quite a lot

[user_gary]

After a hard night's journey, there I was right n the centre of India, a land surrounded by marble-rock bearing hills. I had heard quite a lot about Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, and I was eager to see what awaited me.

What does `quite a lot' mean in this sentence?

Also, (Can I say : What is `quite' a lot' mean in this sentence?)

[svartnik]

After a hard night's journey, there I was right n the centre of India, a land surrounded by marble-rock bearing hills. I had heard quite a lot about Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, and I was eager to see what awaited me.

What does `quite a lot' mean in this sentence?

Also, (Can I say : What is `quite' a lot' mean in this sentence?) NO

I have heard many times about....