P Srinivasan I vasu@changingtomorrow.in
Now Rajasthan has a new tourist attraction. Kota which till now was known as the coaching hub of the country now has a new identity in the form of heritage riverfront, which is first in the country. It has been developed with a cost of more than Rs 1400 crore. The Chambal Riverfront has 27 ghats at both banks. The Chambal Riverfront is 2.75 km long from Kota Barrage to Nayapura bridge.
Chambal Mata Ghat – The Chambal Mata Ghat with a garden has been developed on the lines of Vrindavan Garden and it has a beautiful musical fountain. The ghat has a 42 metre tall Chambal Mata statue made of Vietnam marble. The ghat also has a Mukut Mahal in which a huge model of the riverfront, museum and viewpoints have been constructed. The Mukut Mahal has an 80 feet high roof and a silicon valley.
Ganesh Pol – Idol of Lord Ganesha has been set up on two huge arches. The façade has been developed on the lines of Agra Fort and it also has a VIP lounge.
Maru Ghat – Idols of 6 camels made of gun metal have been installed in this ghat. A VIP tent city has been developed between the ghat and façade wall.
Jantar-Mantar Ghat – A zodiac tower has been constructed in this ghat which has 12 zodiac signs along with Surya yantra and Rashi yantra. The world famous blue pottery work and Theekari work of Jaipur has been done on the façade.
Vishwa Maitri Ghat – A huge banquet hall has been constructed in this ghat in which a 10-metre globe has been made that has flags of G-20 countries. The theme of this ghat is based on One World One Dream. Replica of 9 world famous buildings has been made on its façade and people can relish the cuisine of the concerned countries.
Hadauti Ghat – The architecture of Hadauti is included in the façade which has Ganesh pol of the main gate in Taragarh Fort of Bundi and life size idols of Hadi Rani and Ma Pannadhai made of gun metal and apart from this, chhatri on 84 pillars has been built.
Mahatma Gandhi Setu – Mahatma Gandhi setu has been built for the movement of tourists on Rampura cremation ground.
Kanak Mahal – In this six towers have been made and its dome has golden tiles. It has a water park and restaurant also.
Favvara Ghat – A beautiful lagoon with stairs has been built in this ghat and the main attraction is a world class linear fountain show. The façade has commercial shops and food courts.
Rangmanch Ghat – It has an amphitheatre with a green room and ghats have been made as piano’s keyboard.
Sahitya Ghat – Pustak Mahal and a beautiful huge open book has been made of Banswara marble in this ghat along with the idols of famous writers. The ground floor of the façade has a library and cafeteria on the first floor.
Utsav Ghat – It has a banquet hall, beautiful chhatris, cascade and star fountain.
Singh Ghat – Nine lions have been made of Banswara marble and each weighs around 35 tonnes and is 15 feet high, 11 feet long and 6 feet wide. Rani Mahal has been made in the centre of the ghat which has a food court and shops are made in the façade.
Nayapura Garden – At the entrance of the riverfront in Nayapura garden, a beautiful baori (step well) and garden has been developed along with parking space.
Jawahar Ghat – Face mask of Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru has been installed in this ghat, which is 32 feet high and 25 tonnes in weight. Tourists climbing the mask can see the ghats in western side of the river and enjoy the beautiful sight of Chambal Mata statue.
Geeta Ghat – This ghat has all the 700 shlokas in 18 chapters of Geeta on the marble slabs.
Shanti Ghat – Invisible sculpture of yoga pose has been put here in which all the 7 chakras of the human body have been shown.
Nandi Ghat – This ghat has Nandi idol of 25 feet long, 15 feet wide and 20 feet high. This idol is taller than Buland Darwaza in Fatehpur Sikri.
Vedic Ghat – This Ghat shows five elements. Five temples have been built in Badoli style.
Roshan Ghat – The architecture of Islamic phase has been displayed here and Jannati Darwaza has also been built in the middle of this ghat.
Ghanti Ghat – World’s largest bell has been installed here and its sound can be heard up to 8kms.
Tiranga Ghat – Huge national flag has been put here.
Shaurya Ghat – It is at the entrance gate on the western side, which has a huge parking, information centre for tourists, restaurants etc.
Rajputana Ghat – The architecture and culture of 9 areas of Rajasthan that is Shekhawati, Dhundhad, Marwad, Vagad, Ahirwal, Mewat, Gorwad and Hadauti are visible at Rajputana Ghat. Replicas of various buildings have been made such as Poddar Haveli, Jag Mandir, Jag Niwas, Gangauri Ghat, Hawa Mahal, Ganesh Pol, Sargasuli, Vijay Stambh, Brahma Mandir, Ranakpur, Patwa Haveli etc.
Jugnu Ghat – Flora and fauna has been made of LED in this ghat and it has a open theatre also.
Hathi Ghat – Idols of elephants in white marble have been installed on natural rocks.
Balaji Ghat – Batak Balaji temple has been built on this ghat and heritage of historical temples built earlier were also conserved.
It is to be mentioned that the world’s largest bell at Ghanti Ghat, biggest mask of Nehru and 225 feet tall statue of Chambal Mata have been registered in Guinness Book of World Records.
