Park still exists (more below), it’s a completely separate attraction, so don’t get the two mixed up when planning your visit.
As mentioned above, my only chance to visit the opposite side was to pay extra for a boat. But even though I was considering it, there just weren’t enough visitors that day to fill it up, so I could only admire the west side from afar.
After what felt like ages, I finally reached the other end of the riverfront. Known as the Nayapura Entrance, it’s here that I spotted what’s arguably the most impressive structure: an elaborate stepwell.
So in the end, was the Chambal Riverfront Project worth it? For Rs 1000, no. But for Rs 500, sure. It’s certainly not worth coming to Kota just to see, especially considering how many authentic historical structures there are throughout the state of Rajasthan.
But if you’re already in town, it’s easily one of the top things to do in Kota.
Kshar Bag
One of the top highlights of Kota is a place you can’t technically visit. Kshar Bag is a collection of ancient cenotaphs that is officially off-limits, though you can get a pretty good view of them from above.
Located near the opposite side of the lake from Seven Wonders Park, you’ll want to take an Uber to ‘Lucky Burj.’ From there, locate a staircase taking you to the top of some ancient walls. And from here, you can overlook the cenotaphs.
This is a fairly popular hangout spot, complete with modern parks and gardens.
The cenotaphs belong to the former rulers of Bundi. Kota used to be part of the Bundi Kingdom before it split off and became independent in 1631.
There are said to be 66 cenotaphs in total, but from this vantage point, you can only see a dozen or so.
If you’re in this part of Rajasthan, you’ll most likely be visiting Bundi as well. And Bundi is home to its own collection of cenotaphs which are actually open to the public. But with Kshar Bag being so close to the city center, it’s easily a must-do in Kota.
Brij Vilas Palace Government Museum
Located near Kshar Bag, history lovers should be sure to check out the Brij Vilas Palace Government Museum. It’s your fairly standard regional museum that focuses on ancient sculptures found throughout the area.
It just costs Rs 100, but unfortunately, only cellphone photography is allowed inside.
One of the main highlights here is the building itself, as the museum is housed in a former palace constructed in 1793. Before going inside, I explore the elaborate courtyard area and its pools.
Stepping inside, you’ll find different rooms dedicated to Vishnu-related sculptures, Shiva-related sculptures, and a sizable collection of Jain art. Additionally, the museum hosts an interesting collection of old coins.
Back out in the courtyard, meanwhile, is an ancient pillar dating to the 3rd century AD during the Kushan era. But the protective glass around it makes it quite a challenge to photograph.
If you’re looking for a brief respite from Kota’s hectic traffic, just outside the museum is the entrance for C V garden, a spacious and quiet (but otherwise unremarkable) park. It costs Rs 5 to enter.
Kishore Sagar
Kota is centered around a lake known as Kishore Sagar. Unfortunately, due to the extreme haze at the time of my visit, it was anything but picturesque.
Kshar Bag and the Brij Vilas Palace Government Museum are situated near the north side of the lake, while Seven Wonders Park is located on the south side.
Despite often being touted as one of the best things to do in Kota, Seven Wonders Park is hardly essential – especially now that the Chambal Riverfront Project exists. In any case, I decided to have a quick look, as it costs a mere Rs 10 to get in.
Some of the wonders here include the Great Pyramid, the Roman Colosseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal.
It’s also from here that one can catch a boat to Jag Mandir, a palace located in the center of the lake. But despite all of the on-site signs mentioning a single price of Rs 150 for the ride, I was told by the staff that as a foreigner, I’d have to pay 450.
Feeling like I was being extorted, I ended up just leaving the park. According to reviews, there’s little to see or do at Jag Mandir anyway. Therefore, those with just a day in Kota should focus on the other attractions instead.
Ghatotkacha Circle
The last location featured in this guide to Kota is the most remote, though you can easily get there and back with a couple of Uber rides. If you’re not familiar with the Mahabharata, however, it might not be worth your while.
This massive sculpture, created in 2013, is situated in the middle of a large roundabout.
In the Mahabharata epic, Ghatotkacha is a son of Bhima, one of the five Pandava brothers who play a central role in the story.
He was also the son of the demoness Hidimbi, and he was a fierce fighter who played a pivotal role in the battle of Kurukshetra.
This sculpture depicts him in battle against none other than Karna, another prominent character in the epic (and my personal favorite).
Despite actually being one of the Pandava brothers (though unbeknownst to most), Karna took the side of the rival Kauravas due to the respect and loyalty shown to him by Duryodhana, the epic’s main antagonist.
Notably, this sculpture is very similar to one found in Bali, Indonesia, created twenty years prior in 1993. Though I had seen that one before, it was only out of a car window.
Additional Info
As Rajasthan’s third-largest city, Kota is easy to reach by train. It’s about four hours from Jaipur and seven hours from Delhi, while it’s also connected with Mumbai. For those coming from Madhya Pradesh, direct trains from Indore are available as well.
For those coming from Bundi, you should be able to come by train or local bus. Uber does not work in Bundi, but if you’re visiting Kota first, Bundi is just about a one-hour Uber ride away. At the time of my visit, I paid about Rs 880, which I felt was worth it to avoid the hassle of boarding a train with all my luggage.
If you’re doing a long trip through India, it’s best to create an account on the official Indian Railways (IRCTC) website. But that’s much easier said than done!
If you’re just doing a shorter trip, it’s best to book train tickets through 12GoAsia. You’ll pay a significantly higher fee, but it’s a much smoother experience.
The above link is an affiliate link, but I did use 12GoAsia a few times before I got my IRCTC account set up and I had no issues.
Kota isn’t quite like your typical city in Rajasthan. Don’t expect any backpacker hostels, cafes serving Western breakfasts, and certainly no decent coffee. It’s much more similar to one of the large cities of Madhya Pradesh, such as Bhopal or Indore, than it is to Jaipur or Jodhpur.
Your main options, therefore, will be typical Indian hotels catered to domestic tourists. I spent a couple of nights at the confusingly-titled
‘Super Townhouse Jhalawar Road Gumanpura formerly Rockland.’
The location was central, the staff were friendly, and the room was okay. But the main downside was that there’s a nightclub within the hotel that blasts music past 11:00 each night. If that sounds annoying, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere.
Remember that when traveling even a little bit off the tourist trail in India, you can’t just stay at any hotel you like. Only certain hotels will accept foreigners, and sites like Booking will not specify this!
You’ll have to double-check with your hotel that you’ll be allowed, or at least check to see if people with foreign names and flags have left reviews.
The best way to get around Kota is by Uber. Simply put, Kota is a terrible city for pedestrians – even by Indian standards! I quickly learned that the hard way upon trying to walk around the Kishore Sagar lake upon my arrival.
Later in the day, one of my Uber drivers pointed out how Kota is entirely devoid of traffic lights. For a city of 1.5 million people, that’s utterly ridiculous!
That’s why even if Kota does become more popular for tourism in the future, few people would want to linger for more than a couple of nights.
Uber, at least, works great in Kota, and I had a much easier time getting rides than in other major Indian cities.