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Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Delhi Kendra
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan is a charitable public trust for education, art and culture, founded by K. M. Munshi in 1938. Its Delhi Kendra on Kasturba Gandhi Marg in central New Delhi runs courses in Sanskrit, indology, yoga, languages, classical music and dance, along with a college, a school and concerts. It is a working campus rather than a sight: come for a course, a lecture or a performance.
A cultural campus in central Delhi dedicated to preserving and spreading the traditional knowledge of India: Sanskrit, indology, yoga, Ayurveda, and the classical arts. Founded in 1938 by K. M. Munshi, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan is one of the country's most respected educational and cultural institutions, with centers across India and abroad.
What you can do here:
- Visit the library and reading rooms, lined with portraits of scholars and stacked with rare editions on Indian philosophy, history, and art. - Attend lectures, concerts, or short courses; topics range from Sanskrit and Vedanta to Ayurvedic diet and indology. - Explore the Gandhi Institute of Computer Education & Information Technology and the Sanskrit college on the same campus.
A quiet, scholarly corner of Delhi, the kind of place that reminds you the city is not only monuments and bazaars, but also a living tradition of learning.
A cultural campus of traditional India
What Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan is
The Bhavan was founded by Dr K. M. Munshi on 7 November 1938 to preserve and spread Indian culture. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, laid the foundation stone of the Delhi Kendra on 31 March 1952 and opened it on 16 May 1957. Jawaharlal Nehru and Rajendra Prasad were both founder members.
What began as one man's project is now a network of 114 centres in India and seven abroad, and in 2002 the Bhavan received the Gandhi Peace Prize for its work in education and in promoting harmony between faiths. Its motto comes from the Rig Veda: Aa no bhadrah kratavo yantu vishvatah, "let noble thoughts come to us from every side".
Courses and what you can do here
The Delhi Kendra lists these institutions and course groups on its site. Course dates, fees and admissions are announced there and change every session.
Centre for Indology and Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya
Indology courses and a Sanskrit college, the core of the Bhavan's mission.
Yoga and holistic health
Yoga courses, plus acupuncture, Ayurveda diet and nutrition, and holistic health science.
Music and dance academy
Kathak and vocal music. The Bhavan also stages concerts, such as Sangeet Samaroh, a festival of classical music and dance.
Languages and astrology
JNA Languages for foreign languages, and an Institute of Astrology with courses in Vastu, numerology and palmistry.
Colleges and school
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan College, management and hotel and tourism programmes, and Bhavan's Mehta Vidyalaya school.
Books
Pustak Bharati and Bhavan's Publications, the Bhavan's own books and journals on Indian culture.
Address and how to get there
Address: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110001. Phone: +91 11 2338 9942.
Kasturba Gandhi Marg runs south from Connaught Place. The nearest metro stations are Barakhamba Road on the Blue Line and Mandi House on the Blue and Violet Lines; from either it is a walk of several minutes. The site gives contact hours of 10 am to 5 pm but no visiting hours for sightseeing: call ahead or check the site for course and event timings.
❓ FAQ
Is Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan a government or private institution?
Neither a government body nor a company: it is a charitable public trust founded by K. M. Munshi in 1938.
What courses are offered at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Delhi?
Indology, Sanskrit, yoga, foreign languages, astrology and Vastu, Ayurveda and holistic health, Kathak and vocal music, plus college programmes in management and hotel and tourism.
Why is Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan famous?
It is one of India's best-known cultural trusts, with 114 centres in India and seven abroad, and it received the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2002.
How do I get admission at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Delhi?
Admissions open separately for each course and are announced on bvbdelhi.org; fees and batch dates are listed there.
What is the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Delhi address?
Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110001. Phone: +91 11 2338 9942.