Kota State

Kota State, also known as Kotah State, was a princely state in the rugged and fertile Hadoti region of India, centered on the city of Kota, now located in Rajasthan State of India.

Historically a part of the unified Hada Chauhan kingdom of Bundi, Kota emerged as an independent political entity in 1631 AD when Emperor Shah Jahan partitioned the territory to reward Rao Madho Singh for his military services to the Mughal Empire. The state was defined by its strategic position along the eastern bank of the Chambal River, serving as a vital gateway between North India and the Deccan plateau. Over the centuries, Kota transitioned from a military outpost of the Hada Chauhans into a sophisticated center of culture, famous for its distinct school of miniature painting and its formidable fortifications. During British suzerainty, which began in 1817, it was a 17-gun salute state and played a pivotal role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Following Indian independence in 1947, the last ruling Maharao, Bhim Singh II, signed the Instrument of Accession, leading to the state's eventual integration into the modern state of Rajasthan. The average revenue of Kota state in 1901 was Rs.31,00,000.