Kota, Rajasthan

Kota (/ˈkoʊtə/ ^ⓘ), previously known as Kotah, is the third-largest city of the western Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located about 230 kilometres (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, earning it the nickname Suicide Capital of India.

In addition to several monuments, Kota is known for its palaces and gardens. 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.