BETUL

city, south-central Madhya Pradesh state, central India. It is a major road and agricultural trade centre; sawmilling, oilseed milling, essential-oil distilling, and silk growing are its chief industries. Formerly called Badnur, Betul was constituted a municipality in 1867; it has a government college affiliated with the University of Saugar. A weekly cattle mart is held. The ruined 14th-century Kherla fortress, just to the northeast, was the seat of a major Gond dynasty. Pop. (1991 prelim.) 63,489.