Shivpuri is located in the northwestern part of Madhya Pradesh at an altitude of 1,515ft. Once a popular summer capital of the Scindia clan of Gwalior. Shivpuri covered with dense forests and favourite hunting ground of emperor Akbar. It was once crowded with tigers and other wild animals and covered with sylvan surroundings and a natural choice as the summer resort capital of the scindias. The thick forests are still there and continue to serve as a source of domestic and industrial use.



Shivpuri is an excellent place for holiday as its beautiful ambiance and royal grandeur make the place a real treat. The beautiful palaces and hunting lodges made by Scindia rulers. One of the attractions are the marble laid cenotaphs commemorating the Scindia rulers. Shivpuri also have a national park built by Scindia ruler Jiyaji Rao Scindia to stop tiger shooting. The national park is situated at the highest peak and also a very good place to see, the view of pristine lake and dowhill surroundings from this point at ehe sunset is unique.

Sights And Activities

Chhatris
Set in a formal garden are walk in marble structures with Mughal pavilions and sikharas (hindu spires), facing each other across a pool with a network of walkways. Under the flowering trees intersected by pathways with ornamental banisters and lighted with Victorian lamps, there is complex where cenotaphs of Scindias are set. The most beautiful one is cenotaph of Madhav Rao Sciandia, which is inlaid in the pietra dura style with a rich effect by lapis lazuli and onyx. The widow queen Maharani Sakhya Raje Scindia's cenotaph is more elegant and has structural harmony. Every evening silence of chhatris is broken by the classical ragas of Gwalior gharana sung by artists before the statues.

Madhav National Park
The park spread over an area of 156 sq km and open throughout the year. The park was established at the highest point of the town and covered with sylvan environs. The forest is dry, mixed and deciduous when flat grassland is being found around the lake. The lake is nice place to watch plenty of avi fauna. In winter, it is a home to number of migratory birds like geese, pochard, pintail, teal, mallard and gadwall. The permanent residents are red wattled lapwing, large paid wagtail, pond beron, painted stork, white ibis, laggar falcon, purplesunbird, paradise flycatcher and golden oriole. The park is also house number of species like endangered chinkara, the Indian gazelle and the chital, nilgai, sambar, four horned antelopes, blackbuch, langur, sloth bear, leopard and nubmer of reptiles.

Madhav Vilas Palace
This exquisite summer palace is bathed in rose pink and made in truly royal proportion. The palace has marble floor, iron columns, graceful terraces and Ganapati Mandap. It epitomizes the colonial architecture in a true proportion.

George Castle
A small tower named after King George is deep within the forests. The turret was built by Jiyaji Rao Scindia. From the top of the tower one can have a fantastic view of lake. The best time to visit the castle is at sunset.