Varanasi is the spiritual and historical hub of India. The city has ancient vibes and mystical alleys that have a special allure. Generally speaking, this holy city is affordable – with a lower cost of living and tuition fee than most of the metropolitan cities of India (such as Delhi and Mumbai). Still, living the student life in the city has its unique joys and challenges.

But fear not, savvy scholars! We bring you some of the best college student budget tips and affordable things to do in Varanasi for SMS Varanasi students.

Food on a Budget

SMS Varanasi students can find affordable food options in its cafeteria (where food and snacks are served from sunrise to sunset). Hostel students at the School of Management Sciences, Varanasi have a hygienic mess where the food is served at reasonable rates.

But if you want a change of taste, you can try delicious treats for less at Lassiwala, Blue Lassi Shop, or Kashi Chat Bhandar. For budget-friendly South Indian, try Krishna Cafe or Sri Venkateshwara. Assi Ghat is also known for offering affordable street food that you can enjoy – while enjoying stunning Ganga views.

Since Varanasi is a holy city, many religious institutions and temples here offer free meals throughout the day. For example, Bhandara at Annapurna Devi Mandir serves unlimited meals from 9 am to about 3 pm in a well-organized clean hall.

Enjoying good food is one of the most popular and affordable things to do in Varanasi for students!

Accommodation Smarts

Many SMS Varanasi students, who hail from outside, opt for its comfortable and well-furnished hostels. Separate hostels are available for boys and girls. They include facilities for indoor and outdoor games, a mini-library, and reading room facilities.

The hostel is quite affordable. Triple-seater rooms for boys cost INR 83,000 per annum. Double-seater rooms for girls cost INR 98,000 per annum while the triple-seater rooms for them cost INR 88,000 per annum. The hostel fees include food, lodging, and transportation (to and from the city). One also has to deposit a security money of INR 2,000 which is refundable.

Students can also apply for financial aid or scholarships.

But if you are looking for off-campus options, here are some of the college student budget tips for you. Many of our students choose to stay in paying guest accommodations (PGs) near the college for more privacy. If you are interested in them too, you can find affordable PGs in areas like Bhelupura or Sigra.

Study Support on a Shoe String

Besides food and lodging, books are one of the biggest expenses for SMS Varanasi students. This is the reason why buying secondhand books is on our list of college student budget tips. Local point out to shops near Lanka Gate or Godowlia to buy used textbooks at significantly lower prices. Of course, the college library is free for you – and you can find a good collection of all the books and journals you need there.

We highly recommend forming study groups with classmates for effective learning. But make sure that friends in your study group add to your study sessions and are not disruptive. If you are a lone wolf, the quiet zones in the college library are great for doing research or focused studies.

Use the college resources to maximize your learning experience. SMS Varanasi, for example, has:

• Knowledge Management Centre: Where students can get career guidance, dynamic online content related to different areas, and info about the latest happenings related to different corporate sectors, the field of communication, and digital technologies.
• Computer Centre: Fully air-conditioned, the state-of-the-art computer centre at SMS Varanasi has one server room and eight labs with more than 400 smart terminals and complete networking and backup support. It offers unlimited high-speed internet. The entire SMS Varanasi campus has 24X7 Wi-Fi too.
• Centre Of Online Learning And E-Resources: Part of the AKTU consortium, this centre offers various e-resources, MOOCs, and Swayam portal support for students and faculty members. It runs several projects including NPTEL, DELNET, NDL, MyLOFT, government-run spoken tutorials, and more.
• Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Skill Development: This is a Centre of Excellence that promotes innovation, entrepreneurial activities, and the creation of job opportunities for college students. You might be interested in the startup incubation centre here if you want to own a business one day. 

And there are always online resources open for everyone. Educational websites like Khan Academy or MIT OpenCourseWare are helping students from everywhere get additional learning support and practice for free or within their budget.

Healthy Bingeing (In the Evenings or During Late Night Study Sessions)

Parents keep telling us that junk food is unhealthy but we don’t listen, do we? Senior SMS Varanasi students can share many instances of how healthy and nutritious meals not only impact your health but also your academic performance! And it saves money too.

If you are on a budget, stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables at the Lalbahadur Shastri Vegetable Market. Even if you don’t really go there, many local markets offer budget-friendly groceries. Guavas and bananas are readily available in Varanasi, nutritious and quite filling – perfect to binge on at any time of the day.

Invest in a small rice cooker or hot plate for your PG and prepare simple, quick meals. You will find several tasty recipes online.

And remember, street food in Varanasi is generally hygienic and tasty!

Have Fun Without Breaking Your Bank

Though life here is simple and spiritual, there are endless affordable things to do in Varanasi for students. You can start by exploring the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Sarnath, and the Ghats along the River (especially at night). Entry is free at all these places. You can also enjoy the mesmerizing Ganga Aarti (free to watch).

On a special day, you can take a budget-friendly boat ride on the Ganges at sunrise or sunset. Assi Ghat (mentioned above) has some affordable cafes you can check out or you can take a stroll through the bustling Godowlia Chowk.

Bharuchha Book Store is simply a haven for book lovers and organizes book discussions, author talks, and cultural events on a regular basis.  Tulsi Ghat is serene and perfect for times when you want some peace or to indulge in philosophical discussions. You can also attend lectures, seminars, and student-organized events often open to the public in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus.

This is our unofficial finance guide for SMS Varanasi students. Hope you have fun and learn all that you need to know while living frugally here!