My Jungle Junction

Madhav National Park & Tiger Reserve

Madhav Tiger Reserve, in Shivpuri, is India's 58th tiger reserve: open grassland and lake country where tigers were reintroduced, with chinkara, nilgai and a Ramsar wetland.

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Plan Your Safari

Talk to a wildlife specialist.

By submitting, you agree to be contacted by My Jungle Junction.

By submitting, you agree to our Cancellation & Refund Policy and Privacy Policy.

My Jungle Junction's Guide to Madhav Tiger Reserve

The Madhav Tiger Safari Experience

Madhav National Park sits near Shivpuri, in the north of Madhya Pradesh, and was declared a tiger reserve in March 2025, becoming the country's 58th. The reserve covers around 1,751 square kilometres in total, of which about 375 is core and 1,276 buffer. The national park itself is smaller.

The park was formerly a royal hunting ground of the Scindia family, and the George Castle hunting lodge stands on a hill above the lake. Sakhya Sagar was built in the early 20th century by damming a river and was designated a Ramsar wetland in 2022.

Two nights is plenty for four safaris and a visit to the lake and the castle. Most guests combine Madhav with Gwalior or Orchha rather than treating it as a stand-alone trip.

1,751

sq. km reserve

1 + 1

Core + Buffer zones

2025

Declared National Park

Madhav Safari Packages

My Jungle Junction's Bestselling Madhav Safari Packages

We plan Madhav itineraries around the way the park actually works, not a generic template. Madhav is a fast-changing reserve, so we confirm current safari routes, tiger status and lodges before booking, and we link it to Gwalior or Orchha where it suits. Amit and the team book permits and vehicles early, choose lodges for the gate you will use, and can combine Madhav with Gwalior, Orchha or Kuno so the trip has a sensible rhythm. Tell us your dates and group, and we will build around them.

How Many Safaris Should You Do in Madhav?

Two Nights, Four Safaris

Madhav's pleasures are spread between jeep drives, the lake and the castle, so a short stay works well. Most guests take two to four safaris over one or two nights, with time for Sakhya Sagar and George Castle. Because the tiger population is still small and recovering, we advise treating a tiger sighting as a bonus. The grassland and lake offer good views of other wildlife.

Two safaris are enough if you are passing through Shivpuri or combining Gwalior and Orchha. You see the lake and open country, and get a feel for the reserve.

Three or four safaris over two nights give the best balance. They allow morning and afternoon drives, plus time to visit the castle and the lake edge without rushing.

Five or six safaris are rarely needed. Madhav suits travellers interested in reintroduction projects, antelope, birds and history. If a dependable tiger sighting is your priority, pair it with a larger reserve such as Kanha, Bandhavgarh or Pench.

Best Safari Zones

Safari Routes in Madhav

Madhav Tiger Reserve is newly declared and tourism arrangements are still evolving. The park centres on the Sakhya Sagar lake and the hills and grassland around it, with George Castle above the water. We have not been able to confirm a published list of numbered zones or named gates for the reserve, so we do not quote any. Instead, we confirm the current entry points, timings and routes directly with the forest department when you book, and give you written details before you travel. The core covers about 375 square kilometres, with a much larger buffer of around 1,276 square kilometres.

Core Area

About 375 sq km of the reserve, where tigers were reintroduced. Visitor access is controlled by the forest department.

Sakhya Sagar Lake

Ramsar-listed lake inside the park, good for birds, crocodiles and views of deer along the shore.

George Castle Area

Historic hunting lodge above the lake, a popular viewpoint and a stop on the safari route.

Buffer Area

Around 1,276 sq km of surrounding forest and farmland. Some drives and activities may take place here.

How to Reach & When to Visit

How to Reach & Best Time to Visit Madhav

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By Air

Gwalior is the nearest airport with scheduled flights. Shivpuri is roughly two hours' drive from Gwalior, depending on traffic. Delhi and Bhopal are alternatives.

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By Train

Shivpuri has its own railway station, and Gwalior Junction is the major railhead with fast trains from Delhi and Agra. Taxis are available from both.

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By Road

Shivpuri is on the main highway network and reachable by road from Gwalior, Jhansi and Bhopal. The drive from Gwalior is typically around two hours.

Best Time to Visit Madhav

The reserve is best in the dry months. The monsoon limits access, as in most Madhya Pradesh parks.

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Winter
Nov - Feb

Comfortable weather and the best season for lake birds, mornings on the grassland and general wildlife viewing.

☀️
Summer
Mar - Jun

Hot, with animals drawn to the lake. Early drives are best. Carry water and sun protection.

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Monsoon
Jul - Sep

Access is usually restricted during the monsoon. Confirm with us before planning any trip in these months.

MJJ Insight : Madhav is easy to combine with Gwalior and Orchha on a heritage-and-wildlife route. Book permits and vehicles early for winter weekends, and confirm tiger-viewing arrangements with us first.

The Wildlife of Madhav

Beyond the Tiger: Madhav's Wildlife

Madhav is known for its open-country and lake wildlife. Chinkara, nilgai, chital, sambar and the four-horned antelope are among the herbivores, with leopard, hyena and jackal as predators. Tigers were reintroduced from 2023 and are present in small numbers. Sakhya Sagar supports crocodiles and a large bird list, with waterfowl in winter, and the grassland and rocky hills suit raptors and other dry-country birds. Because the landscape is open, animals are often seen at a distance, and a good guide with binoculars helps. Sightings of the tigers should be treated as a bonus rather than a certainty.

Madhav National Park & Tiger Reserve - wildlife sighting
Madhav National Park & Tiger Reserve - wildlife sighting
Madhav National Park & Tiger Reserve - wildlife sighting
Madhav National Park & Tiger Reserve - wildlife sighting

Madhav's Reintroduced Tigers

A conservation project still in its first chapters

The story of Madhav is the story of its tigers. Three were brought here in 2023, including two females, to restore a population that had disappeared. Reports since then mention cubs being born. We avoid quoting names or numbers we cannot confirm, but the project is the reason to visit, and seeing it in its early years is part of the appeal.

Sakhya Sagar George Castle Tiger reintroduction Shivpuri Chinkara

The reintroduction began in 2023, when three tigers, including two females, were relocated to Madhav National Park. The aim was to rebuild a breeding population in a landscape that had lost its tigers.

Reports since then mention cubs and plans for further introductions, and the national park was declared a tiger reserve in March 2025. Numbers are small, so we cannot promise sightings.

Away from the tigers, Sakhya Sagar is a Ramsar wetland, and George Castle recalls the park's royal hunting past. Visitors who follow the reintroduction closely often say that watching a recovery in progress is part of what makes the trip memorable.

Your Stay in Madhav

Your Stay in Madhav

Where to Stay in Madhav

Shivpuri town has hotels at a range of prices, and a few resorts and rest houses sit close to the park. Choose a place near the entry you will use and check for hot water and air-conditioning in summer. Many guests base themselves in Gwalior or Jhansi and make a long day trip, but a night near the park gives you the best light on the lake. As the reserve is newly declared, accommodation near the gates is still modest, and new properties may open. We confirm what is available for your dates.

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Safari Etiquette

Dos and Don'ts on a Madhav safari

✓ Dos

  • ✓ Keep your voice low inside the forest.
  • ✓ Listen to your guide and naturalist.
  • ✓ Respect safari routes and forest regulations.
  • ✓ Carry water, sun protection and suitable clothing.
  • ✓ Keep your camera ready without disturbing wildlife.

✕ Don'ts

  • ✕ Ask the driver to break rules.
  • ✕ Request a driver to block an animal's movement.
  • ✕ Feed wildlife.
  • ✕ Throw anything from the vehicle.

Why Should You Visit Madhav

India's 58th tiger reserve, where tigers are coming back

Madhav offers something unusual: a chance to see tiger country in the middle of being rebuilt. Tigers were reintroduced here from 2023, and the reserve was declared in March 2025. The scenery is open and graceful, with a lake, grassland, hills and a royal hunting lodge, and the park is rich in antelope and birds. It is not the place to go if you need a guaranteed tiger, and the infrastructure is still developing. But for repeat visitors, history lovers and anyone drawn to conservation stories, it makes a thoughtful, rewarding stop, particularly alongside Gwalior and Orchha.

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Madhav

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