Bhim Singh II was a ruler of the princely state of Kota in present-day Rajasthan, India, holding the title of Maharao of Kota. The Kota state was one of the principal Rajput princely states of the Hadoti region during the period of British paramountcy in India.
| Name | Bhim Singh II |
|---|---|
| Title | Maharao of Kota |
| State | Kota (princely state) |
| Region | Hadoti, Rajputana (present-day Rajasthan, India) |
| Dynasty | Hada Chauhan (Rajput) |
The princely state of Kota was founded in the 17th century when it was separated from the larger state of Bundi. Its rulers belonged to the Hada branch of the Chauhan Rajputs and bore the title of Maharao. Kota acceded to British paramountcy through a treaty in 1817 and remained a salute state until the integration of the princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947.
As Maharao, Bhim Singh II occupied the gaddi of Kota and served as the head of the Hada ruling house. The rulers of Kota were responsible for civil administration, military affairs, and patronage of the arts within the state, while external relations were governed by treaty arrangements with the British Crown.
The rulers of Kota, including those bearing the name Bhim Singh, are associated with the development of the Kota school of miniature painting, the construction and expansion of the City Palace at Kota, and the religious and cultural patronage characteristic of Rajput courts. Kota was also known for its hunting traditions, fortifications along the Chambal river, and association with regional Vaishnavite worship.