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{{Short description|National park in India}}
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| name = Madhav National Park
| name = Madhav National Park
| iucn_category = II
| iucn_category = II
| photo = Mnp1.jpg
| image = Mnp1.jpg
| photo_caption =  
| image_caption = Forest in Madhav National Park
| map = India Madhya Pradesh
| map = India Madhya Pradesh#India
| location = [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]]
| map_caption = Location in Madhya Pradesh
| location = [[Madhya Pradesh]], India
| nearest_city = [[Shivpuri]] around 9km away
| nearest_city = [[Shivpuri]] around 9km away
| coordinates = {{coord|25|28|N|77|45|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{coord|25.50|N|77.82|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area_km2 = 354
| area_km2 = 354
| established = 1958
| relief = 1
| visitation_num = around 500 people  
| mapframe = Yes
| visitation_num = around 500 people
| visitation_year = every year
| visitation_year = every year
| governing_body =  
| governing_body =  
| module = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Ramsar
| designation1_offname = Sakhya Sagar
| designation1_date = 7 January 2022
| designation1_number = 2483<ref name="RSIS">{{Cite web|title=Sakhya Sagar|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/2483|access-date=7 August 2022}}</ref>}}
| established =
}}
}}
'''Madhav National Park''' is situated in [[Shivpuri District]] of [[Gwalior division]] in northwest [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]]. Two national highways pass through the park, the [[Agra]] to [[Bombay]] former [[National Highway 3 (India, old numbering)|National Highway 3]] and the [[Jhansi]] to [[Shivpuri]] [[National Highway 27 (India)|National Highway 27]] (formerly N.H.25).<ref name="Tiwari">{{Cite book|last=Tiwari |first=Shiv Kumar |year=1998 |chapter=Madhav National Park |title=National Parks of Madhya Pradesh: State of Bio Diversity and Human Infringement |location=New Delhi |publisher=APH Publishing |pages=148–166 |isbn=978-81-7024-950-4 }}</ref>  
'''Madhav National Park''' is a national park in [[Shivpuri District]] of [[Gwalior division]] in northwest [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]]. It was established in 1956 with {{cvt|167|km2}} as Shivpuri National Park. In 1958, it was renamed Madhav National Park after [[Madho Rao Scindia]] and was finalized the following year.<ref name="Tiwari" /> Sakhya Sagar, a reservoir within the park, has been designated as a [[Ramsar site]] in 2022.<ref name="RSIS"/>


The park was first noticed in 1956, at 167 km<sup>2</sup>, as Shivpuri National Park. In 1958, it was renamed Madhav National Park after [[Madho Rao Scindia]], the Maharaja of [[Gwalior]] belonging to the [[Scindia]] dynasty of the [[Maratha]]s, and was finalized the following year.<ref name="Tiwari" />
Two national highways pass through the park, the [[Gwalior]] to [[Bombay]] former [[National Highway 3 (India, old numbering)|National Highway 3]] and the [[Jhansi]] to [[Shivpuri]] [[National Highway 27 (India)|National Highway 27]].<ref name="Tiwari">{{Cite book |last=Tiwari |first=S. K. |year=1998 |chapter=Madhav National Park |title=National Parks of Madhya Pradesh: State of Bio Diversity and Human Infringement |location=New Delhi |publisher=APH Publishing |pages=148–166 |isbn=978-81-7024-950-4}}</ref>
 
The park has many leopards, and since October 2007, one male and one female tiger have made Madhav their home.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
 
==Geography==
There are several small ponds in this national park, but the largest body of water is Sankhya Sagar, a [[reservoir]],<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/25%C2%B028'00.0%22N+77%C2%B045'00.0%22E/@25.3969754,77.7187696,6755m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d25.466667!4d77.75?hl=en Google maps]</ref> constructed for Madho Rao Scindia when it was still his hunting grounds.<ref name="Tiwari" /> He also had constructed a second smaller reservoir, Madhav Sagar, known as Madhav Lake.<ref name="Tiwari" /> A third reservoir was not included in the park.<ref name="Tiwari" />
 
Located in the [[ecoregion]] of [[Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests]],<ref name="WWF, SA: NI">{{WWF ecoregion |id=im0206 |name=Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests |access-date=2017-01-29}}</ref> this national park has a varied terrain of [[forest]]ed [[hills]] and flat [[grasslands]] around the reservoir and is thus rich in [[biodiversity]]. The average rainfall is 816 mm.<ref name="Roy">{{Cite journal|last1=Roy |first1=P. S. |last2=Ravan |first2=Shirish A. |year=1996 |title=Biomass estimation using satellite remote sensing data—An investigation on possible approaches for natural forest |journal=Journal of Biosciences |volume=21 |issue=4 |pages=535—561 |doi=10.1007/BF02703218 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225623869_Biomass_estimation_using_satellite_remote_sensing_data-An_investigation_on_possible_approaches_for_natural_forest}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
The dense forests of Sipri later came to be known as Shivpuri doubled up as hunting grounds for Mughal emperors since the 16th century. Since then Mughal princes, Rajputana rulers, Gwalior royals and British dignitaries travelled to this area for hunting sprees. Therefore it came to be known as royal hunting park or Majestic Park due to high movement of Kings and high ranking british officials including British Monarch and Viceroys.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhagat |first=M. |date=2025 |title=Once A Royal Ground For Mughals, This National Park Is Now India's 58th Tiger Reserve |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/travel/news/once-a-royal-hunting-ground-for-mughals-this-national-park-in-madhya-pradesh-is-now-indias-58th-tiger-reserve-article-118835326 |access-date=12 March 2025 |website=Times now}}</ref>


[[File:George Castle, Madhav National Park, Shivpuri.jpg|thumb|George Castle]]
George Castle was built in 1911 at an elevation of {{cvt|484.0|m}}. It was built for [[George V]] who had intended to stay there during his visit to India.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sengar |first=R. |date=2018 |title=The charms of Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh |newspaper=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/the-charms-of-shivpuri-in-madhya-pradesh/as65579178.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828224156/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/the-charms-of-shivpuri-in-madhya-pradesh/as65579178.cms |archive-date=28 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>


The dense forests around Shivpuri were the hunting grounds of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperors and later the [[Maratha]] royals. Emperor [[Akbar]] captured herds of elephants for his stables while returning from [[Mandu, Madhya Pradesh|Mandu]] in year 1564.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}} Since the area was a royal shooting reserve, it was well protected, and abounded with wild life and was famous for its tigers. [[Bengal tiger]]s and other animals were known to wander in great numbers in the area.  
After the independence of India, the area suffered degradation.<ref name="Tiwari" /> Agriculture and mining encroached on the former hunting grounds. Although the park was  noticed in 1956, at 167 km2, as '''Shivpuri National Park''' and became the renamed Madhav National Park in 1959, degradation continued.<ref name="Tiwari" /><ref name="Roy" /> The last of the resident wild tigers were seen in Madhav National Park in the late 1970s. In 1982, a plan to add a new part of the park parallel to the [[Chambal River]] was proposed. This expansion area included a corridor joining it to the original {{cvt|167|km2}}.<ref name="Tiwari" />


Shivpuri town in the state of Madhya Pradesh was formerly the summer capital and a much larger park was the former hunting preserve of the [[Shinde#Scindia maharajas of Ujjain and Gwalior|Scindia maharajas of Ujjain and Gwalior]]. It is reported{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}} that in 1916, Lord Hardinge shot eight tigers in one day at Shivpuri. Lord Minto supposed to have shot 19 tigers during his trip to [[Gwalior State]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}  
In the 1990s, there was little effort to improve the conditions in the park. [[Illegal mining]] and questionable mining permits led to significant degradation in the park, so that in the 1990s conservationists took the matter to the [[Supreme Court of India]] and by 1998 received an injunction terminating mining in the area.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shrivastava |first=P. P. |display-authors=etal |date=2017 |title=District Tourism Master Plan for Shivpuri Draft Report |publisher=Design and Planning Consultants (DPC) |location=[[Bhopal]] |page=43 |url=https://docplayer.net/79213896-District-tourism-master-plan-for-shivpuri-draft-report-july-client-district-tourism-promotion-council-dtpc-shivpuri.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527030555/https://docplayer.net/79213896-District-tourism-master-plan-for-shivpuri-draft-report-july-client-district-tourism-promotion-council-dtpc-shivpuri.html |archive-date=27 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>


After the independence of India, the area suffered degradation.<ref name="Tiwari" /> Agriculture and mining encroached on the former hunting grounds. Although the park was  noticed in 1956, at 167 km2, as '''Shivpuri National Park''' and became the renamed Madhav National Park in 1959, degradation continued.<ref name="Tiwari" /><ref name="Roy" />  The last of the resident wild tigers were seen in Madhav National Park around late 1970. In 1982 a plan to add a new part of the park along the [[Sindh River]] was proposed. This expansion area included a corridor joining it to the original 167 km<sup>2</sup>,<ref name="Tiwari" /> which when completed would bring the park to 354 km<sup>2</sup>. (See map below in external links.)
On 1 December 2024, the technical committee of the [[National Tiger Conservation Authority]] (NTCA) proposed to recognize Madhav National Park as a Tiger Reserve which will span {{cvt|1751|km2}} featuring a core area of {{cvt|375|km2}} and a buffer area of {{cvt|1276|km2}}. Furthermore, the committee has also approved the release of one tiger and one tigress into the park.<ref>{{cite news |title=Not Madhav National Park, but Rathapani forest notified as eighth tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh |url=https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/nature-and-wildlife/article/ratapani-forest-notified-as-eighth-tiger-reserve-in-madhya-pradesh-23439720 |access-date=4 December 2024 |work=Mid-day}}</ref>


As late as the 1990s there was little effort to improve the conditions in the park. [[Illegal mining]] and questionable mining permits led to significant degradation in the park, so that in the 1990s conservationists took the matter the [[Supreme Court of India]] and by 1998 received an injunction terminating mining in the area.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shrivastava |first=Priyanka Pawar |display-authors=etal |date= July 2017 |title=District Tourism Master Plan for Shivpuri Draft Report |publisher=Design and Planning Consultants (DPC) |location=[[Bhopal]] |page=43 |url=https://docplayer.net/79213896-District-tourism-master-plan-for-shivpuri-draft-report-july-client-district-tourism-promotion-council-dtpc-shivpuri.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527030555/https://docplayer.net/79213896-District-tourism-master-plan-for-shivpuri-draft-report-july-client-district-tourism-promotion-council-dtpc-shivpuri.html |archive-date=27 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Geography==
 
There are several small ponds in this national park, but the largest body of water is Sankhya Sagar, a [[reservoir]],<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/25%C2%B028'00.0%22N+77%C2%B045'00.0%22E/@25.3969754,77.7187696,6755m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d25.466667!4d77.75?hl=en Google maps]</ref> constructed for [[Madho Rao Scindia]] when it was still his hunting grounds.<ref name="Tiwari" /> He also had constructed a second smaller reservoir by damming Manihar River, Madhav Sagar, known as Madhav Lake.<ref name="Tiwari" /> A third reservoir was not included in the park.<ref name="Tiwari" />
Owing to dedicated efforts the habitat has again become secure and improved encouraging transient tigers to be tempted to become resident.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
 
==Sights and facilities==
On the shores of Sakhya Sagar lake which edges the forests, is a boat club, from where the park visitors can see a number of migratory birds especially in winter, when many migratory waterfowls visit the area. A viewing lodge constructed by the Maharaja called the Shooting Box, is situated above the Sakhya Sagar lake. In the older days one could shoot wildlife, both with a gun and camera from here. Visitors could sit under cover and watch a tiger at a kill. All around the lake (at suitable points), the Maharaja constructed boat landing areas, picnic shelters, watch towers, hides, etc. and a network of well laid out metalled roads.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
 
=== George Castle ===
[[File:George Castle, Madhav National Park, Shivpuri.jpg|thumb|265x265px]]
At the highest elevation in Madhav National Park, {{convert|484.0|m|ft|abbr=on}}, is the George Castle (Bankhade Kothi). In 1911, the local [[Scindia]] ruler [[Madho Rao Scindia]] built the castle in his hunting park for an overnight stay by King [[George V of the United Kingdom]]. George V had intended to go [[Tiger hunting|tiger shooting]] there during his visit to India. However, the king shot a tiger before getting there, and did not stop at George Castle afterall.<ref>{{Cite web|title=George Castle |publisher=[[Shivpuri District]] of Madhya Pradesh |url=https://shivpuri.nic.in/en/tourist-place/george-castle/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525225821/https://shivpuri.nic.in/en/tourist-place/george-castle/ |archive-date=25 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Sengar |first=Resham |date=28 August 2018 |title=The charms of Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh |newspaper=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/the-charms-of-shivpuri-in-madhya-pradesh/as65579178.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828224156/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/the-charms-of-shivpuri-in-madhya-pradesh/as65579178.cms |archive-date=28 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Although in some disrepair, it is a "turreted English-style castle, with Belgian glass windows and Italian tile flooring."<ref>{{Cite news|date=16 February 2003 |title=The Cycle of Life |newspaper=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=37573125  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030321132053/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=37573125 |archive-date=21 March 2003 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
==Biodiversity==
[[Image:Madhav Natioinal Park.JPG|thumb|left]]
 
Madhav National Park has an area of 354&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. It was set up in 1958. The national park is open year-round. With a varied terrain of wooded hills – the [[forest]] being dry, mixed and [[deciduous]]- and flat [[grasslands]] around the lake, it offers abundant opportunities of sighting a variety of [[wildlife]]. The principal tree species found in the park are khair (''[[Acacia catechu]]''), salai (''[[Boswellia serrata]]''), kerdhai("Anogeissus pendula"), dhawda("Anogeissus latifolia"), tendu (''[[Diospyros melanoxylon]]'') and palash (''[[Butea monosperma]]'').
 
===Mammals===
[[Image:Madhav National Park1.JPG|thumb|A rare scene of a [[chital]] followed by a hunter dog in the lake, the race gets intercepted by a [[mugger crocodile]], and the chital is saved.]]
 
The predominant [[animal]] [[species]] that inhabits the park is the deer, of which the most easily sighted are the graceful little [[chinkara]] or Indian gazelle, and the [[chital]]. Other species that have their habitat in the park are [[nilgai]], [[sambar deer|sambar]], [[chausingha]] or four-horned antelope, [[blackbuck]], [[sloth bear]], [[Indian leopard]] and the common langur.
 
===Birds===
Madhav National Park is equally rich in [[bird|avifauna]]. The artificial lake, Chandpatha, is the winter home of [[bird migration|migratory]] [[geese]], [[common pochard|pochard]], [[northern pintail|pintail]], [[teal]], [[mallard]] and [[gadwall]]. A good site for bird watching is where the forest track crosses the rocky stream that flows from the waste weir. Species that frequent this spot are [[red-wattled lapwing]], [[large pied wagtail]], [[Indian pond heron]] and [[white-breasted kingfisher]]. The park's birds also include the [[cormorant]], [[painted stork]], [[black-headed ibis|white ibis]], [[laggar falcon]], [[purple sunbird]], [[Indian paradise flycatcher]] and [[golden oriole]].


===Sakhya Sagar Lake===
Located in the [[ecoregion]] of [[Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests]],<ref name="WWF, SA: NI">{{WWF ecoregion |id=im0206 |name=Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests |access-date=2017-01-29}}</ref> this national park has a varied terrain of [[forest]]ed [[hills]] and flat [[grasslands]] around the reservoir and is thus rich in [[biodiversity]]. The average rainfall is 816 mm.<ref name="Roy">{{Cite journal|last1=Roy |first1=P. S. |last2=Ravan |first2=Shirish A. |year=1996 |title=Biomass estimation using satellite remote sensing data—An investigation on possible approaches for natural forest |journal=Journal of Biosciences |volume=21 |issue=4 |pages=535–561 |doi=10.1007/BF02703218 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225623869}}</ref>
Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar lakes, created on Manier River in 1819, are two important biodiversity support systems in the park besides several perennial and seasonal streams and nullahs. Sakhya Sagar Lake is situated on the edge of forests of Madhav National Park. On the shores of the lake is a boat club also known as a sailing club. The Sakhya Sagar Lake is the habitat of variety of reptiles. Species that can be seen here are marsh or [[mugger crocodile]], [[Indian python]] and the [[monitor lizard]].


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Wildlife of India]]
* [[Wildlife of India]]


==Notes and references==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|Madhav National Park}}
* {{Cite map|title=Madhav National Park |url=https://docplayer.net/docs-images/79/79213896/images/50-0.jpg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527025642/https://docplayer.net/docs-images/79/79213896/images/50-0.jpg |archive-date=27 May 2020 |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite map|title=Madhav National Park |url=https://docplayer.net/docs-images/79/79213896/images/50-0.jpg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527025642/https://docplayer.net/docs-images/79/79213896/images/50-0.jpg |archive-date=27 May 2020 |url-status=live}}


{{National Parks of India}}
{{National Parks of India}}
{{Ramsar sites in India}}


[[Category:Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests]]
[[Category:Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests]]
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[[Category:Tourist attractions in Shivpuri district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Shivpuri district]]
[[Category:1959 establishments in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:1959 establishments in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in India]]

Latest revision as of 10:26, 23 February 2026


Template:Infobox Protected area Madhav National Park is a national park in Shivpuri District of Gwalior division in northwest Madhya Pradesh, India. It was established in 1956 with 167 km2 (64 sq mi) as Shivpuri National Park. In 1958, it was renamed Madhav National Park after Madho Rao Scindia and was finalized the following year.[1] Sakhya Sagar, a reservoir within the park, has been designated as a Ramsar site in 2022.[2]

Two national highways pass through the park, the Gwalior to Bombay former National Highway 3 and the Jhansi to Shivpuri National Highway 27.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

The dense forests of Sipri later came to be known as Shivpuri doubled up as hunting grounds for Mughal emperors since the 16th century. Since then Mughal princes, Rajputana rulers, Gwalior royals and British dignitaries travelled to this area for hunting sprees. Therefore it came to be known as royal hunting park or Majestic Park due to high movement of Kings and high ranking british officials including British Monarch and Viceroys.[3]

George Castle

George Castle was built in 1911 at an elevation of 484.0 m (1,587.9 ft). It was built for George V who had intended to stay there during his visit to India.[4]

After the independence of India, the area suffered degradation.[1] Agriculture and mining encroached on the former hunting grounds. Although the park was noticed in 1956, at 167 km2, as Shivpuri National Park and became the renamed Madhav National Park in 1959, degradation continued.[1][5] The last of the resident wild tigers were seen in Madhav National Park in the late 1970s. In 1982, a plan to add a new part of the park parallel to the Chambal River was proposed. This expansion area included a corridor joining it to the original 167 km2 (64 sq mi).[1]

In the 1990s, there was little effort to improve the conditions in the park. Illegal mining and questionable mining permits led to significant degradation in the park, so that in the 1990s conservationists took the matter to the Supreme Court of India and by 1998 received an injunction terminating mining in the area.[6]

On 1 December 2024, the technical committee of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) proposed to recognize Madhav National Park as a Tiger Reserve which will span 1,751 km2 (676 sq mi) featuring a core area of 375 km2 (145 sq mi) and a buffer area of 1,276 km2 (493 sq mi). Furthermore, the committee has also approved the release of one tiger and one tigress into the park.[7]

Geography[edit | edit source]

There are several small ponds in this national park, but the largest body of water is Sankhya Sagar, a reservoir,[8] constructed for Madho Rao Scindia when it was still his hunting grounds.[1] He also had constructed a second smaller reservoir by damming Manihar River, Madhav Sagar, known as Madhav Lake.[1] A third reservoir was not included in the park.[1]

Located in the ecoregion of Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests,[9] this national park has a varied terrain of forested hills and flat grasslands around the reservoir and is thus rich in biodiversity. The average rainfall is 816 mm.[5]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Tiwari, S. K. (1998). "Madhav National Park". National Parks of Madhya Pradesh: State of Bio Diversity and Human Infringement. New Delhi: APH Publishing. pp. 148–166. ISBN 978-81-7024-950-4.
  2. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named RSIS
  3. Bhagat, M. (2025). "Once A Royal Ground For Mughals, This National Park Is Now India's 58th Tiger Reserve". Times now. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  4. Sengar, R. (2018). "The charms of Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Roy, P. S.; Ravan, Shirish A. (1996). "Biomass estimation using satellite remote sensing data—An investigation on possible approaches for natural forest". Journal of Biosciences. 21 (4): 535–561. doi:10.1007/BF02703218.
  6. Shrivastava, P. P.; et al. (2017). "District Tourism Master Plan for Shivpuri Draft Report". Bhopal: Design and Planning Consultants (DPC). p. 43. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020.
  7. "Not Madhav National Park, but Rathapani forest notified as eighth tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh". Mid-day. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  8. Google maps
  9. "Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 29 January 2017.

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:National Parks of India Template:Ramsar sites in India