HNB Garhwal University — Birla Heritage Campus
Srinagar (Garhwal), Uttarakhand · monument
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
The Birla Campus — the original Main Campus of Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University — is the institution that turned the old Garhwal-kingdom town of Srinagar into the education capital of the Garhwal Himalaya. The university was established in November 1973 as Garhwal University, renamed in 1989 in honour of the Garhwali statesman Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna, and elevated to a central university under the Central Universities Act in 2009. Set on the banks of the river Alaknanda in the mid-Himalayas, it is a residential and affiliating university that serves the districts of the Garhwal region through more than a hundred affiliated colleges, and it has earned NAAC 'A' grade accreditation.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Student-oriented shuddh shakahari bhojnalayas near the Birla Campus gate — simple veg thalis, chana-bhatura and chai; look for the 'pure-vegetarian' board and confirm before ordering.
- ✦Srinagar main-bazaar sweet shops and namkeen counters — jalebi, samosa, kachori and mithai; the sweet-shop side is reliably vegetarian, though check that any adjoining dhaba is veg.
- ✦South-Indian tiffin points around the university (dosa, idli, uttapam) that spring up for the student crowd — vegetarian by nature; hours can be irregular in vacations.
- ✦Simple Garhwali veg dhabas along the NH-7 highway strip serving dal, rice, roti and seasonal sabzi — many are pure-veg, but Srinagar is a mixed town, so verify locally rather than assume.
About
The Birla Campus — the original Main Campus of Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University — is the institution that turned the old Garhwal-kingdom town of Srinagar into the education capital of the Garhwal Himalaya.
- The university was established in November 1973 as Garhwal University, renamed in 1989 in honour of the Garhwali statesman Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna, and elevated to a central university under the Central Universities Act in 2009.
- Set on the banks of the river Alaknanda in the mid-Himalayas, it is a residential and affiliating university that serves the districts of the Garhwal region through more than a hundred affiliated colleges, and it has earned NAAC 'A' grade accreditation.
- The campus takes its everyday name from the Birla connection, and locals simply call it the Birla Campus to distinguish it from the newer Chauras Campus across the river.
- The two are bisected by the Alaknanda and lie roughly 4 km apart, linked by road and by the town's river bridges — the older Birla Campus holding the administrative and humanities heart of the university, and the Chauras extension holding much of the science, technology and newer academic infrastructure.
- Walking the tree-shaded Birla Campus, a visitor gets a quiet cross-section of Himalayan university life: colonnaded older blocks, department buildings, hostels, a central library, playing fields and viewpoints where the milky-grey Alaknanda sweeps below the surrounding ridges.
- Srinagar (Garhwal) sits at about 560 m on the Rishikesh–Badrinath pilgrim highway (NH-7), roughly 105 km up from Rishikesh, and the university gives the town its studenty, year-round energy — bookshops, stationery stalls, tea points and cheap eateries clustering around the campus gates.
- The setting also makes it a natural pause on the Char Dham road journey and a base for exploring the wider Garhwal countryside, from the Alaknanda riverbanks to the temples and ridgeline villages nearby.
- For vegetarian travellers, a word of honesty: Srinagar (Garhwal) is a mixed hill town, not a wholly vegetarian pilgrim centre like Rishikesh or Devprayag, so food needs a little care.
- The good news is that plenty of student-oriented bhojnalayas near the campus are shuddh shakahari (pure-vegetarian), serving simple Garhwali and North-Indian thalis, chana-bhatura, South-Indian tiffin and endless chai.
- Look for outlets clearly marked 'shudh shakahari', and confirm on the spot before ordering.
- The campus is a place to walk, read plaques and soak up the Himalayan-university atmosphere rather than a ticketed monument — treat it respectfully as a working academic institution.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Birla (Main) Campus, University Road, Srinagar (Garhwal), Pauri Garhwal district, Srinagar (Garhwal), Uttarakhand, 246174
How to Reach: Srinagar (Garhwal) lies on NH-7, about 105 km up-valley from Rishikesh (4–5 hours by road) and roughly 130 km from Dehradun's Jolly Grant airport. Shared jeeps, state buses and taxis run the Rishikesh–Srinagar–Rudraprayag route through the day; the nearest broad-gauge railhead is Rishikesh. From Srinagar's main bazaar the Birla (Main) Campus is a short auto-rickshaw or shared-vic ride, and the Chauras Campus is about 4 km across the Alaknanda by road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Birla Campus of HNB Garhwal University open to visitors?
Yes — as a public central university the open grounds of the Birla (Main) Campus can generally be walked during daylight hours, and there is no entry ticket. It is a working academic institution, though, so access to specific buildings, hostels and departments may be restricted; ask politely at the gate and keep to the public areas.
Is there an entry fee for the Birla Campus?
No, there is no entry fee. It is a functioning university campus rather than a ticketed monument, so you can stroll the grounds free of charge. Please treat it respectfully as a place of study.
What is the history of HNB Garhwal University?
It was established in November 1973 as Garhwal University, renamed in 1989 in honour of the Garhwali statesman Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna, and elevated to a central university under the Central Universities Act in 2009. Set on the banks of the Alaknanda in the mid-Himalayas, it is a residential and affiliating university that serves the Garhwal region through more than a hundred affiliated colleges and holds NAAC 'A' grade accreditation.
What is the difference between the Birla Campus and the Chauras Campus?
The two campuses are separated by the river Alaknanda and lie roughly 4 km apart. The older Birla Campus — the original Main Campus in Srinagar town — holds much of the administrative and humanities life of the university, while the newer Chauras Campus across the river houses a large share of the science, technology and modern academic infrastructure.
How do I reach Srinagar (Garhwal) and the university?
Srinagar (Garhwal) sits on NH-7, about 105 km up-valley from Rishikesh (4–5 hours by road) and roughly 130 km from Jolly Grant airport near Dehradun. Shared jeeps, buses and taxis ply the Rishikesh–Srinagar–Rudraprayag road; the nearest railhead is Rishikesh. From the town bazaar the Birla Campus is a short auto or shared-vehicle ride, with the Chauras Campus about 4 km away across the Alaknanda. Note that this Srinagar is in Uttarakhand's Garhwal Himalaya — not the Kashmir city of the same name.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near the campus in Srinagar (Garhwal)?
Srinagar (Garhwal) is a mixed hill town, so choose with a little care. Around the campus gates you'll find student-oriented shuddh shakahari (pure-vegetarian) bhojnalayas serving veg thalis, chana-bhatura and chai, plus South-Indian tiffin points with dosa and idli. The main-bazaar sweet and namkeen shops are reliably vegetarian for jalebi, samosa and mithai. Look for a clear 'pure-vegetarian' board and confirm before ordering rather than assuming.
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