Situated nearly 100 kms from Gwalior and Jhansi, this national park was the favourite getaway of the Gwalior rulers in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The national park is spread around a beautiful lake and contains numerous buildings constructed by the Scindias to entertain their Royal guests. They even constructed the 'George Castle' to house King George V, of Britain, on his tiger hunting trip. However, the king never made it here as he bagged a tiger on the way and changed his plans.

The Madhav (Shivpuri) National Park is 156 sq kms in area, the park is open throughout the year. Biogeographical Provinces 4.8.4 (Indus-Ganges Monsoon Forest). The park enforces the conservation which the area enjoyed when it was the private shooting reserve of the Maharaja of Gwalior. It was established as the Shivpuri National Park in 1958 simultaneously with the creation of the State of Madhya Pradesh.

It now enjoys further protection under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Consists of level, undulating and hilly country in the Vindhyan range. Also lake. Altitude ranges from 360-480mts. With a varied terrain of wooded hills, the forest being dry, mixed and deciduous with flat grasslands around the lake, it offers abundant opportunities of sighting a variety of wildlife. The vegetation in the park is mixed dry deciduous forest which is poor in quality.

Attraction (Madhav National Park)

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. Tiger Panthera tigris (occasional), leopard Panthera pardus, (striped Hyaena, jackal Canis aureus, jungle cat Felis chaus) cheetal axis, sambar Cervus unicolor, nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus, four-horned antelope (chowsingha) Tetracerus quadricornis, wild boar Sus scrofa, chinkara (mountain gazelle) Gazella, crocodile and others. The Madhav National park is equally rich in the artificial lake, Chandpata, is winter home of 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 frequently visit this spot are Red Wattled Lapwing, Large Pied Wagtail, Pond Heron and White - Breasted Kingfisher. The avifauna also includes Cormorant, Painted Stork, White Ibis, Laggar Falcon, Purple Sunbird, Paradise Flycatcher and Golden Oriole.

The Madhav National Park offers varieties of wildlife, the main species of the park are Deer, little chinkara, Indian gazelle, and cheetal, which can be sighted easily in the park. Other important inhabitants of the park are the nilgai, leopard, sloth bear, sambar, blackbuck, chausingha and the common langur.

It is also the best destination for bird watching. Chandpata, the artificial lake, is the winter abode of migratory geese, pochard, pintail, teal, mallard and gadwall. Other residents includes the cormorant, laggar falcon, paradise flycatcher and golden oriole. Loud cracking notes of whitebrested kingfisher flying past, harsh crocking of grey heron or quacking of spotbill duck and numerous lesser whistling teals resting at the bank of lack with a leg tucked away and head folded back into the body; and cheetal grazing here or nilgiri browsing there in the forest, add to the charm.

Shivpuri has a hot summer, a rainy monsoon season and a chilly winter. Summer temperatures range around 36°C from April to June. During the monsoon, the weather is milder but wet from July to August and the winters from October to March are pleasant during the daytime when its sunny but nights are cold.

Nearest airport is 112 kms away from Gwalior and well connected with Delhi, Bhopal and Mumbai.

Nearest railhead is 100 kms from Jhansi.

Shivpuri is connected by regular bus services with Gwalior, Indore, Bhopal, Jhansi, Ujjain and Sawai Madhopur.