General knowledge tops for Swedish status: study

Swedes consider having broad general knowledge, being skilled at one's job and being a good parent as the most important qualities for status, a new survey has revealed.

* More bright signs for Sweden's labour market (13 Dec 10)
* Sweden fifth in climate change ranking: survey (7 Dec 10)
* Swedes name China most innovative in future (5 Dec 10)

In addition, kindness became one of the desired traits for the first time in analysis firm United Minds' annual survey on status.

"You can forget about earning status by showing off expensive tastes. Neither a volatile love life nor pricey gadgets count. Instead, one should invest in soft values such as being kind, well read, good at one's job and handy," United Minds CEO Marie Söderqvist said in a statement on Friday.

Söderqvist is also the author of a book titled "Status - the road to happiness."

Separately, buying organic products came in 34th, while driving an eco-car fell to 42nd, compared with its peak at 29th in 2007.

The survey also examined what Chinese people determined was important for status. They believed kindness was most important, followed by being confident and assertive, having a clear outlook on life and a long and stable marriage.

The Chinese also valued people who built their own fortunes, while similar to Swedes, they were not very impressed with pricey gadgets.

"Environmental awareness has really taken hold in China. We noticed that it gives someone higher status than among Swedes. As a Swede, it is perhaps a bit surprising, but it is clear that China has come a long way as a technology and innovation country," said Söderqvist.

Princely City of Kota

Kota city became independent in 1579, after Bundi state in Hadoti region had become weak. Then, Kota ruled the territory which now is Kota district and Baran district.
[edit] Places of interest
[edit] Museums

Kota has two noteworthy museums:

Maharao Madho Singh Museum

Situated in the old palace, the museum has a superb collection of Rajput miniature paintings of the Kota school, exquisite sculptures, frescoes and armoury. The museum also houses a rich repository of artistic items used by the Kota rulers.

The Government Museum

Housed in the Brijvilas Palace near the Kishore Sagar, the museum displays a rich collection of rare coins, manuscripts and a representative selection of Hadoti sculpture. Especially noteworthy is an exquisitely sculptured statue brought here from Baroli.
[edit] Places of worship
Godavari dham temple, Kota

Kota is home to a large number of Temples and Gurudwaras, some of which date back to the medieval period. Notable places of worship include:

Godavari Dham Temple


This Hanuman Temple is located beside the Chambal River. It has two high marble towers and huge marble swan built at the top of the entrance gate. It is visited by a large number of devotees especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays when a midnight Aarti of Lord Hanuman is organised.

Agamgarh Saheb Gurudwara

Situated on Kota-Bundi highway 8 km from Kota city, it is the largest Gurudwara of Kota and includes a well-attended "Langar" (community kitchen).

Badoli Temples
Khare Ganesha Temple
Tirupati Balaji Temple
Karneshwar(Temple)

[edit] Gardens and picnic spots
Garh Palace, Kota

* Chambal Garden
* The Keshar Bagh, garden famous for its royal cenotaphs.
* Kala Khet (Picnic Spot)
* Gapernath (Picnic Spot)
* Bheetariya Kund(Picnic Spot)
* Darrah National Park(not yet functional)
* Bhanvarkunj (Chambal waterfall)

[edit] Places of Amusement

* Sawan phuhar Water Park, Kota 's first water theme park, has since its inception been an irresistible attraction for hundreds of thousands of fun-loving people of all ages from all over the Hadoti region. Just 1 Km from Kota on the Kota-Bundi Highway, it is a unique combination of amusement park, water park and resort. Aesthetically laid out flora and fauna along with the first and the biggest wet park in the region has the biggest landing pool in the city, one water playground and 6 water slides of different sizes and shape, including a few small ones for children.

[edit] Other places of interest
Damaged Jagmandir Palace, Kota


* Chambal River Ghariyal (Alligator) Reservoir
* Garh Palace
* Brijraj Bhavan Palace (Residence of Ex-Darbar)
* Pahadajhar Mahadev Water Fall
* Adhar Shila (slanting rock)
* Jawahar Sagar Dam
* Kota Barrage

A part of the irrigation canal system on the Chambal River, this beautiful setting is ideal for outings and evening strolls.

* Jag Mandir

The palace of Jag Mandir stands amidst the artificial lake of Kishore Sagar constructed in 1346 AD by Prince Dher Deh of Bundi. Boat-rides can be enjoyed in the lake.