STATION 12 • UNIVERSITY• Place Guide
Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
काशी हिन्दू विश्वविद्यालय"A vast green campus where learning, art and faith meet."
Photo: Varanasi Travel Guide / Campus File
Educational & Historical Overview
Banaras Hindu University (BHU), founded in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, is one of Varanasi’s most remarkable large-scale landmarks. Its main campus covers about 1,300 acres, with tree-lined roads, monumental buildings and a mix of academic, cultural and religious spaces. At its heart stands the New Vishwanath Temple, a white-marble Shiva temple rising about 77 metres, while Bharat Kala Bhavan houses roughly 1 lakh works and antiquities across its galleries. For travellers, BHU feels less like a single attraction and more like a city within the city—a place where students, scholarship, art and devotion continue side by side.
Historical Heritage: Established during the Indian independence movement as a center for modern scientific education integrated with traditional Indian philosophy.
Practical Visitor Information
LocationLanka, Varanasi, UP 221005
Best Time & HoursLate afternoon (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM) for peaceful walks and evening cold coffee at VT
Entry Fee / PassesFree campus and temple entry; Bharat Kala Bhavan museum ₹20.
Must-Experience Activity:Try cold coffee with ice cream at VT canteen and explore Indian miniature paintings at Bharat Kala Bhavan.
Scam Warning & Local Tip:Rent an e-rickshaw inside Lanka Gate to comfortably tour the vast 1,300-acre campus grounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
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