Welcome to IGH

Freshers (girls) are all alloted IGH for their first year. The best hostel on campus by far, it was originally a guesthouse (part of TGH) Which explains the condition.

Location

This is where IGH hall entrance is located. Please use google maps, or ask for directions to anyone inside.

You will probably notice it due to the tables and setup of the registration desk. Males aren't allowed inside (only up to registration desk, not beyond IGH gate), but there may be exceptions. You will get your room no, block no and medical booklet at the reg desk.

Room Allocation

This is the process of getting your room allotted: 

• [Optional] You and three others can choose to have a room together, and in that case, do these steps together, while informing the office members you want a room together. If not, you can just get roommates randomly allotted to you too.

• If you're PWD, check if they can accommodate your disability. If it can't, they will change your hall to one that can.

• The registration desk is set up just outside the Mess building, in front of the SNVH gate. You will get your room no, block no and medical booklet here. Carry 4-5 passport pics, a pen and glue. 

• Rooms will be allotted ground floor onward depending on when you arrived.

• IGH has a working lift in A-Block only (but blocks are connected), so having higher floors is not an issue. 4th floor often faces issues in summers and they get poor wifi. Ground floor is convenient but you get a lot of bugs especially during rainy season.

• You will also receive an empty medical booklet, Bonafide Certificate, and mess card. Fill them out & have them verified within a week or two in case you ever need them (They will do it later, but the scolding isn't worth it).

• Get a lock with 4 keys (any of your roommates can do this), a foldable almirah or space saver to store things if you need one (there's only one almirah for 4 girls and some drawers and such in cabinets) and any things you want to personalise your room. 😊

Welcome to your room!

Your room

Each room is a four sharing room ie 4 people per room.

There is an attached washroom though you will have to bring all the toiletries yourself.

• There can be either 4 single beds or 2 single and one double. Bring your own pillows, blankets and bedsheets or buy them from TechM. 

• The mattresses originally present on the beds were super uncomfortable for our room. Each of us got a thin mattress to put on top of the provided one from Tech M after arriving there. You can judge based on your room.

• There is an attached kitchenette with a sink and platform. There are 2 plug points there. One plug point near the almirah very close to the ground, and 2 near one of the single beds. NO plug points near the double bed, bring a long extension cord to use your devices on the bed if required. 

• Remember to bring your own spoons and cups/mugs - they won't be provided in the mess. A kettle in case you wish to make Maggi or any basic food stuffs.

• You can bring your own snacks to keep in the room. But you have to share.😁

Miscellaneous Info and Tips

• You're allowed to pretty much make any cosmetic modification (posters drawing, lights, etc), but permanent modifications are generally frowned upon.

• Technically not even a kettle is allowed in the room, but as long as it's below 1000W, you should be fine with using it. People have used electric stoves of low wattage, so just make sure you turn off everything & disconnect it when leaving the room.

• There's also a significant ant problem, especially in the hotter days (March - September), so having an ant repellent like chalk is a necessity. My laptop had ants coming out of it for weeks. 😢 Keeping food in anything but airtight containers is also not recommended for this reason.

• Cleaning happens once or twice a week, so make sure at least one of you is in the room to get it cleaned at any point. Keep a broom and dusting cloth if needed.

• Washing Machines available are both semi and fully automatic, be sure to know how to use them. There is also a laundry service which you can use.

• Having a personal fan will be a godsend for some of you, depending on your reaction to humidity. Oh, it's extremely humid from April to September, extremely cold from November to February, and kinda okay for 15 days in March & October.

• SNVH is all seniors and you aren't supposed to interact with them but if you need anything feel free to contact anyone from any of your groups. Most of us are glad to help.

• Your mess is common with the rest of SNVH. There is a night canteen, menu attached below and a small shop that has everything you could possibly need. This includes printout, cosmetics, papers, PT files, notebooks, snacks, etc

IGH + SNVH Mess Structure

• IGH is 2 blocks, A & B opposite to each other.  Ground floor rooms start with 0 ie A001 or B002. There are a total of 4 floors excluding ground floor. Reception for A block is directly opp A003. You will also find the warden's second office here. Next to this room is the study room that you can use whenever needed. This doubles as a strongroom during vacations.

• Mess is not in the IGH building, it's part of the SNVH one.  Freshers' mess will probably be on the 2nd floor. 

• The mess building :

  • If you go up the stairs, on the first floor, there will be the seniors' mess to your right. To your left will be a hallway leading to the SNVH library and ahead of it, a big room often called the common room.

  • On the second floor, to your right, will be the mess and to your left, same layout. The room directly above the study room is an empty room with a keyboard (in case you play, feel free to use it and leave it in proper condition when you're done). The one above the 'common room' is a gym. We have recently upgraded some equipment so please handle with care and follow rules.

• Cycles are parked right outside IGH building.

• REMEMBER to NEVER leave your cycle unlocked. Many of my friends had their cycles stolen/lost and it is difficult to walk everywhere. Your cycle is going to be your primary mode of transport for 4 years and you will be cycling  a minimum of 4-6 kms everyday so make sure to get one comfortable for you.

• There is a cycle shop right next to SNVH main gate. It's a little shop painted red. You can get almost anything there including air filling, oil on chains, replacing lost screws, etc.

Mess 

SNVH hall has two messes, 1st floor & 2nd floor mess. 

There is no separate Veg & Non-veg messes. When non-veg is served, vegetarian will be one side of the mess, and non-veg will be the other side of the mess.  Plates will be available but no spoons or mugs, carry your own.

The menu will be pasted on a wall or pinned on the notice board. The mess does not usually cater to fasting food (boiled potatoes, sabudana, etc) or special demands. For these, you can either bring stuff to your room and make it or you can get sabudana at a restaurant 'banana leaf'.

These are the timings:

• Breakfast  7:00 - 9:00 AM 

• Lunch 12:00 - 2:00 PM

• Snacks 4:00 - 6:00 PM 

• Dinner 7:00 - 9:00 PM

The mess will be open for another half an hour after closing time, but the food might get over, so get there during these times to be safe. In case you do get late, breakfast and snacks will be available in/ near the kitchen area and for lunch/ dinner, there will be 'late plates' with everything served kept in a cabinet in the mess hall on the 1st floor.

The menu of each month will be posted on notice boards outside/in the messes. 

Tea/ Coffee will be available with breakfast and snack. Carry your own mugs.

Special/Grand Dinners : Every month or two, a special dinner is organized by the hall. This either uses the same providers, or calls another catering service. The food will be of higher quality, generally more tasty, and more elaborate. You will need to collect a token from hall or mess office beforehand to be allowed inside.  This is free and you will be informed of the date and time beforehand. Be careful, there is usually a lot of rush during these with looong wait lines.🥲

Shops & Restaurants within SNVH

Everything Shop: Ground floor of mess building, next to staircase. Opens around 10 am and closes around 9pm. Has stationery, graph papers, etc, printing capabilities (poster, color, Xerox). Get your printout for Hall Ticket (Admit Card) the day before exam, the shop won't open before you leave. You can get snacks, drinks, ice creams, spices (in case you plan to cook) and almost all the essentials you might need.

Night Canteen: In the mess building, ground floor, a little past the shop. Opens 6pm - 2am. They have a variety of cooked foods (check menu below), ice creams, snacks, drinks, etc. NO stationery or printout facilities.

Toiletry/Laundry within IGH

• Washing machines: There were a total of 4 in the beginning, semi automatic on the 1st floor of each block and fully automatic on the 3rd floor. From time to time, they may not work, or knobs may break. write a complaint in the register and it will probably be fixed in a week or so. 

• Give it to the laundry lady: A few laundry services are available, with the lady coming to IGH/SNVH to collect clothes. I personally never used them, but roommates who did say it was decent and affordable.

• Give it to the laundry shop. There are a couple shops for laundry throughout the campus, mostly in TechM. From what I have heard, they are pretty good, and do take personal requests. They also have dry cleaning options for stuff like suits.

Drying the clothes is usually done with ropes tied wherever you find space. or inside the room too. You could also buying a drying stand (those metallic ones with multiple lines). Bring a clothes rope and clothes pins. Pins are especially important as there are dogs who will pull down the drying clothes.🥲

Toiletry & cleaning Products

Most soaps, face washes, oils and the like can be bought downstairs at the general store near the mess. For more specific products, Blinkit or TechM is recommended.

If needed, basic cleaning products will be available at the general store. Stuff like brooms, vipers, etc can be bought from TechM if needed. You will have to buy a dustbin. You and your roommates can buy this together for the room.

Restrooms

There is an attached washroom in every room, and you will have to request the cleaning lady to clean it when she comes in weekly. Ground floor washrooms tend to get earthworms, cockroaches, sometimes little frogs and lizards coming in especially during monsoon. Don't hurt them, they'll leave on their own. Keep a cockroach spray ready in case of too many cockroaches (we had like 8 in our washroom once).

Other Amenities

Water

Water filters are present next to the washing machine area however they may not work properly, make sure to check and register a complaint in case of any issue. You can get cold water from the 1st floor mess water cooler and/or matka. There are also water filters in 1st and 2nd floor mess.

Library

The Library has plenty of space, some novels and some references. Be sure to replace them when you are done using and maintain the quality of the books. It's usually empty so has a peaceful environment to study in.

Gym

There is some weight training equipment, yoga mats, a cross trainer, treadmill, and a weighing machine. Most of the weight training equipment and yoga mats have recently been bought. It's usually open throughout the day and night. For any concerns or requests, you can talk to the hall council.

Common Rooms

• The one room you'll see as soon as you enter SNVH will be one with sofas, coolers, a set of drums, a guitar and glass walls. This is a music room/ common room that you can come and sit in anytime. There are only yellow lights that are somewhat dim, so not an ideal place to study after sunset but a calming place nonetheless.

• There are 2 study rooms in A block IGH. One opposite to A004 and one to A002. There is one in B block as well, on the ground floor. These are usually empty unless it's exam season.🥲 They double as strong rooms where you will keep your stuff during vacations when you leave.

Security

There are security guard offices at entrance of both SNVH and IGH, which has atleast 2 guards at any given time. Inform them in case of any emergencies/issues. Many guards also patrol at night to prevent stuff like ragging.

There will also be security personnel at the reception of both A block and B block.

Take care and enjoy your stay at IIT Kharagpur!!!! Not everything is perfect, but you can always count on your batch-mates and seniors to help you out. For any thing you might need or any issues you face, no matter how big or small, you can contact us. Looking forward to meeting you all!!  😊

~AA