Betla National Park, National park in Jharkhand, India

Betla National Park is a protected area in Jharkhand with dense sal forests, extensive bamboo groves, and open grasslands along the North Koel River. The terrain includes forested hills, shallow valleys, and several water sources that attract wildlife during the dry season.

During the 16th century, the Chero Kings built two fortresses within what is now the park area, serving as centers of power. The larger of these fortifications stands near Betla and reaches roughly 400 feet (122 meters) on a hilltop ridge.

The name Betla is an acronym of the animals found here: bison, elephant, tiger, leopard and axis (chital). The park is administered by the Forest Department, and Palamu Fort, a 17th-century fort built by the Chero Kings, stands within the park area as a stop on the visitor route.

Access begins at Betla village, roughly 25 kilometers south of Medininagar and 170 kilometers northwest of Ranchi. Trails and safari tracks run through different forest sections, with wildlife more active at sunrise and late afternoon.

Betla is an acronym for the five animals most associated with the park: bison (gaur), elephant, tiger, leopard and axis (chital). The name itself thus lists the species visitors hope to see, and all five live within the park's 226.32 km2, part of the larger Palamu Tiger Reserve.