The Sheopur district is located in the north of the state and forms part of Chambal Division. The well-known Kaketa reservoir is located in this district. The art of woodcarving has flourished in district Sheopur and the beautifully embellished wooden ceilings, doors and lintels with finely carved designs are silent testimonials of its glory.

Geography
Sheopur is located in north Madhya Pradesh. The district is well connected with total area of 6,66,081 square kilometers. The important rivers like Chambal, Seep and Kuno drain the district. The average rainfall in the district is 750mm. The maximum tempreture is 49°C and minimum temperature is 2°C.

Economy
About 50 percent of the geographical area is available for cultivation. About 58.74 percent of the cultivable area in the district is irrigated. Canal is the major source of irrigation. Wheat is the most important food grain grown in the district. Mustard is the most important oil seed grown in the district. Major kharif crop is Bazara.

In Sheopur District there are total 156 running small scale industries, based on pipes, masks, toys, doors, stands, windows, wooden memorials, flower vases, bedposts and cradle posts etc.

Government
The District Collector is the head of the Sheopur district, who is incharge of all the activities of Sheopur.

Transport
By Air: The nearest airport to Sheopur is Gwalior. This airport is well connected with Delhi, Bhopal, Indore and Mumbai.

By Rail: As with other light railways in the former princely state of Gwalior (now part of the Central Railway in Madhya Pradesh) this 200kms 610mm-guage lines was originally sponsored by the Maharaja of Gwalior, reaching Sheopur in 1909.

By Road: Sheopur is connected by regular bus services with Gwalior, Morena, Sheopur and Kota. Sheopur is 210 Kms. Away from Gwalior and 230 from Morena.

Division
The district is divided into two subdivisions of Sheopur and Vijaypur. Three Tehsils (Sheopur, Karhal, Vijaypur), Three Blocks (Sheopur, Karhal, Vijaypur) and four Nagarpalikas (Sheopur, Karhal, Baroda, Vijaypur).

Demographics
As per 2001 Census, Sheopur had the population of 5,59,715. Male constitutes 2,95,630 and female constitutes 2,64,085 of the total population. The average literacy rate is 27.55%. Male have 40.73% and women have the average literacy rate of 12.27%.

Culture
In Sheopur the major spoken language is Hindi. Including the main festivals of India, Sheopur has few local festivals also and they are-
Tansen Festival
Every year a national level music festival is organized in November/December near the tomb of Mian Tansen, one of the `Nine Jewels` of Emperor Akbar`s court. Musicians and singers from all over India come here to perform in the festival.
Folk Dances
Ahiri Dance
This dance is related to people who have traditionally been in the business of cattle herding. In different parts of the state these people are known by different castes such as Ahir, Baredi, Gwal, Rawat, Raut, Gwala etc.
Baredi or Yadav dance of Bundelkhand
This dance has been associated with the biggest Hindu festival "Diwali". On the night of Diwali people worship Laxmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth (after all no body can live without money), and cattle. Next day on the occasion of "Padva" or "Parva" cattle are sent to jungles or ranches after being decorated with flowers and garlands. They are given special dishes as food. Yadav dance is performed on the same occasion.

Dancers dance in a circular path while singing songs. Sometimes they sit or lie down on earth and suddenly they restart their dance. Rhythm of the song is very low in starting and increases with time. Music instruments are started only when two lines of the song are finished. Primarily these are two line couplets. Sometimes these are in form of questions and answers. This dance continues till Kartik Purnima.

Dress
Dancers, instrument beaters and their associates wear a clean turban on head. Some people like to put on Dhoti up to knees (long cloth wore by men enwrapping their waist). Some people specially dancers wear colorful shorts. Dancers also keep bunch of peacock feathers.

Saharia Dances
Saharias are tribal people who live in jungles. They work in farms and also collect medicinal plants from jungles. There are several dances of Saharias. Some of the important ones are: Lur Dance, Lanhgi Dance, Dul-Dul Ghodi Dance, Raya Dance, Ada-Khada Dance.

Lur dance of Saharias
This dance is performed on the occasion of marriage starting from the day of ritual of "Haldi" (In this ritual whole body is pasted with turmeric and after sometime it is removed so the body is cleaned) till the arrival of Barat (Bridegroom comes to the house of the bride with his relatives and friends for marriage ceremony).

Lanhgi dance of Saharias
This dance is also known as Danda(baton) dance because Saharias dance with small batons in their hands with which they strike at each other and perform Lanhgi dance. Only men are allowed in it. This dance is performed on the occasion of Bhujarias, Teja ji puja and Aekadashi etc.

Dul-Dul Ghori dance
This dance is performed on the occasion of marriage by males. In this dance a hollow case of ghori (mare) is prepared of bamboo sticks. The dancer stands in the hollow place and dances. (Depicts various movements of mare.) There is also a joker in women clothing. People sing folk songs during the dance.

Music Instruments
Mradang, Dholak, Ramtula, Dhapli, Manzira, Jhanz etc. are used in this dance.

Visiting Places
Doob Kund- In Sheopur district, there was a city in the Chambal valley of Sheopur tehsil at some distance from river Kuno known as `Dom`. It was the capital of Kachhwaha Kingdom. Here stands 81 feet high, large and square `Chaubisi of Jain Tirthankaras`, which is still worth seeing. The pillars standing on the `Kalash` remind us of the art of their architects.

In the middle of the Chaubisi, one could see a kund where the statues where sunk. Since than, it is called Doob Kund. Outside it, there are the remains of Har Gauri Temple. This statuary group was built in 11th century.

Sangam Of Rameshwar- It is situated in the semi-circle of rivers `Parvati` and`Chambal` is full of natural beauties. It is 959 feet high from seashore. Since rivers`Parvati` and `Chambal` join here, the city is called the `Sangam of Rameshwar`. A local fair is held here every year. It is an attraction for the tourists especially for the people of Rajasthan.

Vijaypur Durg- At the bank of river `Kunari`, there stands a fort known as `Majhola durg`. Vijay Singh, the King of Karoli, built it.

Including these places the other important places are-
The Fort of Sheopur

Dhuruvkund and Shivnath of Utanwad

The Muth of Nimoda

The temple of Devi Panwara

The temple of Shironi Hanuman

The water temple of Baroda

The temple of Khhetrapal Jaini

. Flora and Fauna
In Sheopur, flora and fauna of the nature can be found in Kuna Wild Life Sanctuary. It is located between latitudes 25degree 30second - 25degree 53second N and longitudes 77degree 07second - 77degree 26second E, is situated in the Sheopur district of northwest Madhya Pradesh. The total area is 344.686 sq km out of which 313.984 sq km is forestland and 30.702 sq km is revenue land in the Sheopur and Vijaypur tehsils of Sheopur district. The sanctuary is situated in an isolated hill, sloping in all directions. All the faunal representatives of the dry deciduous forest of the Central India can be found in Kuno i.e. Panther, Tiger, Chital, Sambhar, Black Deer, Chinkara, Bear, Blue bull, Chausingha, Jungle cat, Barking Deer, Monkey, Jackals, Hyena, Wild Boar, Fox, Cobra, Nag, Python, Peacock, Kala Teetar, Tree pie, Golden orioles, Drongo, Rollers, Jangli, murgi, Phakta, Bhura, Teetar.

The Kuno sanctuary consists of dry deciduous forests interspersed with grasslands. The various floras are Kardhai, Gurjan, Kher, Kusum, Gurjan, Mahua, Guner, Haldoo, Kullu, Kahua, Semal, Bahera, Tendu, Palas, Bel, Chind, Anwala, Harsingar, Chind, Satawar; the parasite plants are Bamdha and Amarbel. The varieties of grasses are Doob, Lumpy, Machai, Guner, Ponea, and Phulara.