Living away from the safe aura of one’s home for the first time may seem daunting to many, but this college can help you keep those thoughts at bay. The BITS campus is expansive and populated, and the many key landmarks scattered around the campus, from the library to Akshay (our very own supermarket), are initially hard to navigate. However, this article aims to reduce this hassle and help master navigation on campus early on.

The campus is about 328 acres vast in area, with various facilities spread across the land. Other than the hostels and their messes, there are eateries, sports facilities, and academic blocks present on campus. All buildings are within walking distance of each other, however, the majority of students use cycles to traverse particularly long distances. The campus is green, with many trees dotted around the area, and holds a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere seldom found in major cities.

BITS Pilani is a residential institute and the on-campus housing adds significantly to the college experience, though the amount of time spent in one’s living quarters varies significantly. There are thirteen hostels, or Bhawans, for boys and one—the Meera Bhawan—for girls. All first and second years are given double rooms furnished with a bed, desk, chair, wardrobe, shelves, and a fan. Each hostel has common rooms with table tennis, foosball tables, TVs, and air conditioning. Hostels also have Quadrangle Theatres, commonly known as QTs, where you will find students playing cricket or enjoying a game of football. Vending machines stocked with an assortment of chips, chocolates, juices, soft drinks, and occasionally pudding, can be found in every hostel, catering to the late-night cravings of students.

The boys’ hostels on campus include the Shankar, Vyas, Gandhi, Krishna, Ram, Budh, Malviya, Vishwakarma (VK), Bhagirath, Srinivasa Ramanujan (SR), Ashok, Rana Pratap (RP), and CV Raman Bhawans, along with the Malviya Studio Apartments. Each hostel has its upsides and downsides. For example, Gandhi Bhawan has a sporadic supply of water throughout the semester, while the SR Bhawan is located far from the majority of eateries and facilities.

Meera Bhawan—home to the female student population— stands at one end of the campus, encircled by impenetrable fortifications.

Several peacocks can be seen in and around the hostel, along with many other beautiful birds.

The most obvious thing that every Bhawan has in common is the presence of a striking personality. Each new batch that takes up residence in a Bhawan grants it a characteristic feel. Every Bhawan also has its conjoined redi, where one can indulge in a quick snack like Maggi or a samosa. These redis also offer a variety of beverages, including tea and coffee, and refreshing drinks like aam ras are quite popular with the students during summer. Each redi can have its own advantages and disadvantages though, and one will come to know them through enough trial and error. For example, CVR redi is located far away from the first-year hostels but offers an extensive menu.

There are a few key areas of heavy footfall in BITS. Rotunda, the open theatre of BITS, located underneath the clock tower, initially attracts a lot of students at the beginning of the year. Although its popularity dwindles as the year goes on, you can always find a few students engrossed in conversation here. The library, located near the edge of the campus, is a popular spot to study. Few halls are fitted with air conditioning, making them desirable during the hot summers. The Student Activity Centre (SAC) is a building housing table tennis, badminton, and squash courts, along with a gym and an open amphitheatre of its own. It is located behind the Ram and Budh Hostels.

When the necessity arises to purchase a can of insect spray (which you will undoubtedly find yourself in need of), a jar of peanut butter, or a pair of socks, Akshay is the go-to location for most students. This BITS supermarket is located next to the Vyas hostel and is also where all daily-use items are purchased. Along the road past Akshay, one can find the entrance to C’not to the left. C’not is a great place to visit when one is bored with the everyday mess food. It has a number of restaurants such as Greenfields, Kamals and Nobles, and has plenty of cafés where you can find a variety of snacks and beverages.

Aside from these facilities, there are numerous food outlets, namely Looters, Food Ministry, Talk Of The Town (TOTT), -301 °F, All Night Canteen (ANC), Sky Lab, Institute Canteen (IC), several redis, and Da Cloud Cafe (DCC), on campus. Each one has its own charm, such as IC being the only eatery run by the institute, and ANC being one of the few eateries open till 2 AM. If one is skint, the food items available at the IC shall meet their nutritional needs. However, if one is looking for continental food, they may be drawn to either Looters or DCC.

First-year classes are mostly held in the Lecture Theatre Complex (LTC), and the Faculty Divisions (FDs), with a few being held in the New Academic Block (NAB) too. The LTC is located next to the library, and the FDs are located in one line from the left side of the clock tower to the right side. If you feel a strong inclination towards getting a good grade point average, these buildings will be familiar to you in no time. However, if you wish to utilize the zero per cent attendance policy, it is possible to not know the LTC from the FDs.

The gym grounds (Gym-G) is a place which is frequented by every sports fanatic. If one, however, prefers to indulge in the bliss of cold dairy treats, they may visit the Amul parlour, which is right outside the gym grounds., along with ANC.  The irony is not lost on anybody.

For night owls, the nightlife on campus is bustling as well, with various people walking outside and eating. The All Night Canteen (ANC), however, proves to be by far the greatest place to congregate. Who knew that mixing cheap food, seating and centrality on campus could concoct such an excellent cluster hub.

While one can just read this article, and experience the major parts of the campus easily, it is highly recommended to grab a map and a couple of friends and explore the campus. There are various nooks and crannies that can turn into the hangout spot for your friends, or turn into your personal haven. Turn the college into your life’s collage and form long-lasting bonds. After all, BITS Pilani; it’s magic.