Shivpuri: A Tapestry of Royal Heritage and Natural Splendor

Shivpuri is steeped in the royal legacy of its past, when it was the summer capital of the Scindia rulers of Gwalior. And earlier, its dense forests were the hunting grounds of the Mughal emperors when great herds of elephants were captured by Emperor Akbar.
Much later, it was the tiger that roamed the wooded hills and many a magnificent beast was ‘bagged’ by royal shikaris. And, with its luxuriant forests and undulating hills, Shivpuri was a natural choice as the summer resort capital of the Scindias. Shivpuri’s royal ambience lives on in the exquisite palaces and hunting lodges and graceful, intricately-embellished marble chhatris (cenotaphs) erected by the Scindia princes.

A sanctuary for rare wildlife and avifauna, Shivpuri has transformed a royal past into a vibrant, hopeful present.

Attractions of Shivpuri
Madhav National Park: 156 sq km in area, the park is open throughout

the year. With a varied terrain of wooded hills, the forests being dry, mixed and deciduous, and flat grasslands around the lake, it offers abundant opportunities for sighting a variety of wildlife. The predominant species that inhabits the park is the deer, of which the most easily sighted are the graceful little chinkara, the Indian gazelle and the chital. Other species that have their habitat in the park are nilgai, sambar, chausingha or four-horned antelope, blackbuck, sloth bear, leopard and the ubiquitous common langur.

The National Park is equally rich in avifauna; the artificial lake, Chandpatta, is winter home of migratory geese, pochard, pintail, teal, mallard and gadwall. A good site for bird watching is where the forest track crosses the wide rocky stream that flows from the Waste Weir. Species that frequent this spot are red-wattled lapwing, large-pied wagtail, pond heron and white-breasted kingfisher. The avifauna also includes the cormorant, painted stork, white ibis, laggar falcon, purple sunbird, paradise flycatcher and golden oriole.

George Castle: Deep within the forests of the park, on its highest point, is the Turreted George Castle built by Maharaja Jiyaji Rao Scindia. From here the view of the lake is unparalleled and the best time to visit the castle is at sunset when the lakes below mirror the changing hues of the evening sky.
It is interesting to note that the grand George Castle was built by the Gwalior royalty for an overnight halt for tiger shooting by British King Geroge V, while he was to pass that way during his visit to India in 1911. It so happened that King could shoot a tiger on the way itself and did not stop at Madhav National Park.

Sultan Hotel: (This hotel was constructed by the then Maharaja in 1921 AD for the stay of Nawab of Sultan Ali Khan of Rampur who visited this place.)
A conference of Princess was held here in 1936 A.D. in which princess of 8-10 states participated. The building was used for their entertainment. Preying by tigers, was also watched from here.

Baradari: is a building of Maratha style, built in 1921 as a night dancing hall. It has a gallery of paintings depicting real life and fantasized themes. The hall was also used for entertainment and religious purpose.

Chhatris: Set in a formal Mughal garden, with quiet nooks under flowering trees, intersected by pathways with ornamental balustrades and illuminated by Victorian lamps, is the complex in which the cenotaphs of the Scindias are set. Facing each other across a water tank are the chhatris of Madho Rao Scindia and the dowager queen Maharani Sakhya Raje Scindia, synthesising the architectural idioms of Hindu and Islamic styles with their shikhara-type spires and Rajput and Mughal pavilions.

Boat Club, Shivpuri

The glittering white mar ble surface of Madho Rao Scindia’s cenotaph is inlaid in the pietra dura style, with lapis lazuli and onyx to create a spectacularly rich effect, heightened by the delicacy of the trellis work on the sides. The dowager queen’s cenotaph has a noble dignity of line and superb strucuctural harmony. Both memorials contain life-size images of the Scindias and these are tended to with extreme devotion by ceremonially-dressed retainers who perform the rituals of placing flowers and incense before the statues each day. In the evenings, the hush is broken by the sound of music as artists of the Gwalior gharana render classical ragas before the statues.

Madhav Vilas Palace: Standing upon a natural eminence, the elongated rose-pink summer palace of the Scindias is built in truly royal proportions. A fine example of colonial architecture, the ‘Mahal’, as it is called, is remarkable for its marble floors, iron columns, graceful terraces and the Ganapati Mandap. From the turrets, the view is a spectacular one of Shivpitown and the park beyond.

Sakhya Sagar Boat Club: Edging the forests of the Madhav National Park is the Sakhya Sagar lake, habitat of a variety of reptiles. Species that can be seen here are the marsh crocodile or mugger, Indian python and the monitor lizard. On the shores of the lake and connected to it by a broad pier is a Boat Club, an airy, delicate structure with glass panels.

Bhadaiya Kund: A scenic picnic spot by a natural spring. The water here is rich in minerals, supposedly of a curative nature.
Kothi no. 17: In this Kothi the trial of Tatya Tope was held in the front room of the ground floor. Tatya Tope was hanged publicly in Shivpuri the place where now Tatya Tope memorial stands.

Surwaya: 21 km away, Surwaya is noteworthy for the remains of a fort, three Hindu temples, a monastery and a step-well. The charming gadi has recently been painstakingly restored inside.

Narwar: 41 km away, Narwar is the one-time capital of Raja Nal of Naisadha, and his consort Damayanti. It is remarkable for its medieval fortress atop a hill.

Chanderi: 127 km away, Chanderi has some of the finest examples of Bundela Rajput and Malwa Sultanate architecture. A Mughal fort dominates the skyline of this lovely old town, which is famed for its brocades and muslins today.

Sheshai: Sun temple of Pratihar Period (8-9″ century AD)

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport is at Gwalior (112 km).

By Rail: Nearest rail heads are at Jhansi (101 km) and Gwalior which are on the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Chennai main lines. Shivpuri is a railway station on the Dehradun-Ujjain route.

By Road: Shivpuri is connected by regular bus services with Gwalior, Indore, Bhopal, Jhansi and Ujjain.