Madhav National Park
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| Madhav National Park | |
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| IUCN Category II (National Park) | |
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| Location: | Madhya Pradesh, India |
| Nearest city: | Shivpuri |
| Area: | 354 km² |
| Established: | 1959 |
Madhav National Park is situated in Shivpuri District of Gwalior region in northwest Madhya Pradesh, India. Shivpuri town is located at 25°40' North, 77°44' East on Agra to Bombay National Highway-3. Shivpuri is steeped in the royal legacy of its past, when it was the summer capital of the Scindia rulers of Gwalior. Earlier its dense forests were the hunting grounds of the Mughal emperors. Emperor Akbar captured herds of elephants for his stables while returning from Mandu in year 1564. This National Park has a varied terrain of forested hills and flat grasslands around the lake. It is very rich in Biodiversity.
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[edit] Rich in biodiversity
Madhav National Park has total area of 354 km². It was set up in the year 1959. The National Park is open throughout the year. 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, Kerdhai, Dhawda, Tendu, Palash etc
[edit] The wildlife
The Predominant wild 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, chausingha or four-horned antelope, blackbuck, sloth bear, leopard and the common langur.
[edit] The avifauna
Madhav National Park is equally rich in avifauna. The artificial lake, Chandpatha, is the winter home of migratory geese, pochard, 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 avifauna also includes the cormorant, painted stork, white ibis, laggar falcon, purple sunbird, Asian paradise flycatcher and golden oriole.
[edit] Sakhya Sagar Lake and Sailing Club
Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar lakes, created on Manier River in 1918, are two important biodiversity support systems in the Park besides several perennial and seasonal streams and nallahs. Sakhya Sagar Lake is situated on the edge of forests of Madhav National Park. On the shores of the lake is boat club also known as 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.
[edit] George Castle
George Castle was built in 1911 by the Scindia ruler Jiyaji Rao Scindia within the National Park at its highest point, for an overnight halt for tiger shooting by British King George V. He was to pass that way during his visit to India. It so happened that King could shoot a tiger on the way itself and did not stop at Madhav National Park. View of the lake and downhill surroundings from this point at the sunset is unique.
