town, south-central Madhya Pradesh state, central India. It is a major road and agricultural trade centre; sawmilling, oilseed milling, essential-oil distilling, and silk production are its chief industries. Formerly called Badnur, Betul was constituted a municipality in 1867; it has a government college affiliated with the University of Sagar. A weekly cattle market is held. The ruined 14th-century Kherla fortress, just to the northeast, was the seat of a major Gond dynasty. Pop. (2001) 83,524.