SRM University is one of the best engineering institutions in India. Previously SRM Institute of Science and Technology and SRM Engineering College, it became a full university in 2003 and took on its current name three years later.
Three of its seven campuses are in the vast city of Chennai. A fairly recent construction, Chennai, often still called Madras despite its name change in 1997, is the unofficial “capital of the south”. A hot city with one of the longest beaches of any major city worldwide, on the Bay of Bengal, its bustling metropolis is home to the Tamil film industry.
SRM owns more than 600 acres of land overall, and its main Kattankulathur campus alone, located 35km from Chennai, comprises a four-storey library, three colleges, 15 canteens and 40 bus routes.
Other campuses include the one in the ancient town of Sonepat, in the province of Haryana, just north of Delhi; the Modinagar, just north east of the capital, and another in the colourful Himalayan town of Gangtok, a lively base for many mountain excursions which enjoys a mild climate and part-pedestrianised centre. Chennai Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, which opened in 2008, is near the city of Tiruchirappalli, commonly referred to as Trichy, which combines memorable temples with must-see bazaars.
Though associated with engineering in particular, SRM runs a wide range of programmes across its Faculties of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Humanities, and Management. SRM stands for Sri Ramaswamy Memorial, to honour the father of universities founder, T. R. Pachamuthu.
