Month: February 2019

Come & Astound Yourself with the Alluring Beauty of Shivpuri

Madhya Pradesh is known to be the land of splendid wonders that are found within its numerous states. A tourist will never run out of choices if he/she decides for a Madhya Pradesh tour because the state is naturally blessed with picturesque places that abound in stunning natural physical beauties, extraordinary fauna and amazing flora. … Continue reading “Come & Astound Yourself with the Alluring Beauty of Shivpuri”

Madhya Pradesh is known to be the land of splendid wonders that are found within its numerous states. A tourist will never run out of choices if he/she decides for a Madhya Pradesh tour because the state is naturally blessed with picturesque places that abound in stunning natural physical beauties, extraordinary fauna and amazing flora.

One such place that particularly worths your visit and deserves attention is the small town of Shivpuri. Located 120 km away from the historic city of Gwalior, is more than just a picturesque place. The place is surrounded by undulating hills, healthy vegetation and spectacular wildlife; along with all these, there are some marvelous architecture that makes Shivpuri a must-visit place in Madhya Pradesh if you are looking for the perfect holiday destination in India.

How will I reach there?

Road journey is an inevitable mode of travelling to the city of Shivpuri. You can take a flight to Gwalior or hop on to the train and reach the nearest Jhansi or Gwalior railway station.

The road journey to Shivpuri is an enjoyable moment. It is a treat for the eyes when you sit by the window with the breeze striking against your face while you view the beautiful gorges, plateau and the hills. You will never be bored to see the ample greenery that abounds here with a stream or two here and there. And if it is during the monsoon season that you contact your travel agency in Madhya Pradesh for a tour to this place, be ready to awe yourself with the fresh and alluring scenery that you will see.

What is the most famous place to visit here?

Madhav National Park forms the must-visit place in Shivpuri. This park remains open throughout the year; the terrain of this area is a beautiful mixture of grassland, hills, forests and lakes. The main attraction of this park is obviously wildlife and some birds also. Some of the most easily sighted animals are the Indian gazelle, chital and the delicate chinkara. Deer is the prevailing species in this park; you might also be enthralled to spot the nilgai or the langur. Apart from these extraordinary animals, you can also see leopards, black bucks, four-horned antelope and other animals.

What are the other special attractions of Madhav National Park?

Chandpata, an artificial lake is also located in this park. Surprisingly, this lake is home for various species of birds like white breasted kingfishers, migratory geese and others. Make sure you carry your pair of binoculars so that you can catch a glimpse of these exotic species distinctly!

There is also a small and spouting waterfall in this park and it is the perfect place for your children to enjoy themselves and have some fun!

What are the interesting facts about Shivpuri?

Shivpuri is not only rich in terms of natural beauty and wildlife but also bears a strong imprint of the past. The place is vital evidence against various historical events. For instance: the chhatris or cenotaphs of the Scindia rulers are located very close to the park. Then there is the Madhav Vilas Palace, the summer palace of the Scindias. The palace has a rose-pink hue and is renowned for its iron columns, Ganpati mandap, marble floors, and the likes. Visiting the Sakhya Sagar Boat Club is a must if you are travelling with your children; you can see some reptiles like python, monitor lizards and crocodiles while enjoying the boat ride.

To make your trip memorable, don’t forget to go to the famous shopping destinations and purchase the specialties of this region, Chanderi and Maheshwari silk. Also if you are a food lover, trying out the local delicacies like kebabs, mawa-bati and sweet malpua is mandatory.

Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book” & it’s Pench connection

Madhya Pradesh is a land that abounds in physical beauty, cultural heritage, tradition and historical background. It is a harmonious amalgamation of everything that is needed in life- spirituality, serenity, animalistic nature with a touch of history. The history of Madhya Pradesh is still astounding for the visitors; the famous Khajuraho temples is an excellent … Continue reading “Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book” & it’s Pench connection”

Madhya Pradesh is a land that abounds in physical beauty, cultural heritage, tradition and historical background. It is a harmonious amalgamation of everything that is needed in life- spirituality, serenity, animalistic nature with a touch of history. The history of Madhya Pradesh is still astounding for the visitors; the famous Khajuraho temples is an excellent specimen of art and architecture and so is the Sanchi Stupa, Omkareshwar Temple, the town of Orccha, Gwalior and others seem to still dwell in the erstwhile times.

The bygone times seem to still hover over the entire state of Madhya Pradesh. One such person who has left his footprints in the sands of time is Major General Sir William Henry Sleeman (8 August 1788 – 10 February 1856)

Major General Sir William Henry Sleeman was a British soldier and a subsequent administrator in British India. He is best known for his work from the 1830s in suppressing the organized criminal gangs known as “Thuggee”.

Born in Stratton, Cornwall, he joined the Bengal Army and later served in the Nepal War between 1814–1816.

In 1822, his first posting in Central India was as in charge of Narsinghpur District.

He was subsequently elevated to the rank of Captain in 1825, and in 1828 assumed charge of Jubbulpore District ( now Jabalpur ).

Sleeman became the earliest discoverer of dinosaur fossils in Asia when in 1828, serving as a Captain in the Narmada valley region, he noticed several basaltic formations which he identified as having been “raised above the waters”. By digging around in the Bara Simla Hills, part of the Lameta formation near Jabalpur, he unearthed several petrified trees, as well as some fragmentary dinosaur fossil specimens. Also, the village Sleemanabad in Madhya Pradesh, India was named in his honour.

Sleeman wrote about wild children who had been raised by wolves with his notes on six cases. This was first published in the first volume of his “Journey through the kingdom of Oude” in 1848-1850 (1858) and reprinted in 1852 as “An Account of Wolves Nurturing Children in Their Dens”, by an Indian Official and in “The Zoologist” (1888). This caught the imagination of many and ultimately inspired Rudyard Kipling’s Mowgli character.

Rudyard Kipling
                                Rudyard Kipling

Interestingly, the Pench National Park in Madhya Pradesh has been the source of inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’. Almost everyone has seen this fantastic movie; what makes this movie memorable is the animals. The bear(Baloo), tiger(Shere Khan), Panther(Bagheera) and the wolves(Akela and Raksha), in reality also inhabits the Pench National Park. Located in the districts of Seoni and Chhindwara, this park is named after River Pence, a pristine river that flows through the park.

The Park allows its visitors to daze and interact with the wild animals and one could do so by consulting any renowned travel agent in Madhya Pradesh. Numerous animals like Royal Bengal Tiger, wild boar, Indian leopard, fox, striped hyena, barking deer and other captivating creatures are found in this Park. In addition, it is also home to more than 285 species of birds. If you are a wildlife enthusiast, visiting the Pench National Park is a must; if you want to witness the harmonious union of humans and animals, visiting this Park would be the right choice. You can also go for boat rides from Pench to the nearby islands and enjoy the time in the midst of Mother Nature.

Meet Collarwali, the Supermom of Pench Tiger Reserve!

Madhya Pradesh is a state that abounds in amazing tiger population. Some of the tigers are also named and are most popular than you can imagine. If you contact a tour operator in Madhya Pradesh, you will be surprised to see the tigers who are the celebrities of this state; they awestruck their visitors with … Continue reading “Meet Collarwali, the Supermom of Pench Tiger Reserve!”

Madhya Pradesh is a state that abounds in amazing tiger population. Some of the tigers are also named and are most popular than you can imagine. If you contact a tour operator in Madhya Pradesh, you will be surprised to see the tigers who are the celebrities of this state; they awestruck their visitors with their charming personality, aristocratic nature and sprightly exuberance.

Some of the tigers that have been in the spotlight in the past are Munna, Bheema, Rajaram and among the females include Neelam, Mahavir, Dhwajhandi and most recently is Collarwali, a 13-year-old tigress residing in Pench Tiger Reserve.

The reason why Collarwali has grabbed the limelight is that she has given birth to four cubs in the last week of January,2019. Reproducing offsprings is considered to be the ultimate role of a female but the fact that has made Collarwali more popular is that at her present age of 14 years, she has given birth to a total of 29 cubs in different litters in the last ten years. The forest officials hold this as a rare record because an average feline’s lifespan is 14-15 years and Collarwali has performed the role of a female exceptionally well at this age by giving birth to four cubs this year.

In terms of beauty and health, Collarwali is beyond words- she looks great with no sign of old age or infirmity. With her present health condition, forest officials have said that she could make a record by surviving beyond 20 years and still give birth to younger ones.

According to Vikram Singh Parihar, field director, “ There is no doubt about the beauty of the tigress. Its eyes and walk sway all. At the (current) age of 14, this big cat has given birth, which itself is the most pleasant surprise. The tigress is a prolific breeder and a cub-raiser.” Previously, this beautiful tigress has given birth to 25 cubs in seven different litters and 21 cubs out of 25 stays in this reserve.

Going back to Collarwali’s history, she was born in September 2005 to tiger ‘Charger’ and tigress ‘Badimata’. She was given the name ‘Collarwali’ which is a Hindi word meaning ‘The Collared One’. The ‘queen of Pench’ draws a large number of tourist from all around the world, every year and brings in huge revenue for the Pench Tiger Reserve. The tourists are lured to visit Pench Tiger Reserve to witness the majestic beauty of this tigress and admire her young children. The great surge in the tiger population is a great way to compensate for the loss of 28 tigers in the last few months. The tourists have recently spotted the tigress enjoying her motherhood with her cubs and all of them are in good health conditions.

Did you know? Collarwali’s mother, Barimada, has also featured in BBC network’s popular documentary named ‘Spy in the Jungle’. Collarwali is also the first cub among her siblings to demarcate her own territory in the core area of her mother’s range. So it can be said that being a ‘supermom’ runs in the genes!

Collarwali first gave birth to three cubs in the year 2008. But unfortunately, out of inexperience, she couldn’t nurse efficiently when her cubs suffered from pneumonia and they died. Again in the same year, she littered four more cubs and this time they all survived. From 2008-2013, this magnificent tigress has given birth to 18 cubs and 14 of them survived. In addition, Collarwali is as famous as ‘Machhli’ of Ranthambore in Rajasthan, another feline who died in August 2016 and was known to be the world’s oldest big cat.

According to the last tiger count in 2014, the population of the tigers was between 35 and 49. And now Panna Tiger Reserve is home to more than 60 tigers.