It actually started functioning since 1 September 1957, when the faculties of Arts, Commerce, Law and Education were started. In the following year, 1958, the faculty of science came into being. Faculties of Engineering, Medicine and Agriculture came into existence in later years. Mahant Digvijay Nath also made valuable contribution in the formation of the university. University of Gorakhpur is a teaching and residential-cum-affiliating University. It is situated at a distance of about 2 kilometers from the downtown to the east and almost walking distance from railway station to the south. The idea got crystallized and took concrete shape by the untiring efforts of S. N. M. Tripathi.