Varanasi, the religious, spiritual and cultural center has been associated with the Vedic learning for centuries. Academics, intellectuals, thinkers and sages from various places came to Varanasi for the study of astrology, philosophy, yoga and other Vedic subjects. The tradition of learning is still alive and flourishing in the city. The establishment of Banaras Hindu University in the city is an apt tribute to the great tradition of learning and imparting knowledge.

The BHU, an internationally acclaimed university was established in the year 1916 by a great academician and scholar, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya. Today it is one the largest university campus in Asia with only the main campus spread over 1300 acres. The BHU campus is a complete township, with manicured lawns, well laid out roads, pleasing architecture of the university buildings, a temple and even an air strip.

The university has 127 departments, a dozen or more faculties and three institutes. It offers hundreds of courses in various disciplines; the modern disciplines like biotechnology to the old Vedic studies. The School of Sanskrit and Vedic Studies is the favorite with German scholars. The Meditation and Astrology faculty at BHU even has the traditional Guru-Shishya, the teacher-disciple system of imparting select education. BHU also boasts of a premier Technology Institute, which is comparable to the renowned IITs. It has an Institute of Medical Scinces and one of Agriculture Sciences too.

The Varanasi University also has a Yoga School. It is the science of body postures and movements. Yoga, a derivative of the Hindi word Yog, connotes unity. Yoga considers your body as an extension of the nature. The five elements which constitute the world around you also grant you health. The element Vayu or air is the major healing element in Yoga. Today a number of Yoga teachers are teaching the art of breathing. The Yoga School at the university is the favorite with the western Yoga scholars. Varanasi has many other centers for Yoga Studies. Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, many Ashrams and Maths also conduct courses in Yoga.

BHU is not behind in the provision of modern amenities in the campus. It has an ultra modern 1000 bed hospital. The university has large playgrounds and tennis, badminton and squash courts for the racket lovers. The sports and hobby section also houses table tennis, swimming pool and even a flying club. The huge auditorium screens the latest Bollywood and Hollywood blockbusters. The utility section has a printing press, fruit preservation center and subsidized canteens. The university is home to more than 15000 students from different corners of the world. The teaching and non-teaching staff of about 5000 looks after the affairs of the university.

Bharat Kala Bhavan, a museum of architecture and art is also located within the precincts of the Banaras Hindu University. It is a virtual treasure trove of Hindu and Bhuddist history, paintings, sculptures and archeological artifacts of times of yore. The museum came into existence during the British Raj, in the year 1920. The museum houses a number of fine Mughal miniature paintings. The sections worth a visit include Nicholas Gallery, Painting or Chhavi Gallery, the Malaviya Gallery, gallery of sculptures and the special Varanasi through-the-ages gallery. The visit to Banaras Hindu University will lay bare the excellence in learning, the puritanical beauty, rich traditions and the culture of the city of Varanasi. Bon Voyage.