Shivpuri Wildlife Sanctuary
Highlights: The George Castle and Candpatha Lake (Sakhya Sagar)
How To Reach:
By Air: Gwalior is located at a distance of 112 kilometers from Shivpuri Wildlife Sanctuary.
By Rail: Jhansi railway station is located at a distance of 100 kilometers from Shivpuri Wildlife Sanctuary.
By Bus: From Gwalior, take bus to reach Shivpuri Wildlife Sanctuary.
Shivpuri National Park also known as Madhav National Park, once a hunting ground of the rulers of Gwalior, was declared a national park under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. In the lap of mighty Vindhyas, the sanctuary provides refuge to a number of wild animal and plant species. The flora in the region comprises of dry deciduous forests of teak, sal, khair wood and stretches of rolling grasslands.
Hire a jeep to take a tour of the sanctuary or enjoy a boating trip on the artificial lake Candpatha Lake (Sakhya Sagar). Tourists enjoy the sight of birds flying back to their nests to roost at dusk and the panoramic view of the sun setting over the lake.
The animals found in the sanctuary are tigers, leopards, striped hyenas, nilgais, chitals, jackals, four-horned antelopes, jungle cats, wild boars, gazelle, sambhars, sloth bears, crocodiles and langurs.
Shivpuri wildlife sanctuary has an astounding variety of avifauna. Birds found in the Park are paradise flycatchers bar-headed geese, spoonbills, ducks, painted storks, demoiselle cranes, cormorants, white ibises, purple sunbirds and golden orioles falcons.
A castle called George Castle in the middle of the sanctuary reminds one of the fairy tales of told by grandmothers. According to a legend, the local ruler was told that the English royal family might visit his principality for one night. The prince build a castle fit for their stay complete with well-equipped bathrooms fitted with basins, tubs and toilets. The royal visitors never come and this castle remains unoccupied till today.
Because of its location, Shivpuri has a hot summer and a rainy monsoon season. The winter season from October to March is pleasant during the daytime and the best time to visit the sanctuary.
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