Day 4: A day in Shivpuri

After a light breakfast at the hotel, the plan for the day was simple. A slower day, without luggage in the boot. Booked a local taxi for sightseeing in and around Shivpuri.

Piyush, who I had spoken earlier in the day, arrived. He was the owner of the taxi service and driver in crisis as this was an off season and many drivers had gone to their native villages. A young graduate, he had taken over most of the business from his father. He spoke about wanting his father to slow down and have more time for himself instead of managing daily operations. There was a pride in the way he spoke about the work.

The first stop on the trip was Madikheda Dam. The surroundings were open and quiet. There was no crowd which made it easy to walk around and take in the structure at a relaxed pace. Built on Sindh river, post Monsoon when the water recedes, the plains around the dam transforms into part time farms for the locals. When the water level rises in Monsoon, they shift to highlands near dam, a stark topography of the area.

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From there, we headed to Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple. The stairs were high, though the temple itself was not difficult to reach. It may not be convenient for elderly visitors or those with knee issues. Once at the top, the space felt calm and undisturbed with a beautiful view of the surroundings.

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Post darshan, started for the last stop, Survaya ki Garhi. A historical site reflecting Hindu and Buddhist influence from another era. The remains stand quietly, carrying stories from a time long gone by. Walking through it felt like stepping into a piece of Indian history that has quietly stood its ground for centuries. Sharing some moments of history below:

Returned to the hotel in the evening. Had coffee, followed by dinner. The day had been steady and unhurried. Later in the room, as I sat contemplating where’s the next stop, Indore was it.