Madhav National Park complete detail – updated

Madhav National Park complete detail – updated. Geography of Madhav National Park. Dominant flora and fauna of Madhav National Park. How to Reach Madhav National Park. Madhav National Park is a combination of dry deciduous & dry thorn forests that make home for different variety of antelopes like Nilgai, Chinkara, and Deer, and carnivores such as Tiger, leopard, wolf, jackal, fox, wild pig, etc.

Deers are the major attraction in the Madhav National Park. The Sakhya and Madhav Sagar Lake, located in the center of the forest, support a rich variety of migratory birds including geese, pochard, pintail, teal, mallard, and gadwall. These lakes are great nesting ground for birds and marsh crocodiles that can be spotted here in abundance. Hunting is totally banned inside this national park………….

Total area of the park is about 375.22 Km². It was declared as a National Park in the year of 1959. It was originally the shooting reserve of the Maharaja who belonged to Gwalior. The natural beauty of the park is simply enticing and creates mystery all around. The forested mountains also shelters large number of wild animals.

National park is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of the wildlife & biodiversity, and where activities like developmental, forestry, poaching, hunting and grazing on cultivation are not permitted. Their boundaries are well marked and circumscribed.

Madhav National Park is a beautiful place, located in the Shivpuri district of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It was named after Madho Rao Scindia, the Maharaja of Gwalior belonging to the Scindia dynasty of the Marathas.

It was originally the shooting reserve of the Maharaja who belonged to Gwalior. It was declared as a National Park in the year of 1959. Total area of the park is about 375.22 Km².

The park offers amazing views of lush greenery and architectural wonders, edified by the erstwhile rulers of Gwalior. This park has witnessed a lot of royal movement’s right from the time of Akbar, who is believed to have captured elephants from here in 1564.

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State wise list of Wildlife Sanctuaries of India – updated 

Madhav National Park fascinates tourists with its unique surroundings that comprise lakes, dense woodlands, & castles.

Madhav National Park is a combination of dry deciduous & dry thorn forests that make home for different variety of antelopes like Nilgai, Chinkara, and Deer, and carnivores such as Tiger, leopard, wolf, jackal, fox, wild pig, etc. Deers are the major attraction in the Madhav National Park.

The Sakhya and Madhav Sagar Lake, located in the center of the forest, support a rich variety of migratory birds including geese, pochard, pintail, teal, mallard, and gadwall.

These lakes are great nesting ground for birds and marsh crocodiles that can be spotted here in abundance. Hunting is totally banned inside this national park.

The typical fauna, which are present in the Madhav National Park, Madhya Pradesh is the flat grasslands and deciduous trees. Dry and mixed forested lands are also found inside this national park.

The natural beauty of the park is simply enticing and creates mystery all around. The forested mountains also shelters large number of wild animals.

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, the Maharaja constructed boat landing areas, picnic shelters, watch towers, hides etc. and a network of well laid out metalled roads.

History

It was originally the shooting reserve of the Maharaja who belonged to Gwalior. Even before this, during the reign of the Mughals, its dense forests were the hunting grounds of the Mughal emperors.

It is also believed that from the dense forests of Madhav National Park, Akbar once captured elephants for his stables in the year 1564.

Since the area was a royal shooting reserve, it was well protected, and abounded with wild life and was famous for its tigers.

It was named after Madho Rao Scindia, the Maharaja of Gwalior belonging to the Scindia dynasty of the Marathas.

The park was established as Madhya Bharat National Park in 1955 and received its present name in 1959. Originally, the park had an area of 165 Km². but in present the total area of the park is 375.22 Km².

Tigers and other animals were known to wander in great numbers in the area. It is reported 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.

The last of the resident wild tigers were seen in Madhav National Park around late 1970.

One male and one female tiger have once again made Madhav their home since October 2007.

Deep inside the Madhav National Park, at its highest point, stands the exquisite George Castle at a height of almost 484 m. Interestingly the castle was built by Jivaji Rao Scindia of the Gwalior royal family for an overnight halt for tiger shooting by the British King George V, when he was to pass that way during his visit to India in 1911.

Geography

Madhav National Park is located in the Shivpuri district of the state of Madhya Pradesh. The Park is situated on the northern fringe of the Central Highlands of India.

The Park is situated at the base of the vast Vindhyan Range and also contains a placid lake that is situated inside its premises. As the forest comprises of a majestic blend of lush grasslands, deciduous trees and small stony hills, it presents an ample scope for the creatures of different varieties to flourish.

It is a part of the upper Vindhyan hills, forming plateaus, and having small and big nallahs. It is located at 25°40′ north, 77°44′ East on Agra to Bombay National Highway-3.

The slopes are generally gentle, rarely steep. The landscape of the park is marked by undulating plains and hilly regions. It is surrounded by the Vindhya Range.

This park has a varied terrain of forested hills and flat grasslands around the lake. Its unusual terrain of hills, dry, mixed forests, grasslands, and lakes, makes it a perfect destination for sighting a variety of wildlife, especially avian species.

Sakhya and Madhav Sagar are the two lakes in the park, which are important biodiversity support systems. These lakes not only add to the natural beauty of the area, but also provide a permanent source of water to the wildlife, and a fine wetland habitat to the aquatic fauna including thousands of migratory waterfowls.

Temperature –     Maximum – 47^o C

                            Minimum – 4^o C

Coordinates – 25°28′0″N and 77°45′0″E

Dominant flora

Dhawda, Palash, Tendu, Khair, Kerdhai, Salai etc.

State wise list of Wildlife Sanctuaries of India – updated 

Dominant fauna

Mammals – Tiger, Chinkara, Indian Gazelle, Chital, Nilgai, Sambar, Chausingha, Black Buck, Sloth Bear, Leopard, Langur, Striped Hyena, Jackal, Jungle Cat etc.

Birds – Red Wattled lapwing, Large Pied Wagtail, Pond Heron, White-breasted Kingfisher, Cormorant, Painted stork, White Ibis, Laggar falcon, Purple Sunbird, Paradise Flycatcher, Golden Oriole, Migratory geese oriole, Pochard, pintail, White ibis, Cormorant, Painted stock, Indian pond heron, Gadwall, Painted francolin, Sarus crane etc.

Other Attractions

George Castle

Sakhya Sagar

Madhav Sagar lakes

Sakhya Sagar Boat

Ghadi Ghar

Bhadaiya Kund

Best time to visit

The best time of the year to visit the Madhav National Park is between the months of November to May.

Timings

The national park is open year round.

6.30 AM to 10 PM and 2.30 PM to 6.00 PM

Entry fee

Indians – Rs. 15/- per person

Foreigners – Rs. 150/- per person

Entry Fee for Vehicle Guide Charges – Rs. 50

How to Reach

By Air – Nearest airport is Gwalior airport, about 120 Km from the Madhav National Park. Gwalior airport is well connected by road network to Madhav National Park.

By Rail – Nearest railway station is Jhansi railway station, about 95 Km from the Madhav National Park. Jhansi railway station is well connected by road network to Madhav National Park.

By Road – Madhav National Park is well connected to Major Cities and Places by road network. There are a number of government and privately operated vehicles that go to Madhav National Park at frequent intervals.

Regular buses are available from Gwalior, Indore, Bhopal, Jhansi, Ujjain and Sawai Madhopur to reach the Park.

Accommodation

Accommodation are available in the park premises.

Contact

Alok Kumar
Chief Conservator of Forests & Director,
Madhav National Park, Shivpuri – 473551.
Madhya Pradesh
Ph.: 07492-223379, Fax: 07492-223379, Mob. 94247 94805
Email: cfmadhavnp@mp.gov.in, madhavpark@rediffmail.com.

Useful Contacts

The Director, Madhav National Park, Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, India. PIN – 473551

Email:    cfmadhavnp@mp.gov.in,

             madhavpark@rediffmail.com

Tel: 07492 – 223379 (Director Office)

Fax: 07492 – 223379 (Director Office)

Tel: 07492 – 280422 (Sailing Club)

Mobile: 94247 94806 (Asst. Director)

Mobile: 94247 94807(R.O.South)

Tel: 07492 – 220347 (South Range Office)

Tel: 07492-234393 (Circuit House, Shivpuri, M.P.)

Tel: 07492-233760 (Tourist Village, Shivpuri, MP Tourism)

Website (Official) – www.mpforest.org/madhavnationalpark/index.htm

Book a Hotel

http://mpforest.org/madhavnationalpark/Madhav%20Resort.htm

Other National Parks in Madhya Pradesh. Name of National Parks, Year of Notification and Total Area is as follows……..