Straight Outta Manipal campus: MIT Manipal Hostel Guide

Manas Kalia, Meena Sirisha, Rahul Devadiga, | Staff Bloggers

Article updated in 2022 by Aditi Agarwal, Harini Satish, Samraggi Patra, Hrishit Roy.

Whether you’re the type of person who wakes up at 6 AM, takes a bath, has breakfast, and calmly walks to college for the first 8 AM class. Or the type of person who wakes up in a scramble at 7:40 and just leaves everything and runs, or… just decides that sleep is more important and just skip class altogether. The hostel you choose will widely influence a number of your decisions and will also be your home away from home for the first year. As there will be many people telling you which hostel you should choose, here’s a block-by-block guide of all the MIT Manipal hostels.

BOYS HOSTEL BLOCKS

Block 5 & 6 (Freshers)

These blocks provide some of the cheapest rooms but have the best location, as they are closest to the MIT Food Court as well as the Academic blocks so intake for the stomach and brain are both easily accessible. The location is especially beneficial to the students who struggle to wake up in time for classes or breakfast. The blocks consist of Double or Triple sharing rooms with a common bathroom. Getting used to the common bathroom may be a little difficult at first but over time students get used to it. The Common bathrooms are hygienic as they are cleaned at least twice or thrice a day.  

These blocks are two of the oldest but are well maintained, they are shaped like a square with the rooms along the perimeter of the courtyard. The courtyard provides space for recreational activities as well as drying clothes. The blocks have their own mess named Adithya mess. There is no night canteen but because of the location of the blocks, many small restaurants on campus are nearby so midnight cravings are taken care of.

These blocks have a TV room which has been host to many cricket and football matches. Just imagine a room full of your friends and peers collectively viewing a match, the emotions are sure to run high, CHILLS, LITERAL CHILLS. 

Block 7 (Freshers)

This block is located right opposite Block 21 or New Ladies Block (NLB). It is close to the Food Court and about a 10-minute walk from the Academic blocks. So that’s 10 minutes less time to sleep in. The block consists of non-AC double sharing rooms with attached bathrooms. The rooms and corridors are well ventilated. The Annapurna Mess and Apoorva Mess are both close by. This ensures that ordered food from the Apoorva Mess is always delivered fast and hot.  

     One downside of Block 7 is that there is only one water cooler present, and it is placed on the ground floor. This makes refilling water a hassle for the students on the top floors. But on the positive side, going up and down the flight of stairs can be considered daily cardio.  

Block 8 (Seniors)

This block is located a little way down the slope of the food court. It is far from the academic blocks but is just a few minutes away from the Food Court. The block consists of AC and non-AC double sharing rooms with attached bathrooms. The rooms are spacious and have comparatively better furniture than the other blocks. The AC rooms are on the ground floor. It is a well-maintained block. 

     The block has a TT and TV room but the functionality of the TV aspect of the room is questionable. There is no night canteen, but students can order food from outside so the availability of food is not a problem. The Wi-Fi speed is decent to good depending on the location of the room. But since it is the age of Jio and mobile data, students do not have to awkwardly flail the phone around to try and catch the Wi-Fi signal. 

Block 9 & 10 (Seniors)

Block 9 and 10 are special in their own kind. With every kind of room available, boasting single, double attached, and common bathroom rooms, these blocks are located in their own corner of the campus.  Would you believe it if I say that the 10th Block is said to be the 2nd largest hostel block in Asia?! 

     With the Annapurna Mess ideally placed just in between the 2 blocks –  To cater to your food cravings  – the canteen nearby serves good food. They also have their own basketball court and, just in front is the football/ cricket field. And if you are wondering about the WiFi speed you get, it largely depends on the distance from the router to your room. The non-AC rooms can be a source of discomfort after your long 20-minute walk from the academic area to these blocks. Not to worry though, a tough life yields the next level of satisfaction, doesn’t it?

Block 14 & 15 (Seniors)

If you ever imagine a five-star Hostel room, let it be made clear that Block 14 and 15 will be your ‘La La Land’. In MIT, being able to get rooms in these two blocks literally means to land on a slice of Heaven, and of course, succeeding in your first year. These blocks consist of AC/non-AC single, double attached bathroom rooms with the 14th block having only AC rooms. The rooms are extremely well furnished; the cleaners come and clean the room thrice a week on average and the view from the top-floor rooms is a mesmerizing sight to behold.

     These two blocks are the blocks that have a night canteen that delivers directly to your room. So, hello, room service. They may be a little far from the Academic Blocks, like a 15-minute walk at the max but a plethora of eating options are available with the Apoorva mess quite close by. These blocks are the magnum opus of the boys’ blocks, those requiring an above-average GPA to get a room. So, MIT people, buckle up, and these two blocks will be yours to live.

Block 16 & 17 (Freshers)

In spite of being located at quite a distance from the Academic Blocks, and  Food court 1, these two blocks play host to a majority of Freshers in Manipal. However, the presence of food court 2 right next to these blocks takes care of all the food worries for the students residing here. These hostels mainly consist of AC/ non AC single, and double rooms with attached bathrooms. Apart from the first few floors, and the last few floors being AC, the rest of the rooms in these blocks are non AC. The furniture is quite new and the view from most of the rooms is simply scintillating. (Pro tip: Try getting a room that ends with an odd number for a picturesque view to wake up to every morning).

     Multiple laundry agencies are available for washing clothes.  Both blocks have a night canteen with snacks and coffee, which are lifelines during the late-night exam prep days.   All in all, these two blocks are ideal for the newcomers, making them feel homely. 

Block 18 (Seniors) 19 & 20 (Freshers)

The 18th block, assigned for the seniors, and the 19th and 20th blocks, assigned for Freshers, will give you the feel and experience of living in an apartment. The 18th block only consists of non AC single deluxe rooms, while the 19th and 20th blocks consist of AC/ non AC single deluxe rooms. These rooms have good furniture, a kitchen area, and a bathroom, which is shared by two rooms. The hostels despite being relatively small, the single room set up with two people sharing the kitchen area and bathroom gives you a sense of privacy while having a roommate. Hence, the ‘deluxe’ before the room, and hence the feel of an apartment.

     There is also a gym and a TV room in the hostel block itself. One major disadvantage though, is the distance between the Academic Block and the Hostel, as these blocks are the farthest away from the former,  with an approximate 20-25 minute walk but people can catch an auto from the 18th block back gate relatively easily for when running extremely late. 

GIRLS HOSTEL BLOCKS

MIT hostels are, certainly, one of the best hostels you’ll find around. These are comfortably furnished and will surely give you a close to home experience. Well, choosing the right hostel plays a fairly good role in making your first year’s stay a memorable and enjoyable one. We’ll guide you through the bundle of options available.

Blocks 1 & 2 (Freshers) 3 & 4 (Seniors)

Hostel life is all about the late-night study sessions and candid friend conversation, the buzz and the excitement and then the anxiety one feels when one wakes up five minutes before the 8 am class starts. No worries, because if you are one of the night owls, these blocks are perfect for you. Of the older hostel blocks, these are the first four blocks on the way to the hostels, making them the closest to the academic area (just a two minutes walk). These blocks have well-ventilated, non-AC, triple-sharing, and double-sharing rooms with common bathrooms.

     The bathrooms are well kept and are cleaned thrice a day. What the Blocks lack in the great ambiance in the rooms, makes up for the social life that one experiences at its pinnacle, being situated right next to the road connecting the Academic Blocks and the Food court. The Ananya mess (pure vegetarian mess) is the mess common to blocks 1 and 2 while blocks 3 and 4 have the Asharya mess. On the other hand, the Food Court is always available and is a short distance away. There is a campus store and a coffee shop, just outside Block 1 where the all-time favorite, Maggi noodles, and pasta, fresh and hot are always available. 

Block 11 (Freshers)

This block is located next to Block 12, and it is far from the Academic blocks and Food Court. A 10–15-minute walk can be expected to reach the Academic Blocks. The block consists of non-AC single and double sharing rooms with attached bathrooms as well as common bathrooms. All the rooms are well equipped with furniture such as a study table, shelves, and wardrobes. The wardrobes are slightly smaller compared to the other hostels. The block is well ventilated and really helps the stuffy humid days feel a little better.  

     The block has good Wi-Fi facilities and even though Blocks 11 and 12 share the same router, the students of block 11 enjoy faster streaming and download speeds. Aradhana Mess, located in Block 12, is the closest mess for students of block 11. Students are also free to use the badminton and basketball courts of Block 12. In the case of Blocks 11 and 12, sharing is truly caring.  

Block 12 (Freshers)

This block is the farthest of all girls’ hostels. It takes about 15-20 minutes to get to the Academic blocks and the Food courts. Everyday workout is guaranteed. It is surrounded by greenery which makes the surroundings feel fresh. The block consists of AC double sharing rooms with attached bathrooms. The rooms are snug and have well-spaced shelves and wardrobes. Aradhana Mess, which is attached to the block, serves the same menu as the food court. There is also a night canteen, although the food is not particularly good. 

     This block has badminton as well as a basketball court. The courts and mess are shared with the students of Block 11. Wi-Fi is not exceptionally reliable as it fluctuates quite often. It is each student and their mobile data for their own.  

Block 13 (Seniors)

This block is located on the road connecting the Academic Block and the Food Court. The location, as well as the facilities offered, are considered one of the best in Manipal. The block consists of AC and non-AC, single and double sharing rooms with attached bathrooms. One of the best facilities available is that the campus store is located right outside the block, so all the necessities are easily available. There is a washing machine available on the third floor.  

     The block offers mess facilities from Asharya or Ananya Mess. The Wi-Fi in this block is a little faulty but since most students prefer using Jio, this does not pose to be a big issue.  Block 13 is considered equivalent to the boy’s Block 14, the amazing facilities come with a price. Students require high GPAs to get allotted a room in this block. Due to this, there is a lot of competition surrounding the block. It is a battle of GPAs 

Block 21 (Freshers & Seniors)

Block 21 is probably one of the most luxurious and expensive hostels in MIT. Better known as the ‘New Ladies Block’ (NLB), it is centrally located on the campus, just a few minutes’ walk away from the newly constructed Student Plaza. It takes around five minutes to reach the food court and is approximately 10 minutes away from the Academic Blocks. Thus the distance is a major advantage for the students living in this block. It consists of AC/non-AC single deluxe rooms, in which two rooms are connected to a common kitchen area and a washroom. Just like blocks 18, 19, and 20, this block will also provide a sense of privacy and security while having a roommate just next to you. So, absolutely dandy for introverts, don’t you think? 

     The rooms on the ground floor are air-conditioned while the rest of the rooms on the other four floors are non AC rooms.  Although the non AC rooms may get slightly stuffy during the end of the Even semester, the rooms are comfortable and well furnished with large size beds and a soft board and a whiteboard provided beneath the shelves. 

     The block doesn’t have a night canteen but there are a number of small eateries present relatively nearby. The block is a deluxe one that has a well-equipped gym, TV room, and a beautiful garden in front of it. So, consider your own little paradise being this block. 

Block 22 (Freshers & Seniors)

Remember how there’s the saying, Old is Gold? Well, not so much in this case. Block 22 is fairly new when compared to the other blocks. Being the latest one, it does come with a lot of perks; the rooms are air-conditioned, and the AC double rooms come with an attached bathroom. If this isn’t inviting enough, there is a room decor change on every floor. Every. Floor. Also, get this, this block also understands your 2 am binge-watching sessions, which is why it comes with good WiFi speed unless you get a room away from the router. 

     This block stands tall just next to its sister (or brother?), block 21. It also makes it easier for you to rush to classes at the last minute as it’s just merely a five-minute walk to the Academic Blocks. And in the evenings, you can feel the liveliness that hovers in the air around the Student Plaza. Or, if you’re in the mood for a quick bite, the Food Court 1 just steps away, it’s counted! With the auto-stand just a few minutes away, the lush green sitting space outside the block, and super-well-furnished rooms, it can be said, block 22 understood the assignment.