What kind of food is served at the mess? Is Jain food available?

Food can be a significant worry when you find yourself hundreds of kilometers away from home. But have no fear, because the IIT Madras mess is managed by top caterers who guarantee a balanced meal that tastes almost as good as home food.

IIT Madras has an efficient Mess system with a good range of menus to choose from.

Messes: The messes are located in three buildings: Himalaya, Nilgiri, and Vindhya (with Cauvery being an addition). Each Building has a combination of caterers serving North Indian (Veg/Non-Veg), South Indian (Veg/Non-Veg), and Jain food. The Jain mess is pure-veg, with the extras offered also being only Vegetarian.

Registration: The mess registration happens in a cycle of once in 45 days, and students are instructed to fill in their preferences post which messes are allotted based on demand and on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Extra options: Every mess also has a set of ‘extras’ available to buy, apart from the daily menu served. The prices are subsidized, with good quantity and taste. Students, if required, can buy the food on the spot, which will be served to them inside their mess.

Food courts: Apart from the messes, there is a wide range of foodcourts which are located inside the campus, offering nearly everything that a student might want to eat when they are bored of the mess food. Himalaya Food Court, restaurants in Campus Cafe, Zaitoon, Cafe Coffee Day, you name it!

With such a system in place, IIT Madras prioritizes students' well-being, making sure that no one faces any issue or feels far from home when it comes to food.