Betul, Madhya Pradesh

Betul is Municipal Council town in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative head-quarter of Betul district and forms the southernmost part of the Narmadapuram Division.

Name
During the early 20th century, Betul was known as Badnur. 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 to its south. Betul—literally "without" (be) "cotton" (tool)—was named for its position outside the area's cottonfields.

History
Nearby fort called Kherla Quila was formerly the seat of an independent kingdom in the medieval and early modern period. Under Company Rule, its fort was permitted to fall into ruin. 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. It supported two bazaars; the larger, Kothi Bazar, held 2015 people in the 1870s. At that time, the town had a circuit house, a dak bungalow, a caravanserai, jail, police station, pharmacy, and schools. Its population c. 1901 was 3766.

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 access to the Chhindwara District on broad-gauge rail Biggest City in India .

Geography
Betul is located at 21.92°N, 77.9°W, near the geographical center point of modern India. It has an average elevation of 658 m.

Demographics
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.

Economy
Betul District's economy is predominantly an agrarian one. Its dense woods also permit forestry.

Transport
Betul is connected to the broad-gauge Delhi–Chennai (Grand Trunk) line of the Indian rail network, which also communicates with Bhopal and Nagpur.

Betul is serviced by National Highway 46 connecting it with Bhopal and Nagpur. National Highway 47 connects it to Indore.

The nearest airports are at Nagpur and Bhopal, both about 180 km away.

Education
In Betul, there are total 72 number of colleges. Some main colleges are as follows In Betul, there are many schools for primary and secondary education. Some of the main schools are
 * 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


 * R D Public School, Kalapatha, Betul
 * Satpuda Valley Public School, Sonaghati, Betul
 * Kendriya Vidyalya Betul
 * ELC English School
 * Rathore Collage and School