Uttarakhand has grown significantly as a destination for quality medical education over the past two decades. From government institutions with decades of legacy to modern private medical colleges equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, the state offers aspiring doctors a strong academic foundation set against the serene backdrop of the Himalayas. Here is our comprehensive guide to the top medical colleges in Uttarakhand for MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and allied health sciences.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh
Location: Rishikesh, Dehradun District
Type: Central Government (Institute of National Importance)
Established: 2012
Affiliation: Autonomous (AIIMS Act)
Entrance: NEET-UG / NEET-PG
The crown jewel of medical education in Uttarakhand, AIIMS Rishikesh is a central government institution of national importance and part of the prestigious AIIMS network — the same family as the iconic AIIMS New Delhi. Situated on the banks of the Ganga in Rishikesh, the institute offers MBBS, MD, MS, and super-specialty programmes and has rapidly established itself as one of the finest medical institutions in North India since its establishment in 2012.
Popular Programmes: MBBS, MD/MS (various specialisations), BSc Nursing, Allied Health Sciences.
Why it stands out: AIIMS tag, central government funding, world-class faculty, cutting-edge research facilities, and a 960-bed hospital providing exposure to a vast and diverse patient base from across Uttarakhand and neighbouring states. AIIMS Rishikesh is the first choice for every serious medical aspirant in the state and consistently ranks among the top medical colleges in India.
Government Medical College (GMC), Haldwani
Location: Haldwani, Nainital District
Type: State Government
Established: 1980s
Affiliation: Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University
Entrance: NEET-UG
Government Medical College Haldwani, attached to Dr. Sushila Tiwari Hospital, is one of the oldest and most established government medical colleges in Uttarakhand. Located in Haldwani — the gateway to Kumaon — it serves as the primary medical institution for the entire Kumaon region and provides students with exposure to a high patient load from across the hills.
Popular Programmes: MBBS, MD/MS (select specialisations), Nursing.
Why it stands out: Government institution with highly subsidised fees, large teaching hospital with significant patient footfall from rural and hill areas, strong clinical exposure, and one of the most affordable MBBS routes in Uttarakhand for state quota students.
Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar Garhwal
Location: Srinagar, Pauri Garhwal District
Type: State Government
Established: 2009
Affiliation: Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University
Entrance: NEET-UG
Government Medical College Srinagar is the premier medical institution of the Garhwal region, attached to the base hospital in Srinagar. It plays a critical role in providing healthcare and medical education to the hill districts of Garhwal and is one of the most important government medical colleges in the state.
Popular Programmes: MBBS, select postgraduate programmes.
Why it stands out: Government fees, strong rural and hill area clinical exposure, serving the medically underserved Garhwal region, and a peaceful academic environment in the Alaknanda valley.
Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS), Dehradun
Location: Swami Ram Nagar, Dehradun
Type: Private Deemed University (Swami Rama Himalayan University)
Established: 1989
Affiliation: Swami Rama Himalayan University (SRHU)
Entrance: NEET-UG
One of the oldest and most respected private medical colleges in Uttarakhand, the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences is part of the Swami Rama Himalayan University campus in Dehradun. Founded on the vision of Swami Rama, the institution combines modern medical education with a holistic, values-based approach. Its associated Himalayan Hospital is a major referral centre for the region.
Popular Programmes: MBBS, MD/MS, BDS, BSc Nursing, Allied Health Sciences, Yoga & Naturopathy.
Why it stands out: One of the most established private medical institutions in the state, large multi-specialty hospital for clinical training, NAAC accredited university, holistic approach to medical education combining modern medicine with wellness, and a beautiful, sprawling campus in the Doon Valley.
Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical & Health Sciences (SGRRIMHS), Dehradun
Location: Patel Nagar, Dehradun
Type: Private Deemed University
Established: 1997
Affiliation: Shri Guru Ram Rai University
Entrance: NEET-UG
SGRRIMHS is one of Dehradun’s most prominent private medical colleges, attached to the well-known Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital – one of the largest and busiest hospitals in Uttarakhand. The college offers MBBS and postgraduate medical programmes and benefits enormously from the hospital’s massive patient inflow, giving students exceptional clinical exposure.
Popular Programmes: MBBS, MD/MS, BDS, BSc Nursing, Physiotherapy, Allied Health Sciences.
Why it stands out: Attached to one of the largest private hospitals in Uttarakhand with a very high patient load, strong postgraduate programme, central Dehradun location, and a well-equipped modern campus. The hospital’s reputation as a major referral centre across the hills ensures students gain broad clinical experience.
Uttarakhand Ayurved University (UAU), Dehradun & Haridwar
Location: Dehradun / Haridwar
Type: State Government University
Established: 2004
Affiliation: State University (Uttarakhand Government)
Entrance: NEET-UG (AYUSH)
Uttarakhand Ayurved University is the state’s dedicated AYUSH university, overseeing Ayurveda, Unani, and Yoga & Naturopathy education across the state. Given Uttarakhand’s deep cultural and geographical connection to traditional medicine – the state is home to Haridwar, Rishikesh, and the medicinal herb-rich Himalayas – UAU holds a uniquely important place in the state’s medical education ecosystem.
Popular Programmes: BAMS (Ayurveda), BUMS (Unani), BNYS (Naturopathy & Yoga), MD (Ayurveda).
Why it stands out: The only dedicated AYUSH university in Uttarakhand, strong grounding in traditional Indian medicine, state government backing, and a location in one of the world’s most important regions for Ayurvedic herb cultivation and traditional healing knowledge.
Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Government Institute of Medical Science & Research (VCSGGIMSRR), Srikot Pauri
Location: Srikot, Pauri Garhwal
Type: State Government
Established: 2009
Affiliation: Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University
Entrance: NEET-UG
VCSGGIMSRR is a state government medical college in Pauri Garhwal, playing a vital role in expanding medical education and healthcare access in the remote hill districts of Garhwal. Named after the legendary Garhwali soldier Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali, the college is committed to producing doctors who serve the healthcare needs of Uttarakhand’s hill communities.
Popular Programmes: MBBS, select postgraduate specialisations.
Why it stands out: Government fees, serving medically underserved hill communities, strong sense of regional identity and mission, and a state-backed institution producing doctors rooted in the healthcare needs of Uttarakhand.
Patanjali Ayurvedic Medical College, Haridwar
Location: Haridwar
Type: Private (Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust)
Established: 2006
Affiliation: Uttarakhand Ayurved University
Entrance: NEET-UG (AYUSH)
Run by the Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust founded by Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, Patanjali Ayurvedic Medical College in Haridwar is one of the most well-known Ayurveda colleges in India. Located within the vast Patanjali campus on the outskirts of Haridwar, it combines traditional Ayurvedic education with Yoga, Naturopathy, and modern research into herbal medicine.
Popular Programmes: BAMS (Ayurveda), MD (Ayurveda), Yoga & Naturopathy.
Why it stands out: Global brand recognition of Patanjali, strong emphasis on classical Ayurveda and Yoga, access to Patanjali’s massive herbal research infrastructure, and a Haridwar location steeped in the tradition of Indian wellness and healing.
Government Medical College, Almora
Location: Almora
Type: State Government
Established: 2020
Affiliation: Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University
Entrance: NEET-UG
Among the newest government medical colleges in Uttarakhand, GMC Almora was established to expand MBBS access in the Kumaon hills and reduce the burden on GMC Haldwani. Its establishment marks an important step in making medical education accessible to students from Almora, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, and Champawat districts.
Why it stands out: Newest government medical college in Kumaon, highly subsidised government fees, serving the hill population of eastern Uttarakhand, and a growing infrastructure backed by state government investment.
Government Dental College, Dehradun
Location: Dehradun
Type: State Government
Established: 2010s
Affiliation: Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University
Entrance: NEET-UG
The Government Dental College in Dehradun is the primary public institution for BDS education in Uttarakhand, offering dental degree programmes at government-subsidised fees. Attached to a government dental hospital, it provides students with solid clinical exposure across all major dental specialisations.
Popular Programmes: BDS, MDS (select specialisations).
Why it stands out: Only government dental college in Uttarakhand, highly affordable BDS fees, government-backed faculty and infrastructure, and a Dehradun location with good connectivity.
What Makes Uttarakhand a Good Destination for Medical Education?
Uttarakhand offers medical students a unique advantage — the state’s diverse geography, from the plains of Haridwar to the high Himalayan valleys of Chamoli and Pithoragarh, means that students in government colleges gain exposure to a wide variety of medical conditions, including altitude sickness, vector-borne diseases, orthopedic trauma from hill terrain, and conditions specific to rural and tribal populations. This breadth of clinical exposure is genuinely hard to replicate in purely urban medical colleges.
The presence of AIIMS Rishikesh has also dramatically elevated the overall standard of medical education and healthcare infrastructure in the state, creating a ripple effect that benefits students and patients across all institutions.
Quick Comparison Table
| College | Type | Programme | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIIMS Rishikesh | Central Govt. | MBBS / MD / MS | Rishikesh |
| GMC Haldwani | State Govt. | MBBS / MD | Haldwani |
| GMC Srinagar | State Govt. | MBBS | Srinagar, Pauri |
| GMC Almora | State Govt. | MBBS | Almora |
| HIMS Dehradun | Private Deemed | MBBS / MD / BDS | Dehradun |
| SGRRIMHS Dehradun | Private Deemed | MBBS / MD / BDS | Dehradun |
| Uttarakhand Ayurved University | State Govt. | BAMS / BUMS / BNYS | Dehradun / Haridwar |
| Patanjali Ayurvedic College | Private Trust | BAMS / MD Ayurveda | Haridwar |
| VCSGGIMSRR Pauri | State Govt. | MBBS | Pauri Garhwal |
| Govt. Dental College | State Govt. | BDS / MDS | Dehradun |
Tips for Medical Aspirants in Uttarakhand
- AIIMS Rishikesh is the ultimate goal – If your NEET score permits, always apply to AIIMS Rishikesh. The brand, research exposure, and career outcomes are unmatched in the state.
- Government colleges for affordability – GMC Haldwani, GMC Srinagar, and GMC Almora offer MBBS at a fraction of private college fees. State quota seats are a significant advantage for Uttarakhand domicile students.
- Check NMC approval – Before applying to any private medical college, always verify National Medical Commission (NMC) approval and annual seat intake on the NMC official website.
- Consider AYUSH if interested in traditional medicine – Uttarakhand’s unique position as a hub of Ayurveda and Yoga makes BAMS and BNYS degrees from UAU or Patanjali particularly meaningful here.
- Clinical exposure matters – Check the patient load of the attached teaching hospital. Higher OPD and IPD numbers mean better clinical training for MBBS students.
- Domicile advantage – Uttarakhand domicile students get a significant reservation advantage in state government medical college seats. Ensure your domicile documents are in order before counselling.
- NEET score planning – Research current year cutoffs for each college via the state NEET counselling authority (Uttarakhand MBBS/BDS Counselling) to set realistic targets.
Aspiring to serve as a doctor in the hills of Uttarakhand or beyond? For more guides on education, careers, health, and life in the mountains, keep following WeUttarakhand – your trusted voice from the mountains.