The Madhav National Park is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh near the Shivpuri town. It is the part of the northern border of the Central Highlands in India. The upper Vindhyan hills have the national part as a part of the region forming plateaus and also having Nallas both small as well as big. The slopes of these Vindhyan hills are normally gentle at some places they are found to be steep. The Madhav National park is covering an area of around 355 square kilometers. The park has a mixture of natural fineries of history and also architectural splendors. It is one of the oldest National parks in India covering the northern region of the Indian State Madhya Pradesh. The closest town to the park is the Shivpuri town. In the year 1958, the park got the status of a National park.

The uniqueness of the park is because of having a lake and a forest ecosystem as well. The two lakes found in the park are Sakhya lake and Madhav Sagar lake. These lakes act as important support systems to the biodiversity. The lakes are the permanent and reliable source of water to the park and add to the picturesque beauty of the park. The lakes are the perfect habitat to the aquatic life and thousands of migratory waterfowls are found here.  The Sakhya Sagar lake contains the marsh crocodiles in abundance. This is lake is a major tourist attraction as it has a look of crocodile safari.

The flora of the park is Northern Tropical dry deciduous mixed forest type along with dry thorn forest, which is atypical forest type fund in the northern region of Madhya Pradesh. The forest is a home to many antelopes including chinkara, neelgai, chowsinga, chital, Barking deer, sambar etc. the wildlife found here includes animals like wolf, leopard, jackal, wild dog, fox, porcupine, wild dog, marsh, python, marsh crocodile etc. The terrain of the park is that of the wooden hills, lakes surrounded by flat grass lands, dry and mixed deciduous forests, one can get many opportunities in the park to spot the wildlife.

General Information

History

The town of Shivpuri, located in the Madhya Pradesh state was the summer capital earlier and of the Maharaja of Gwalior and also the hunting preserve of the Maharaja. During the Mughal rule too, this dense forest was used as the hunting grounds for the Mughal emperors. The Emperor Akbar captured large herds of the elephants from here. The area has always had the privilege to be the Royal shooting reserve. The area was famous for tigers and had been protected and thrived with the wildlife. This area was known to house tigers and other wild animals in a large numbers. It is said that in the year 1916, eight tigers in a single day were shot by Lord Hardings in this region and during his Gwalior trip, Lord Minto shot nineteen tigers. During the late 1970s, the last residents of the tigers were spotted in the Madhav National park. Now after sincere efforts, the condition has been improved and transient tigers are now attracted to this place. In the year 2007 a male and a female tiger made this region their home.

The shores of the Sakhya lakes bounded the forest at a certain place. A boat club is located here and number of migratory birds can be spotted from here. The birds come here in abundance specially in the winter season. Numerous water fowls come here during the winter season. Above the Sakhya lake, Maharaja constructed a shooting box which is a viewing lodge. This lodge was constructed to shoot the wildlife with gun as well as the camera from here. Here visitors could sit under the shelter to watch a tiger being killed.  At some suitable points around the lake, boat landing areas were constructed by the Maharaja. Some picnic spots, hides and watch towers had also been made here. The place also has a network of metaled roads laid out very efficiently.

The attractive georges castle has been constructed in the depth of the forest at one of the highest points. The castle has been built at a height of 484 metres or 1597 feet. Jivaji rao Scindia built this castle for the purpose of overnight stay here for tiger shooting by the King George V when he passed the destination during his trip to India in the year 1911. The other beautiful sites in the national park includes Bhura-kho spring, Tunda Bharka spring, watch tower and Churanchaj ancient wall paintings.

Best Time To Visit

The weather is very pleasant from the month of October to April. It is the best time to reach the park as many migratory birds are found here during this time. The functioning of the park is all the year round. The timings of the park is between 6.30 am to 10 am and between 2.30 pm to 6.00 pm.

Distance From - National Park

Jhansi is located at a distance of 101 kilometers from the park and the city of Gwalior is 120 kilometer away from the park.

How To Get There

By Air: Gwalior airport is the nearest airport which is connected to all the metro cities of India by daily flights. Many resorts offer pickup facilities from the airport.

By Rail: Jhansi is the nearest rail head. From here one can reach the bus via taxi or bus.

By Road: By road the park is accessible from Gwalior which is only 120 kilometres away from the park.

Things To Do In - National Park

The two lakes found in the park are Sakhya lake and Madhav Sagar lake. These lakes act as important support systems to the biodiversity. The lakes add to the picturesque beauty of the park. The lakes are the perfect habitat to the aquatic life and thousands of migratory waterfowls are found here.  The Sakhya Sagar lake contains the marsh crocodiles in abundance. This is lake is a major tourist attraction as it has a look of crocodile safari.  A boat club is located near Sakhya Lake and number of migratory birds can be spotted from here. The birds come here in abundance specially in the winter season. Numerous water fowls come here during the winter season. Above the Sakhya lake, Maharaja constructed a shooting box which is a viewing lodge.At some suitable points around the lake, boat landing areas were constructed by the Maharaja. Some picnic spots, hides and watch towers had also been made here. The place also has a network of metaled roads laid out very efficiently.  The attractive georges castle has been constructed in the depth of the forest at one of the highest points. The castle has been built at a height of 484 metres or 1597 feet. The other beautiful sites in the national park includes Bhura-kho spring, Tunda Bharka spring, watch tower and Churanchaj ancient wall paintings.

Wildlife In Madhav National Park

The forest is a home to many antelopes including chinkara, neelgai, chowsinga, chital, Barking deer, sambar etc. the wildlife found here includes animals like wolf, leopard, jackal, wild dog, fox, porcupine, wild dog, marsh, python, marsh crocodile etc.

Location Map

Accommodation

The accomodations are available at the tourist village of Madhya Pradesh. The guest houses of the Tourism Development Corporation and Forest Department are also available. One can also get good accommodation in the local hotels found here.

Weather

Summers lasts from April to June and the temperaturerising up to 42°C. Summers are generally hot and dry.

Monsoons last from the month of July to October and the atmospheric conditions are humidthese days.

The Winters last from December to February and weather is very mild and cool during winters.

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