Shivpuri district General information
Shivpuri is a district of Madhya Pradesh state of India. The town of Shivpuri is the district headquarters. Important towns in the district are: Badarwas, Karera, Khaniyadhana, Kolaras, Narwar and Pichhore. 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. The district headquarter Shivpuri is located on NH-3 (Agra-Bombay National Highway) at a 113 Km from Gwalior and 98 Km from Guna. The 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.
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 Scindia’s. It was captured by the English in 1817 but returned to Scindia’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. Maharaja Madhav Rao Scindia paid much attention towards the development of Shivpuri. He constructed a big palace and also developed the city. It was the summer capital of Gwalior State and government offices were shifted here in summer months. Shivpuri was constituted as a district in erstwhile Madhya Bharat and continues as such with practically no change since 1951.
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.
Physical Aspects
The district can be bifurcated into three main divisions based on its geology
1. The Bundelkhand trap: It comprises mostly Pre-Dharwarian granites, which consists of sparsely cultivated uplands and shallow valley. It covers eastern half of the district with an area of 1,539 Sq. miles (3985.99 Sq. Kms.) approximately.
2. The Upper Vindhyas: Sandstone’s of Kaimur Rewa and Bhander are commonly found in this region. The dips are very shallow and this suggests that there has been a very little disturbance since Vindhyan period. This region occupies the western half of the district.
3. The Deacon Trap: It mainly constitutes undulating plains and flat topped ranges of the hill. It covers an area of 426 sq. miles (1103.34 Sq. Kms.) towards the southern parts of the district viz.- towards Bhadarwas, Barokra Laterite and Aluminum are also found in the region and cover an area of 374.80 Sq. miles (968.66 sq. kms).
River
There are for main rivers namely The Parwati, The Sindh, The Kuno and The Betwa, which pass through the district. The Parwati is a tributary of Sindh River and joins it near Pawaya in Gwalior district .It is perennial but not navigable. The Sindh enters from Guna district and flowing north for a while than towards east forming the boundary between Gwalior and Datia districts and finally flows through Bhind to join the Chambal. The Kuno is tributary of the Chambal. It flows north from Shivpuri district to Morena and joins the Chambal. The Betwa or Vetravati rises in Raisen district and flows through Raisen, Vidisha, Guna, Shivpuri and Jhansi districts. Mata Tila Dam is across this river.
Climate
Shivpuri has a cool and dry climate .The hot weather starts from about the middle of April and lasts up to mid of May. The temperature in June touches 42o C. By the end of June or by the 1st week of July, the monsoon breaks and the weather becomes cool, through humid. The district receives its rains from the Arabian Sea. The rains are over generally by end of September. Shivpuri receives on an average 875 mm of rain.
Flora
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.
Fauna
Wild life has been steadily declining in the district, due to indiscriminate shooting and cutting of forests. In ancient times the forests were thick and a good number of animals could be seen. The district has a national park where a good number of animals can be watched and admired. The following animals are still found.
Nahar tiger (Felis tigris), tendua–panther (pelis pardus), ladaya jackal (Cummins aurens), lakkad baggha hyena (Hyena striata), Bhalu, Sloth bear (Melxerus ursinus), Sambhar (Carvas unicolar), suar, wild bear (Sus crislatus), Lomdi-fox (Vulpes bengaleneis), Chinkara (Gasells benetti), Kala Hiran–black buck (Antelope cervicapra) and Langur black faced monkeys (Semli petheous entellus).
Among the main common birds, the following are found the common Myna, Shikra Hawk, The common Crow, The commons gray house Crow and all black crows, the harival green Pigeon, the Grey jungle fowl, The Mor-Peacock, Jungle bush Quail and bustard Quail.
Agriculture
Shivpuri is mainly an agricultural district and so cultivation is the main occupation of the people .The dependence on cultivation can be viewed from the fact that 83.38 percent of the total workers of district are engaged in agriculture either as cultivators (70.40%) or as agriculture laborers (12.98%). 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; sesamum (til) and linseed are other crops of the district.
Communications
The district is much better off in its road communication for it lies 116 kms, south of Gwalior on Agra-Bombay National Highway No. 3 which is an excellent all weather road. This road connects the district to Gwalior, Agra and Delhi in the north and Guna, Bhopal, Ujjain, Indore and Bombay in the south. Apart from this Highway Shivpuri is well connected with Jhansi by all weather National Highway No. 25 which goes up to Kanpur, Lucknow and beyond. Another road connects Sheopur district. From the Agra Bombay National Highway another road branches off to Kota. There is no airport in the district. Recently Shivpuri has been connected by rail to Gwalior and Guna.
Tourist Place
MADHAV NATIONAL PARK: Madhav National Park 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 Park is haven for wildlife and wildlife – buffs. The park remains open throughout the year and boasts of large numbers of chinkara, Indian gazelle and chital.
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 whitebrested kingfisher flying past,harsh crocking of grey heron or quacking of spotbill 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. 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 midest of habitation and cultivation.
TIGER SAFARI: A pair of tigers from Bhopal Van Vihar tigress Tara and Petu – each about 3 years old , were introduced in the Madhav National Park in fenced 140 hectare well preserved pocket, in October 1989. All the cubs of first litter died soon after birth,
The second litter of one male and two females in August 1991 fared well. In April 1993 the pair bred for the third time giving birth to 4 female cubs, all in good health. In November 1995, Tara gave birth to 4 more cubs – 2 male and 2 female. Now the total number of tigers in the safari is 12. The Safari provides a good opportunity to visitors to observe the tigers at close range.
CHHATRI (CENOTAPHS): Shivpuri is famous for graceful,intricately embellishedMarble chhatries (cenotaphs) erected by Scindia Princes. Set in an elaborate Mughal Garden, are the cenotaphs, the royal Chhatries dedicated to Scindias.
Facing each other across a water tank are the Chhatries of Madhav Rao Scindia and dowager queen Maharani Sakhya Raje Scindia, in a delighful fusion 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.
MADHAV VILAS PALACE: The summer palace of the Scindias, Madhav Vilas Palace, looks intensely alluring, dressed in soft shade of rose-pink.The MAHAL as it is popularly known, is attired with marble floors,elegant terraces and a Ganapati Mandap.
From the turrets, 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 Buearo.
GEORGE CASTLE: Deep inside the Madhav National Park, at its highest point stands the George Castle built by Jiwaji Rao Scindia. The ideal time to visit the castle is at sunset, when Sakhya Sagar Lake seems to take the radiance and changing hues of the sky. The castle located at the central region of the Park provides a wonderful panoramic view of Sakhya Sagar and the spread of the forest around. It is intrusting to note that the grand George Castle was built by the Gwalior royalty for an overnight halt for tiger shooting by British King Geroge 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 did not stop at Madhav National Park.
SAKHYA LAKE AND BOAT CLUB: Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar, created on Manier river in 1918, are two important bio-diversity support systems in the Park besides several perennial and seasonal streams and nalls. A 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. The boat club is also known as Sailing Club. Just stand by the railing of Sailing Club deck extending in to Sakhya Sagar and watch. The view of massive lake all around and the undulating, forested Vindhyachal hills beyond is mesmerizing. Now a days the boating has been banned keeping in view the safety of lives of tourists.