Ashish Jain/आशीष जैन

My first reaction on seeing this was: AI. My second reaction, after checking: Good grief. It’s real. This is the Chambal Riverfront in Kota. For most of us, the name Kota probably brings to mind its huge coaching industry. And, sadly, the controversies around the intense pressure on students there. But this is a side of Kota I had absolutely no idea existed. 2.75 km along both banks of the Chambal. Ghats, promenades, fountains and some fairly spectacular public spaces. And apparently I’m not the only one who hasn’t discovered it. The riverfront is reportedly attracting only around 1,000 visitors a day. Why haven’t we heard more about it? Credit to Shanti Dhariwal, then Rajasthan’s Urban Development Minister, who drove the project, the Kota Urban Improvement Trust and architect Anoop Bartaria. Judging from these images, it certainly deserves to be better known. Kota just went on my Wanderer list. Anyone been there? Does the reality live up to the pictures? (Video & pic courtesy @ind_whitepill ) #SundayWanderer