Chhole Samosa and Cold Coffee at BHU's VT: The Student Food Combo That Defines Campus Life in Varanasi

Ask any student of Banaras Hindu University about their favourite campus hangout, and one name comes up instantly — VT, the bustling market area near the Vishwanath Temple inside the university. While the temple draws devotees from across the city, the food stalls around it have earned a reputation of their own, serving generations of students some of Varanasi's most loved budget snacks. The undisputed star of VT is the chhole samosa — a crisp, golden samosa crushed and drowned in spicy, tangy chhole, topped with onions and chutneys. It is filling, fiery, and famously easy on a student's pocket. The dish has become something of a rite of passage: seniors introduce juniors to it, and alumni returning to campus often head straight to their old stall before anything else. The classic pairing is equally iconic — a tall glass of frothy cold coffee. The contrast of spicy chhole and sweet, chilled coffee may sound unusual, but at VT it is simply how things are done. On warm evenings, the benches around the stalls fill up with students debating everything from exams to cricket over this beloved combination. For visitors exploring Varanasi's food scene beyond kachori-jalebi and Banarasi paan, the BHU campus offers a different flavour of the city — youthful, affordable, and full of energy. A stroll through the sprawling green campus, darshan at the New Vishwanath Temple, and a plate of chhole samosa make for a perfect Banarasi afternoon.

Compiled by HelloBanaras from public sources: अक्षिता RAJPUT