Betla National Park is part of Palamu district lying in Chota Nagpur Plateau Region of Jharkhand State in India. Betla is described as one of the best forest for watching the wild life from close range, jeeps with guides and spot lights are available for deep venturing into the forest. Various animals including forest owls, Tigers, Drongos, Civets, Rehesues Monkeys, Elephants, Gaurs, Sloth Bear, Cheetals, Mouse Deer, Four Horned Antelope, Wolfs and Sambar are found in this forest. Betla is the first Forest to come under the Project Tiger. Lodh Falls 95 Kms south of the park in Mahuadar area is a place worth visiting once in this area. The forest has vast verities of plants it is a tropical wet evergreen forest in lower areas, mixed deciduous type forest in the middle regions and temperate alpine type forest in the upper regions. River Koel flows through the northern area of this forest. Betla is located 25 Kms from Daltongang, 70 Kms from Latehar and 170 Kms from Ranchi. It is well connected by rail and road. Ranchi is the nearest Airport 170 Kms away from Daltongang and 95 kms from Betla. Patna airport is 250 kms away. Nearest railway station is Barwadih one has to take a bus or a taxi from here to Betla. National Highway no. NH75 is connected via Kuru and Latehar to Ranchi. One can stay in tourist Complex which includes a three star hotel, the tourist lodges which include canteen facilities, Log huts or Tree Houses inside the forest which has fully furnished suites. Tree houses are located near a watering hole where all animals come for drinking water in summer times. Telephones, Internet facilities are available in this forest. Best time to visit is from October to April.
