It is perhaps the largest residential University in Asia. It is meant to be a worthy seat of studies in oriental lores. It is planned in a semi-circular and radial pattern. On the circumference there are residential colonies for teachers, while on the second periphery there are rows of hostels, playing grounds and on the third various departments. In the centre are central administrative office, multipurpose hall, central library and New Vishwanath Temple. New Vishwanath Temple or Birla Temple of Benares Hindu University was built by a prominent industrialist family of Birlas. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya planned for a majestic temple at that place to spread moral values and entwine ethos of Indian value systems with modern education. Unlike many other temples in Varanasi, this temple is open to all irrespective of caste or creed.
The lush greenery and vegetation of the campus happens to be home of peacocks, porcupines, rabbits and various species of birds. Entry into the vast complex of this university takes one into a wide open, spacious, green world, quite unlike any other place in Varanasi. Extensive greenery, very good roads, play grounds, temple, auditorium, hostels, faculty buildings, hospital etc attract attention of every visitor. More than thirty thousand students are enrolled in six institutes, fourteen faculties (streams) and 142 departments. The departments are all beautiful vintage structures, except a few modern ones. Students from all across the globe, about 50 countries, study here. There are more than 65 hostels for the students within the complex. Even after being an educational institution, Banaras Hindu University happens to be a major tourist attraction in Varanasi.
There are several historically and culturally significant attractions in the vicinity of BHU. Some of them are Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Durga Temple, Assi Ghat, Ramnagar Fort, Vyas Kashi, Vyas Temple etc.