Visva-Bharati University, established by Rabindranath Tagore in Santiniketan in the state of West Bengal, has opened up its campus to visitors after being closed for five years. The move was announced by the newly elected vice-chancellor, Prabir Kumar Ghosh, on March 21, 2025.

The university had closed off visitors in 2019 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even after the pandemic ended, the former administration kept the ban going, citing security and encroachment concerns. Tourists were only allowed to visit the university museum with a bought ticket during this time.

The reopening coincides with the addition of Santiniketan to the UNESCO World Heritage List in September 2023, which recognizes its international cultural importance. Ghosh stressed the need to connect the heritage of the university with tourism, saying, "Since this historic site has been made a world heritage site, we have to preserve it and connect the heritage to tourism."

The action is likely to increase local tourism and enable tourists to witness the campus's rich cultural heritage and history. Visva-Bharati University has a distinguished position as the sole central university in India with the Prime Minister as Chancellor. 

The reopening of the campus signals a major move towards its return as a world-class cultural site, representing Tagore's dream of an ideal setting for liberal and unfettered thought.