Betul, Madhya Pradesh

During the early 20th century, Betul was known as Badnur.[1] It derives its present name from its surrounding district, which was named for its former headquarters at Betul Bazar, a small town about 5 km (3 mi) to its south. Betul—literally "without" (be) "cotton" (tool)—was named for its position outside the area's cottonfields. In 2015, it was declared among top 5 towns to live.

Balajipuram Temple in Betul

Nearby Kherla was formerly the seat of an independent kingdom in the medieval and early modern period.[2] Under Company Rule, its fort was permitted to fall into ruin.[3] Badnur became the headquarters of Betul District in 1822. Surrounded by hills on all sides, it was used by the British for the exportation of coal.[4] It supported two bazaars; the larger, Kothi Bazar, held 2015 people in the 1870s.[2] At that time, the town had a circuit house, a dak bungalow, a caravanserai, jail, police station, pharmacy, and schools.[2] Its population c. 1901 was 3766.[1]

Following independence, Betul lay near the geographical center point of the new country, which is now marked by a stone at Barsali. Betul was connected to the Delhi–Chennai line of the Indian rail network in the early 1950s. It now serves as a junction point, providing the only access to the Chindwara District on broad-gauge rail.

Betul is located at 21.92°N 77.9°E / 21.92; 77.9,[5] near the geographical center point of modern India. It has an average elevation of 658 m (2,159 ft).

During the 2011 Indian census, Betul had a population of 103,330. Males constitute 51.12% of the population, females 48.88%. Betul has an average literacy rate of 89.28%, higher than the national average of 74.04%. 10.82% of the population is under 6 years of age.[6]

Betul District's economy is predominantly an agrarian one. Its dense woods also permit forestry. Its road and rail connections and good telecom services have led some to predict that Betul will become an advanced industrial district.

Currently, Betul District supports 7160 cottage industries capitalized at 1235.65 Lakhs and employing 17,682 people; 33 small-scale industries capitalized at 819.99 Lakhs and employing 667 people; and 5 medium- or large-scale industries with a total capitalization 1681.37 Lakhs and a workforce of 999 people. Of the 33 SSI's, 8 are agricultural, 13 are mineral-based, and 1 is forest-based. The five larger industrial plants are:

• M/s. Betul Oils & Flours Ltd., Kosmi Industrial Area (130.12 Lakhs),
• M/s. Madhyavarta Ex-oil Ltd., Kosmi Industrial Area (595.00 Lakhs),
• M/s. Adhishwar Oil & Fats Ltd. Chouthia, Multai (348.73 Lakhs),
• M/s. Betul Tyre & Tube Industry Pvt. Ltd., Sohagpur (302.25 Lakhs), and
• M/s. Wearwell Tyre & Tube Industries, Panka, Amla (305.27 Lakhs).

Betul railway station

Betul is connected to the broad-gauge Delhi–Chennai (Grand Trunk) line of the Indian rail network, which also communicates with Bhopal and Nagpur. Two new railway lines are also proposed - Betul - Chandur Bazar [7] and Betul -Harda -Indore. Betul Railway station has 94 trains, to various parts of country like Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Bhopal, Indore, Harda, Jabalpur, Nagpur etc.

Betul is serviced by National Highway 46 and National Highway 47, also connecting it with Bhopal and Nagpur. National Highway 47 connects it to Harda Indore as well. There are daily buses to Bhopal, Nagpur, Harda and Indore, as well as Jabalpur, Hoshangabad, and other cities. Betul's RTO code is MP48.

The nearest airports are at Nagpur and Bhopal, about 180 km (112 mi) away. The tyre industry also uses the area's waterways for export to the United States, the UK, the Middle East, and Africa.

In Betul, there are total 72 number of colleges. Some main colleges are as follows[8]

• Govt Jaywanti Haksar P G College Betul
• Government polytechnic college sonaghati betul
• Bhimrao Ramrao Ambedkar College Of Education, Run By Shri Ram Shiksha Parishad, Chakkar Road Ambedk
• Late Shri Nandkishore Singh Patel Memorial College, Near Link Road, Sadar, Betul
• Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose College
• Shri Ram Pharmacy College Jamthi Betul
• Shri Balaji Institute of Technology & Management, Betul
• Vivekanand Vigyan Mahavidyalay (VVM), Betul
• Law College, Betul

Umari Jagir - Hazrat Ghazi Dulhe Rehman Shah Dargah

A waterfall at Muktagiri

• Muktagiri is scenic Jain temple approximately 120 km (75 mi) from Betul.
• Balajipuram is a temple 8 km (5 mi) outside Betul built by NRI Mr Sam Verma. The temple was opened to the public in 2001. Every year Funfair is organized on the occasion of religious festival of Basant Panchami. This temple is 111 feet (34 m) high and covers 15 acres (6 ha).
• Kukrukhamla is a scenic spot.
• Multai is the origin of the Tapti River and a place of religious importance. It is situated on the Bhopal-Nagpur Highway about 50 km (31 mi) from Betul.
• Sarniis the power hub of madhya Pradesh and also a tourist attraction. There is very famous Mathardev temple which is surrounded by beautiful hills of satpura mountains and there is satpura reservoir which is situated near satpura dam.

Other tourist spots include Sona Ghati, Kerpani, the Shapna Water Reservoir, rachana water fall, betul fort, churna Wildlife reserve, hanuman temple.

•  Baynes, T. S., ed. (1878), "Badnur" , Encyclopædia Britannica, 3 (9th ed.), New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, pp. 228–229
• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911), "Badnur" , Encyclopædia Britannica, 3 (11th ed.), Cambridge University Press, p. 190