Shivpuri is a city in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Seventy-three miles from Gwalior by road and rail is Shivpuri, a charming holiday destination in the midst of a serene forest area dotted with lakes.
Shivpuri has an equable climate and was once the summer residence of the Maharaja of Gwalior.
From Gwalior the road runs through craggy terrain with green hills on either side. The road is bordered by the palash trees.
After the 39th milestone, there is a short diversion to Sultangarh Falls where the river Parvati leaps over giant boulders and its roaring water flows down an expansive valley. Near this beauty spot is the Maharaja of Gwalior’s shooting lodge.
Beyond this point, only six miles from Shivpuri, is another charming spot known as Kuwat Baba where the tiger often comes at night to quench its thirst in a rivulet, its waters caressed by thick overhanging foliage.
On either side of the road are the dense forests of the National Park which covers 58 square miles in area. In the sanctuary of the National Park, the tiger, the panther, the chital and other animals are able to breed in comparative security. It is not unusual for the tiger from the forest area to stray on to the main road and if the visitor is lucky, he may find it seated in the middle of the road right in front of this car.
About 4 miles from Shivpuri town in the area of the National Park is Sakhya Sagar or
Chandpatha, a vast expanse of silver water about 7 miles in circumference. On the shores of the lake is a boat club. All round the lake rise wooded hills. The shiny purple stones of these hills, the mauve-tinted leaves of the kardai forests against the background of blue sky provide a symphony in color, while a gentle breeze produces ripples in the lake. Strategic points on the hills have observation towers and lodges. One of the best of these is George Castle perched on a high crag overlooking the waters of Sakhya Sagar and the sylvan splendor spread below.
Not far from Sakhya Sagar is the cenotaph of Maharani Sakhya Raja Scindia (grandmother of the present Maharaja) which was built by her son the late Maharaja Madho Rao. A beautifully laid-out Mughal Garden welcomes the visitor inside the stately gateway. Graceful bridges and shady avenues lead him to the cenotaph. The beauty of this simple and elegant structure is buff sandstone is enhanced by the tank which has a shrine in the middle.
Thirteen miles from Shivpuri on the Shivpuri-Jhansi road is Surwaya, formerly known as Saraswati-pattana (the city of the goddess of learning). The woods about the village are known for big game.
In a decaying fortress in the village of Surwaya are a number of old monuments. The most important of these are the old Hindu monastery – a rare specimen of its kind in the country – and the ruins of three temples. The monastery has a small open court surrounded by corridors, a large hall and a number of rooms. Originally, the entire monastery was a two storey building, but the upper storey now survives only in parts. A striking feature of the monastery is the roof which is made of huge stone slabs laid on one another without the use of mortar. On the top of the monastery is a miniature shrine and by its side are three temples in the Indo-Aryan style of architecture, with exquisite carvings. The solitude of the place, surrounded as it is by jungles, lends it a quiet enchantment.
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