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Shivpuri, was once the summer capital of the Scindia clan of
Gwalior and its thick forest were once the hunting grounds of
emperor Akbar.
Shivpuri houses a wildlife sanctuary, spread over 156 sq.km,
The Madhav National Park is a heaven for wild animals. It is
open throughout the year , and boasts of large numbers of chinkara,
Indian gazelle and chital. The nilgai, sambar, chausingha,
blackbuck, sloth bear, leopard and the common langur are the other
inhabitants of this sprawling park.
The park is also rich in birdlife; Chandpata, the
artificial lake, is the winter abode of migratory geese, pochard,
pintail, teal, mallard and gadwall. Other residents include the
cormorant, laggar falcon, paradise flycatcher, redwattled lapwing
and golden oriole.
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What to See
Spread over
156 sq.km, the Madhav National Park is a haven for
wildlife and wildlife - buffs. The park remains open
throughout the year, and boasts of large numbers of chinkara,
Indian gazelle and chital. The nilgai, sambar, chausingha,
blackbuck, sloth bear, leopard and the common langur are the
other inhabitants of this sprawling park. The park is also
rich in birdlife; Chandpata, the artificial lake, is the
winter abode of migratory geese, pochard, pintail, teal,
mallard and gadwall. Other residents include the cormorant,
laggar falcon, paradise flycatcher, redwattled lapwing and
golden oriole.
Set in an
elaborate Mughal garden, are the cenotaphs, the royal
chhatries dedicated to the Scindias. Facing each other
across a water tank are the chhatries of Madhav Rao
Scindia and the dowager queen Maharani Sakya Raje Scindia, in
a delightful fusion of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles,
with their shikhara - type spires and Rajput and Mughal
pavilions. Both cenotaphs house life-size images of the
Scindias, and these are tended to religiously, daily, by
ceremonially attired retainers, with flowers and incense.
The summer
palace of the Scindias, Madhav Vilas Palace, looks
intensely alluring, dressed in a soft shade of rose - pink.
The 'Mahal' as it is popularly known as, is attired with
marble floors, elegant terraces and a Ganapati Mandap. From
the turrets, one can get a splendid view of the Shivpuri town
and the park itself. Deep inside the park, at its highest
point stands the George Castle, built by Jiyaji Rao
Scindia. The ideal time to visit the castle is at sunset, when
the Sakhya Sagar Lake seems to take on the radiance and
changing hues of the sky. Lacing the forest cover of the
National Park, is the Sakhya Sagar Lake, home to
various reptiles. The marsh crocodile, the python and the
monitor lizard are among the commonly seen species here. On
the shores of the lake, and connected to it by a pier, is a
Boat Club, an elegant structure. Another spot of interest is
the Bhadaiya Kund, a picnic spot along a natural spring, the
waters of which are said to be rich in minerals, of a curative
nature. |
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How To
Get There
By rail:
The nearest railheads are at Jhansi (101 km) and Gwalior,
which lie on the Delhi - Mumbai and Delhi - Chennai main
lines.
By road:
Shivpuri is connected with Gwalior, Indore, Bhopal, Jhansi,
and Ujjain by regular bus services. |
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