Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (HNBGU) is the main institution of higher learning in the Garhwal region, with its principal campus on the outskirts of Srinagar Garhwal. The campus is set in hilly terrain with views over the Alaknanda valley and has a pleasant, leafy character that distinguishes it from plains universities. It gives Srinagar a modest intellectual and student population that would otherwise be absent from a small administrative town.
The university runs departments across sciences, humanities, and professional courses, and the campus also contains the Birla Institute of Technology and Science branch. For visitors, the campus is mainly of interest as part of understanding why Srinagar has the character it does — as a transit and university town rather than a purely pilgrimage settlement. The campus grounds are open and can be walked, with good views from the higher elevations.