Nalanda ready for debut Hotel revamp to suit needs of boarders

A view of Tathagat Hotel in Rajgir, which will house the students of Nalanda University. Picture by Chandan Chatterjee

The 40 first-batch students of Nalanda University would get double the space of tourists in Tathagat Hotel at Rajgir — the makeshift hostel of the prestigious seat of education.

The double-bed rooms of the hotel would be converted into single occupancy hostel rooms to give students more space and privacy. The 40 hotel rooms usually accommodating 80 tourists would host the 40 varsity students — 20 each of School of Historical Studies and School of Ecology and Environment Studies.

Engineer Colonel M.K. Prasad, heading the Nalanda University engineering wing, said: “We decided to convert the double occupancy rooms to single to give students more space to study. The privacy of the students coming from different parts of the globe was also factored in while taking the decision.”

Gopa Sabharwal, vice-chancellor, Nalanda University, said: “In all likelihood, the hotel would be formally handed over to the varsity on August 1.” The students are expected to check in to the hostel on August 23 — four days ahead of the orientation programme on August 27. The classes of the first batch of the university would start on September 1. The varsity would pay Rs 1.12 crore per annum for using the hotel to accommodate students.

The approximate size of the abode of each student would be 200sqft. Every room with attached toilet would be air-conditioned and equipped with TV sets.

The rooms on the ground floor would be fitted with window air-conditioners. Those on the three other floors would have split air-conditioners.

There would be a bookshelf in every hostel room where students can stack their study material. The varsity authorities have also decided to provide students with cupboards in their hostel rooms.

The closets would have three shelves on the right. The left side of the wardrobe would be designed in such a way that students can hang their dress, including suits and jackets.

The cupboards would be fitted with digital lockers for the security of cash and other expensive belongings of students. There would be provision for shoe case also.

Colonel Prasad said: “The hotel rooms would be customised for students within 20 days of formal handover. By August 23, they would be ready to host the pupils.”

The makeshift hostel, 2.5km away from the temporary varsity campus, would have a conference room. Buses would ferry students from the hostel to the classrooms on the makeshift campus. There would be three suites in the makeshift hostel. One of them would be used to house guests, including teachers. One would be allotted to the hostel warden. The other could be converted into a common room for the hostel inmates.

The canteen would be on the ground floor, adjacent to the kitchen. The menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner is likely to include Indian, Chinese and continental dishes.