Hidden Places in Somaiya Campus You Never Noticed
Hidden Places in Somaiya Campus You Never Noticed
You've probably walked the same path through Somaiya campus hundreds of times.
Hostel to canteen. Canteen to class. Class to library. Library to gate.
But somewhere between those familiar routes, you've missed entire pockets of the campus that could have become your favorite spots.
Let me show you where they are.
Why Hidden Spots Matter
Before the locations, a word about why this matters:
The Overwhelm Problem
Somaiya is massive. When you first arrive, the size is overwhelming. You learn the essentials — your building, the canteen, the main paths — and you stick to them.
That's smart survival. But it means you miss 80% of the campus.
The Crowd Problem
The popular spots (main canteen, library ground floor, the usual benches) are always crowded. If you only know the popular spots, you never have peace.
The Productivity Problem
Different environments trigger different mental states. The same bench where you chat with friends won't work for deep studying. Having options matters.
The Quiet Study Spots
The Upper Library Floors
Location: Library building, floors above the main reading area
Everyone knows the ground floor and first floor of the library. They're packed during exams and noisy enough during regular days.
But go higher. The upper floors are:
- Less crowded (people are lazy about stairs)
- Quieter (the serious students migrate here)
- More peaceful (fewer distractions)
Best for: Serious studying, exam prep, focused work
When it's busy: During finals week, even these fill up. Get there early.
The Department Reading Rooms
Location: Individual department buildings
Some departments have their own small reading rooms or study spaces. These are technically for students of that department, but often they're underutilized.
If you know someone in that department, you might be able to use these spaces. They're often:
- Air-conditioned
- Sparsely populated
- Stocked with department-specific resources
Pro tip: Ask senior students in different departments where their quiet spaces are.
The Back Benches of Empty Classrooms
Location: Various academic buildings, post-class hours
After classes end for the day, many classrooms sit empty. The back benches of an empty classroom at 5 PM can be incredibly peaceful.
You get:
- Seating
- Sometimes AC (if it's left on)
- Complete silence
- Power outlets
Risk: Sometimes late classes or events happen. Be prepared to relocate.
The Nature Spots
The Gardens Behind Buildings
Location: Spaces between academic buildings
The main pathways are busy. But behind buildings, between departments, there are small garden areas that most students never visit.
Look for:
- Benches tucked away from main paths
- Small grassy areas
- Trees providing shade
These spots work for:
- Quiet phone calls
- Reading during breaks
- Just breathing for a few minutes
The Walking Paths
Location: Peripheral areas of campus
There are walking paths along the edges of campus that are surprisingly scenic. Students rushing to class never see them.
Take an evening walk. Discover:
- Trees you didn't know existed
- Views of the campus you've never seen
- Actual fresh air
The Sports Complex Margins
Location: Areas around sports facilities
Near the sports grounds, there are areas that aren't part of the playing fields but aren't heavily trafficked either.
Early morning or late evening, these can be:
- Good for walking/jogging
- Peaceful for thinking
- Scenic in good weather
The Social Spots (But Quiet)
The Lesser-Known Canteens
Location: Various buildings across campus
Everyone knows the main canteen. It's crowded, loud, and chaotic during peak hours.
But there are smaller food spots:
- Department-specific canteens
- Smaller stalls in certain buildings
- Less popular cafés
These offer:
- Shorter lines
- More seating
- Lower noise
- Sometimes better food (less mass-produced)
Ask around or explore. Your second-favorite food spot might beat your first choice.
The Quiet Courtyard
Location: Between certain academic buildings
Some buildings have interior courtyards that students don't use. These can be:
- Shaded
- Quiet
- Surprisingly comfortable
Perfect for:
- Small group meetings
- Lunch away from crowds
- Breaks between classes
The Rooftops (If Accessible)
Location: Top floors of certain buildings
Some buildings have accessible upper areas with views. These might be:
- Officially open (common areas on high floors)
- Unofficially accessible (use judgment)
What you get:
- Wind
- View of the campus
- Perspective (literally and figuratively)
Note: Respect building rules. Don't go where you're not supposed to.
The Creative Spaces
The Design Studios (After Hours)
Location: Buildings housing design/arts programs
If your friends are in design programs, you might get access to their studio spaces outside class hours. These are:
- Inspiring environments
- Filled with creative work
- Often less strict about access in off-hours
The Music Rooms
Location: Music/performing arts sections
Similar situation — if you know people with access, you might be able to use practice spaces when they're empty.
Even if you don't play music, these rooms are:
- Soundproofed (quiet)
- Private
- Good for recording voice notes or videos
The Workshop Areas
Location: Engineering/technical buildings
Maker spaces, workshops, and labs often have downtime. If you're in a technical program, knowing when these are empty gives you:
- Space to work on projects
- Access to tools
- Room to think
The Practical Spots
Power Outlet Havens
Location: Various
When your laptop is dying and every visible outlet is taken, you need backup options.
Hidden power outlets exist:
- Along walls in corridors
- In less-used classrooms
- Near display cases and notice boards
- In corners of lobbies
Scout these locations when you're at full battery. You'll thank yourself later.
The Quiet Bathrooms
Location: Upper floors, non-central buildings
The bathrooms near the canteen are high-traffic. The bathrooms on the fifth floor of a building with nothing on that floor? Ghost town.
Find the low-traffic restrooms for when you need:
- Actually available facilities
- Clean conditions
- A moment of peace
The Printing Spots
Location: Beyond the main printing center
There are usually multiple places to print on campus. The main printing center has long lines.
Alternative options:
- Department offices (if you ask nicely)
- Library facilities
- Computer labs (if allowed)
- Lesser-known shops
Having a backup printing plan saves you during assignment deadlines.
The View Points
The Overlooking Corridors
Location: Upper floors of certain buildings
Some corridors on high floors have windows overlooking the campus or the city beyond. Standing there at sunset hits different.
These spots work for:
- Clearing your head
- Phone calls with family
- Quick reflection breaks
The Peripheral Views
Location: Edges of campus
Walking to the less-visited parts of campus sometimes reveals views you didn't expect:
- City skyline
- Trees and greenery
- The scale of the campus itself
Worth exploring on a free evening.
The History Corners
The Old Buildings
Location: Original campus structures
Somaiya has grown over decades. The older buildings have:
- Different architecture
- Quieter energy
- Sometimes interesting details (plaques, old photos, historical markers)
Worth exploring to understand the campus history.
The Memorials and Markers
Location: Various spots across campus
There are small memorials, dedication stones, and historical markers scattered around. Most students walk past them without reading.
Take ten minutes sometime. Read them. You'll learn something about the institution you're part of.
The Seasonal Secrets
Monsoon Spots
During rains, some spots transform:
- Covered walkways become premium (dry walking paths)
- Indoor courtyards become cozy
- The library becomes even more appealing
Know the covered routes between buildings.
Summer Retreats
During peak heat:
- AC buildings become essential
- Shaded outdoor areas become valuable
- Basement areas (if any) offer natural cooling
Map the cool zones.
Evening Magic
Certain spots are best at specific times:
- Gardens at sunset
- Upper floors at dusk
- Open areas when it's cool enough
Timing matters.
How to Find Your Own Spots
The Exploration Method
Set aside one afternoon per month for campus exploration:
- Pick a direction you usually don't go
- Walk there with no destination
- Note what you find
- Evaluate for future use
The Senior Method
Ask seniors: "Where do you go when you need quiet?" or "Where's your favorite spot nobody knows about?"
They've done the exploration. Benefit from their discoveries.
The Late Hours Method
Campus looks different at different times:
- Early morning: Empty, peaceful
- Late afternoon: Transitional, interesting
- Evening: Different energy entirely
Visit familiar areas at unfamiliar times.
The Meta-Lesson
Finding hidden spots on campus is actually about this:
Rejecting the default path.
The default path is: follow the crowd, go where everyone goes, do what everyone does.
But college is about discovery. About making the place yours. About finding where you fit.
The hidden spot where you have your best ideas might be 50 meters from where you always sit — you just never walked there.
Your Hidden Spots Starter List
Here's how to start:
This Week
- Find one quiet study spot you've never used
- Discover one underused canteen/food option
- Identify one power outlet backup location
This Month
- Explore the back areas of buildings you only see the front of
- Walk the campus perimeter once
- Visit the library floors you've never been to
This Semester
- Develop 3-5 personal spots for different needs (study, social, quiet)
- Share your discoveries with one friend
- Revisit spots at different times of day
Conclusion: The Campus Is Bigger Than You Think
You'll spend 3-4 years at Somaiya.
That's thousands of hours on this campus. Thousands of walks between buildings. Thousands of breaks between classes.
If you spend all that time in the same three locations, you're missing out.
The hidden spots aren't just geographical discoveries. They're mental variety. They're options for different moods and needs. They're small adventures in a routine life.
So look up from your phone. Turn down that unfamiliar corridor. Push open that door you've never tried.
Your campus is bigger than you think.
Go find the rest of it.
This guide is part of 7K's Somaiya campus series. For more insights on making the most of your college experience, explore the other articles about Somaiya life.