Shivpuri district is mostly laid out over small hill tops covered with deciduous forests where the slope is gentle with verdant vegetation and good forests round about, the landscape is generally pleasing. The district has Narwar town of historical importance just east of the Kali Sind River. The town Shivpuri is the head quarter of the district.

History
The district derives its name from God "Shiva". It was known earlier by the name `Sipri`. The Shivpuri place first found a mention during Mughal times in 1564 when Emperor Akbar is stated to have halted at this place. During that period it formed a part of Narwar Sarkar. Narwar or Narbar is a tahsil with a population of 6745 persons as per 1991 census, located at a distance of 43 kms from Shivpuri, the district head quarters. It has a very big ancient fort and a wealth of history behind.

The district was known as Narwar district during the times of Gwalior State, although its Headquarter was at Shivpuri. Shivpuri remained with the Kachhawaha Rajputs upto 1804 when it was taken over by Scandia`s. It was captured by the English in 1817 but returned to Scandia`s next year and it continued to be a part of Gwalior state since then. In 1859 it is said that the great Indian leader Tatya Tope was hanged near the present Collectorate. Shivpuri was constituted as a district in erstwhile Madhya Bharat and continues as such with practically no change since 1951.

Geography
The district is bounded on the North by Morena, Gwalior and Datia districts, on the East by Jhansi district of U.P, on the West by Kota district of Rajasthan and on the South by Guna district. It covers the total area of 10298 sq.kms. The district is located at 24.6° to 25.6° lattitude and 77.0° to 78.4° longitude. Shivpuri has a mix of cool and dry temperature. In summer the temperature is extended to 42°C. The average annual rainfall is 875mm. There are four main rivers namely The Parwati, The Sindh, The Kuno and The Betwa, which pass through the district.

Economy
Shivpuri is mainly an agricultural district and so cultivation is the main occupation of the people. Rice, Jowar, Bajra, Maize, Wheat and Barley are the main cereal crops. Gram & Tur (Arhar) are the main pulses grown in the district, Sugarcane, condiments and spices; sesame (til) and linseed are other crops of the district.

Shivpuri is a growing industrial region. Handicraft is an emerging employment sector for poor people. Leather industry is also gaining popularity among lower class people. There are two centers of Sericulture industry in Kolaras and Pohri Block.

Government
The Collector is the Chief Revenue Authority as well as the District Magistrate and he is responsible for the maintenance of land and other revenue record, for collection of the revenues on behalf of the Government and for the maintenance of law and order in the district. Besides being the chief representative of the government, he also exercises supervisory control over other departments in the district. Deputy Collectors, Assistant Collectors, Tahsildars, and Naib-Tahsildars assist the Collector.

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

By Rail: Nearest main railheads from Shivpuri are at Jhansi (101 Kms) and Gwalior (120 Kms) which are on the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Chennai main lines. However, Shivpuri has its own railway station and the trains passes through Shivpuri are :-Indore-Dehradun via Delhi (By Weekly), Indore-Gwalior Intercity Express (Three days in a week), Gwalior-Kota Passenger (Daily).

By Road: Shivpuri is connected by regular bus services with Gwalior, Indore, Bhopal, Jhansi and Ujjain. Shivpuri is 120 KMS away from Gwalior on Agra Mumbai Road and 90 KMS away from Jhansi.

Division
District Shivpuri is divided in 5 divisions (Shivpuri, Pohari, Kolaras, Karera & Pichore), 7 tehsils (Shivpuri, Pohari, Kolaras, Karera, Narwar, Pichore & Khaniyadana), 8 blocks (Shivpuri, Pohari, Kolaras, Badarwas, Karera, Narwar, Pichore & Khaniyadana), 605 Panchayats and 1459 villages. Out of 1459 villages, 133 are deserted and 15 forest villages. The district is divided in two parliamentary constituencies of Gwalior and Guna. The district has been divided into five assembly constituencies i.e. Shivpuri, Karera, Pichhore, Kolaras and Pohri.

Demographics
As per 2001 census of India, Shivpuri had a population of 1441950. Male population was 776990 and female population was 665760 out of the total population. The average literacy rate of Shivpuri is 59.55%. The male literacy is 74.78% and female literacy rate is 41.54%.

Culture
The local language of the district is Hindi. Among the cultural festivals of Shivpuri Holi, Bastar Dussehra, Navratri, Diwali are the main festivals.

The Visiting places of Shivpuri.
George Castle- Jiwaji Rao Scindia built the George Castle. The ideal time to visit the castle is at sunset. The castle located at the central region of the Park provides a wonderful panoramic view of Sankhya Sagar and the forest around. This castle was built by the Gwalior royalty for an overnight halt for tiger shooting by British King George V, while he was to pass that way during his visit to India in 1911. It so happened that King could shoot a tiger on the way itself and hence, moved ahead through the Madhav National Park.


The Madhav Vilas Palace- The Palace, which was the summer palace of the Scindias, looks intensely alluring, dressed in soft shade of rose pink. It is popularly known, is attired with marble floors, iron columns, graceful terraces and the Ganpati mandap. From the tall structure, one can get a splendid view of Shivpuri town and Madhav National Park itself. Now this grand palace has converted in to the training center of Intelligence Bureau of Government of India, which is among the few training centers of Intelligence Bureau.

Chhatris- The royal chhatris (Cenotaphs) are dedicated to Scindias in Shivpuri. Scindia princes erected the graceful, intricately embellished Marble chhatris (cenotaphs). The chhatris of Madhav Rao Scindia and dowager queen Maharani Sakhya Raje Scindia, are facing each other across a water tank in an enchanting blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles, with their shikhara - type spires and Rajput and Mughal pavilions. Ceremonially attired retainers, with flowers and incense tend to both cenotaph house life-size images of the Scindias, and these religiously, daily.


Sakhya Sagar-The famous lakes Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar were created on Manier River in 1918. They are the reptile hideout; Marsh crocodile, Indian Python and monitor lizard are some lakes known occupants at the few yards of entrance of Madhav National Park. On the shores of the lake and connected to it by a broad pier is a boat club, an airy and delicate structure with glass panels. However, nowadays the boating has been banned keeping in view the safety of lives of tourists. Edging the forests of the Madhav National Park is the Sakhya Sagar Lake, habitat of a variety of reptiles.

Narwar41 km from Shivpuri is the medieval fortress of Narwar. The fort is situated atop a hill about 500 feet above ground level and has an area of 8 sq. km. At one time, it was the capital of Raja Nal of Naisadha, whose love for Damyanti has been mentioned in detail in the Mahabharata. The architecture of the fort and palaces is basically Rajput in style with flat ceiling, fluted columns and multifoil arches. The inner walls of the palaces have been decorated with bright paint and glass beads.

Surwaya-This place is situated 21 km from Shivpuri. Noteworthy at this place are the remains of a fort within which are housed three Hindu temples, a monastery and a step-well. The three temples are dedicated to Vishnu and reveal traces of extremely fine carvings.

Flora and Fauna
Shivpuri is enriched with various tourist attractions. Shivpuri has the big attraction of its natural beauty and vast cultural heritage. Shivpuri, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, was once the summer capital of the Scindia clan of Gwalior and earlier, its dense forests were the hunting grounds of Mughal emperors when great herds of elephants were captured by Emperor Akbar. Much later, it was the Tiger that roamed the wooded hills and many a magnificent beast was `bagged` by royal Shikaris. Today Shivpuri is a sanctuary for rare wildlife and avifauna. Its royal past has thus been transformed into a vibrant, hopeful present. Shivpuri has numerous palaces and lakes, which remind of the splendor this place, must have seen during the rein of Scindias.

Madhav National Park- It lies between Agra-Bombay road and Jhansi-Shivpuri Road. It is spread over an area of 157.58 Sq. Kms. A drive through the park watching animals is very exhilarating experience. The nilgai, sambar, chausingha, blackbuck, sloth bear, leopard and the common langur are the other inhabitants of the sprawling park. The national park is equally rich in bird life; Chandpata, the artificial lake, is the winter abode of migratory geese, pochard, pintail, teal, mallard and gadwall. Other residents include the cormorant, laggar falcon, paradise flycatcher and golden oriole. Loud cracking notes of white rested kingfisher flying past, harsh crocking of grey heron or quacking of spot bill duck and numerous lesser whistling teals resting at the bank of lack with a leg tucked away and head folded back in to the body; and cheetal grazing here or nilgiri browsing there in the forest, add to the charm. The dynamism of the dry deciduous forest at the Park is unbelievable.

The species of trees commonly found in the district are Khair, Kardhai, Dhow, Salaj, Tendu, Palas, Mahua, Karch, Karey, Saja, Koha, Jamun, Saj.Dhaman Kaim, Semal, Tinach and Amaltas. The normal height of a tree is about 15O to 20O and the girth is 40 cm to 50 cm.Soothing lush green, impenetrable vegetation all over during the monsoon wither to desolate brown and Grey in summer, it nevertheless remains full of life Indeed, Madhav National Park is an oasis in the midst of habitation and cultivation.

Education
Including the general schools and colleges the Vocational colleges are -
D.I.E.T Institute of Shivpuri.
ITI Institute of Shivpuri
Nurses Training School
Forest Training School.
Vetenary Training College
. Panchayat Training School
Aganwandi Workers Training School
Physical Training College.