Kota formerly known as Kotah, is a city in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. Situated on the banks of Chambal River, the city is the trade centre for an area in which cotton, millet, wheat, coriander and oilseeds are grown; industries include cotton and oilseed milling, textile weaving, distilling, dairying, and the manufacture of metal handcrafts. Kota is one of the major industrial hubs in northern India, with many prominent chemical and engineering companies based here. The rail junction, a road hub, lies 4.8 km (3 mi) to the north.

The history of the city dates back to the 12th century A.D. when the Hada Chieftain, Rao Deva, conquered the territory and founded Bundi and Hadoti. Later, in the early 17th century AD 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 became a hallmark of the Rajput gallantry and culture.

The Independent state of kota became a reality in 1631 when Rao Madho Singh, the second son of Rao Ratan of Bundi was made the ruler, by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Soon Kota outgrew its parent state to become bigger in area, richer in revenue and more powerful.

Kota is Rjasthan's Fifth Largest City. This Bustling,sprawling city is also called the industrial capital of the state

Kota is located along the eastern bank of the Chambal River in the southern part of Rajasthan. The exact cartographic coordinates are [show location on an interactive map] 25.18° N 75.83° E.[1] It covers an area of approximately 12,436 km² (3.63 per cent of the Rajasthan State).[2] It has an average elevation of 271 metres (889 ft). The district is bound on the north and north west by Sawai Madhopur, Tonk and Bundi districts. The Chambal River separates these districts from Kota district, forming the natural boundary.

The climate of the city is of the tropical type due to the proximity to the Tropic of Cancer and is subject to extremes of heat during summer, and has mildly cold winters. The summer season in Kota lasts from April to late October. The average temperature in the daytime hovers around 42.6°C. The average temperature falls in the range of 29.7°C (max) to 9°C (min) during wintertime.