Quick Facts
Location - In the northern part of Madhya Pradesh.
How To Reach - The nearest airport is Gwalior(112km) connected with
Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal, Indore. The nearest railhead is Jhansi(101km) and
Gwalior. Shivpuri is connected by bus services with other cities like
Gwalior, Indore, Bhopal, Jhansi, and Ujjain and also connected with other
states via National Highway 47.
Where To Stay - There are few high class resorts in Shivpuri. Also
budget hotels are ubiquitous.
When To Go - Round the year.
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.
