About Madhav National Park
Madhav National Park is a prominent national park located in Shivpuri District, Madhya Pradesh, near Shivpuri town. Spread over about 354 sq km of the Vindhyan hills, it was notified as a national park in 1958 and as Madhya Pradesh's newest tiger reserve in 2025. Known for its dry deciduous forests, lakes Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar, and historic George Castle, it supports tigers, leopards, chital, sambar, nilgai and diverse birdlife.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a dry deciduous forest landscape on the Vindhyan plateau interspersed with grasslands and two large lakes, Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar. The park offers jeep safaris on forest tracks for wildlife viewing and birdwatching, views of George Castle on a hilltop, lakeside crocodile and migratory bird sightings, watchtowers and forest rest houses. The terrain is undulating with mixed woodland and open areas.
Key highlights
- 01
Sakhya Sagar Lake - large lake within the park known for crocodiles and migratory birds
- 02
Madhav Sagar Lake within the park landscape
- 03
George Castle - historic hilltop castle built in 1911 for King George V's visit
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Tiger reserve status with sightings of tiger, leopard, chital, sambar, nilgai, chinkara and sloth bear
- 05
Dry deciduous forest of the Vindhyan hills with diverse birdlife
- 06
Jeep safari circuits and watchtowers for wildlife viewing and photography
History of Madhav National Park
The forests were the former hunting grounds of the Mughal emperors and later the Scindia rulers of Gwalior. The area was developed as a hunting reserve by Madho Rao Scindia and notified as Madhav National Park in 1958, named after him. George Castle was built in 1911 at the highest point for the overnight stay of King George V during a hunting expedition.
Route
| By air | Nearest airport is Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia Airport, Gwalior, about 110-120 km away; onward journey by road. |
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