Shivpuri: Chhatris, Temples and History

Shivpuri offers a range of starting points for planning a trip: the city’s highlights include chhatris and temples, while the surrounding area is home to a national park, historic buildings, and other places. February is also a relevant time to visit, as the Siddheswar-Banganga Festival takes place every year then. If you are looking for a hotel in Shivpuri, you can first decide whether you want your stay to focus on the city’s history and temples, or also include places in the surrounding area.

Chhatris and History

The chhatris of Shivpuri are dedicated to members of the Scindia family: one is dedicated to Madhav Rao Scindia, and the other to his mother, Maharani Sakhya Raje Scindia. Architecturally, the structures combine Hindu and Islamic styles with Mughal pavilions. The chhatris can therefore be understood through two distinct features: whom they are dedicated to and their combination of architectural styles. If you are interested in architecture, you can consider these two aspects separately.

Temples and the February Festival

The Siddheswar-Banganga Festival takes place every year in February around the Siddheshwar and Banganga temples. Siddheshwar Temple is near Jadhav Sagar Lake on the eastern side of Shivpuri; the old Banganga Temple is known for its 52 sacred kunds. The festival thus centers on two temples with different points of reference: Siddheshwar Temple’s location near the lake and the 52 kunds at Banganga Temple. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the specific dates for the year in question.

Places in the Surrounding Area

Madhav National Park is near Shivpuri. It was once a hunting ground for the Mughal emperors and the Maharaja of Gwalior, and was designated a national park in 1958. This sequence places the park in two historical phases: its former use as a hunting ground and its later designation as a national park. George Castle stands at the highest point in the park. The Scindia ruler of Gwalior at the time had the castle built in 1911 as an overnight stay for King George V of England.

Survaya Garhi is about 20 km from the city of Shivpuri, on Jhansi Road. The complex comprises three temple ruins and a large auditorium. Check current accessibility before visiting. Bhadaiya Kund is a natural spring near Shivpuri and a scenic picnic spot. This place thus differs thematically from temple ruins and historic buildings: the focus here is a spring that is also described as a picnic spot.

Getting to Shivpuri

Shivpuri has its own railhead. Delhi (400 km), Bhopal (300 km), and Indore (400 km) are listed as connected cities; the distances are not explicitly identified as rail travel distances. When planning your journey, therefore, do not assume these figures correspond to a specific train route or travel time.

Discover more destinations: Narwar.

View the main travel overview: Shivpuri.