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 Sprawling over an area of 156 sq. km. the Madhav National Park is situated in the Shivpuri district of the central state of India, Madhya Pradesh. The district is located in the Gwalior region of Madhya Pradesh, which covers the northwestern part of the state. The Park is a major tourist attraction and therefore it is easily accessible. The nearest airport is at Gwalior and the nearest railway station is at Jhansi. The nearest bus stands are at Shivpuri and Jhansi.
Formerly the Park area was a hunting place of the Gwalior Royal family and later of the British. The George Castle situated in the sanctuary is constructed for King George V for hunting tigers. The castle was built in 1911 by the Scindia ruler Jiyaji Rao Scindia.The Park came into existence in 1958 with the creation of the state of Madhya Pradesh.
The vegetation in the park is of the mixed dry deciduous variety. It has a varied terrain covered with hills with occasional view of flat grasslands, which offers exciting sight of a variety of rare wildlife. The flora of the park consists of Khair (acacia catechu), Salai, Kerdhai, Dhawda, Tendu and Palash.
The predominant inhabitants of the park are different deer species like the Chinkara, Chital and the Indian Gazelle. It is also the home of Sambar, Chausingha or four-horned Antelope, Blackbuck, Sloth Bear, Leopard, the common Langur and the Nilgai. Carnivorous animal like the Tiger Panthera tigris, leopard Panthera pardus, striped Hyaena, jackal Canis aureus, and the jungle cat Felis chaus. The Madhav National Park is also rich in avifauna. The artificial lake located in the Park, Chandpatha is the home of several migratory birds like the pochard, pintail, teal, migratory geese,mallard and gadwall. Other bird species inhabiting the forest are golden oriole, purple sunbird, Asian paradise flycatcher, white ibis, laggar falcon, cormorant, painted stork, white-breasted kingfisher, red- wattled lapwing, large pied wagtail and Indian pond heron.
At the edge of the forest of the Madhav National Park there is the Sakhya Sagar Lake, which is the shelter of the marsh or mugger crocodile, Indian python and monitor lizard.
(Last Updated on : 26-06-2013)
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