The Institute campus is a mélange of old and new buildings spread over a spacious and lush green area. The Hanuman Tekdi (hill), a natural treat behind the Institute, is the place where Gopal Krishna Gokhale took the vows of the Servants of India Society–eliminating poverty, obedience, and service to the nation–and administered them to three others. A stone column was constructed on the hill as proof of the vows, and it has become a landmark to those who frequent the hill for evening walks.
Gokhale’s bungalow, his official residence back then, is housed in the precincts of the campus. A massive and graceful Banyan tree adds to the vintage charm of the place. This is said to be the tree under which Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Mahatma Gandhi (who regarded Gokhale as his political guru) used to muse over political issues in their times.