- About
- Academic Programs
- Research
- Hospital & Clinical Facilities
- Public Health & Outreach
- Collaboration & Linkages
- Key Achievements
- Who’s Who
- Publications & Resources
- Digital Integration
- Contact
- Benefit
National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR), Leh
Parent Ministry: Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India
Established: 2019
Status: Apex National Institute for Sowa-Rigpa
Location: Leh, Union Territory of Ladakh, India
Official Website: https://nisrlehladakh.nic.in
What Is NISR, Leh?
The National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR) is the premier national institute for the preservation, promotion, and scientific validation of the Sowa-Rigpa system of medicine, which originated in Tibet and is widely practiced in the Himalayan regions of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and West Bengal.
In simple words —
NISR Leh is the national home of Himalayan healing — where ancient Tibetan medicine meets modern science to serve humanity.
Vision & Mission
| Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| Preservation of Heritage | Safeguard and promote the traditional Sowa-Rigpa system of medicine. |
| Public Health Integration | Integrate Sowa-Rigpa practices into India’s healthcare ecosystem. |
| Education & Training | Develop professionals skilled in Sowa-Rigpa diagnosis and therapy. |
| Research & Innovation | Validate Sowa-Rigpa medicines and therapies using modern science. |
| Holistic Healing | Deliver affordable, natural, and preventive healthcare to all. |
Institutional Overview
| Division | Function |
|---|---|
| Academic Division | Offers degree and diploma programs in Sowa-Rigpa. |
| Research Division | Conducts studies on formulations, pharmacology, and clinical validation. |
| Pharmacy & Materia Medica Division | Prepares, standardizes, and preserves herbal-mineral medicines. |
| Clinical Division | Provides OPD and IPD services based on Sowa-Rigpa principles. |
| Documentation & Heritage Unit | Digitizes ancient manuscripts and medical texts. |
Academic Programs
| Program | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BSRMS (Bachelor of Sowa-Rigpa Medicine & Surgery) | 5.5 years | Undergraduate program on Sowa-Rigpa theory and clinical practice. |
| MD (Sowa-Rigpa) (Proposed) | 3 years | Postgraduate specialization in Tibetan pharmacology and therapy. |
| Diploma in Sowa-Rigpa Pharmacy | 2 years | Training on preparation and preservation of Sowa-Rigpa medicines. |
| Short-Term Courses | 3–6 months | Basic Sowa-Rigpa wellness and diagnosis techniques. |
| International Training Programs | Variable | Conducted in collaboration with Himalayan and Tibetan universities. |
Research & Development
The institute focuses on scientific validation of traditional Sowa-Rigpa knowledge through experimental, clinical, and pharmacological research.
| Research Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Pharmacognosy & Drug Standardization | Study of Himalayan medicinal plants used in Sowa-Rigpa formulations. |
| Clinical Trials | Evaluation of traditional therapies for chronic and lifestyle diseases. |
| Fundamental Research | Studies on principles like Nespa (humoural balance) and Lung-Tripa-Badkan (similar to Vata-Pitta-Kapha). |
| Toxicological Studies | Safety assessment of mineral and metallic formulations. |
| Collaborative Research | Projects with CSIR, ICMR, CCRAS, and Tibetan medical institutes. |
Notable Research Work:
- Clinical validation of Ga-Nyer (herbal-mineral) formulations for arthritis and respiratory diseases.
- Pharmacological studies on Himalayan herbs like Rhodiola imbricata and Artemisia maritima.
- Digitization of 300+ ancient manuscripts from the Gyud-Zi (Four Tantras).
- Development of Sowa-Rigpa pharmacopoeial standards.
Hospital & Clinical Services
| Facility | Description |
|---|---|
| Hospital Capacity | 100 beds with OPD, IPD, and diagnostic facilities. |
| OPD Services | Daily consultation and dispensing of herbal-mineral medicines. |
| Specialized Clinics | Focus on respiratory, digestive, and musculoskeletal disorders. |
| Pharmacy Unit | Prepares traditional Amchi formulations under GMP guidelines. |
| Diagnostic Laboratory | Combines Sowa-Rigpa pulse diagnosis with modern tools. |
| Therapy Section | Offers moxibustion, massage, steam therapy, and dietary regulation. |
Public Health & Outreach
| Program | Objective |
|---|---|
| Swasthya Rakshan Program (SRP) | Promoting preventive healthcare through natural practices. |
| School Health Program | Teaching Sowa-Rigpa wellness principles to children. |
| Tribal Health Initiative | Providing healthcare access to remote Himalayan villages. |
| Health Camps | Conducted across Ladakh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh. |
| Awareness Programs | Workshops on sustainable use of Himalayan medicinal plants. |
Collaboration & Linkages
| Partner Organization | Area of Collaboration |
|---|---|
| Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) | Joint pharmacological and drug studies. |
| ICMR & CSIR | Biochemical and molecular validation of Sowa-Rigpa medicines. |
| Men-Tsee-Khang (Tibetan Medical & Astro Institute, Dharamshala) | Academic and research exchange. |
| National Research Institute for Sowa-Rigpa (Leh) | Field-level research collaboration. |
| WHO-GCTM (Jamnagar) | Global integration and standardization of Sowa-Rigpa practices. |
Key Achievements
Established as India’s first national-level institute for Sowa-Rigpa (2019).
Digitized over 300 ancient manuscripts of the Gyud-Zi and Sowa-Rigpa Pharmacopoeia.
Developed 30 standardized formulations for common ailments.
Established a Herbal Garden with 250+ Himalayan species.
Published 100+ research papers in traditional medicine journals.
Conducted international conferences on Himalayan medicine and pharmacology.
Implemented AYUSH GRID integration for digital data management.
Who’s Who (Leadership & Governance)
| Designation | Officer Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Director, NISR | Dr. Padma Gurmet (as of 2025) | Overall head of the institute, overseeing education, research, and administration. |
| Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH | Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha | Policy direction and coordination. |
| Dean (Academics) | — | Academic and curriculum development. |
| Research Officer (Sowa-Rigpa) | — | Coordination of clinical and drug research projects. |
| Registrar / Administrative Officer | — | Institutional management and HR. |
Publications & Resources
- Sowa-Rigpa Research Bulletin (Quarterly Journal)
- Gyud-Zi Translations and Commentaries
- Materia Medica of Himalayan Medicinal Plants
- NISR Annual Reports
- Handbook of Sowa-Rigpa Diagnosis & Therapy
- Pharmacopoeia of Sowa-Rigpa Medicines (Vol. 1–2)
Digital Integration
| Platform | Role |
|---|---|
| AYUSH Research Portal | Repository for Sowa-Rigpa research papers and projects. |
| AYUSH GRID | Institutional performance and data monitoring. |
| AYUSH e-Learning | Online training programs and certification. |
| Digital Manuscript Archive | Digitization of ancient Sowa-Rigpa texts and illustrations. |
| NAM Portal | Project implementation and funding data |
Contact & Grievance Redressal
National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR)
📍 Skalzangling, Leh – 194101, Union Territory of Ladakh, India
📧 Email: director.nisr@gov.in / info@nisrlehladakh.nic.in
📞 Phone: 01982-252864 / 01982-252863
🌐 Website: https://nisrlehladakh.nic.in
Grievances:
https://pgportal.gov.in → Ministry of AYUSH → National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR)
🔗 14. Useful Links
- Ministry of AYUSH: https://ayush.gov.in
- AYUSH Research Portal: https://ayushportal.nic.in
- AYUSH GRID: https://ayushgrid.gov.in
- Men-Tsee-Khang: https://men-tsee-khang.org
- National AYUSH Mission: https://namayush.gov.in
Benefits to Citizens
| Beneficiary | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Students | Specialized education in the Himalayan system of medicine. |
| Patients | Access to affordable and natural Sowa-Rigpa treatments. |
| Researchers | Opportunities to study ancient Himalayan medicine scientifically. |
| Teachers | Professional development in Sowa-Rigpa pedagogy. |
| Communities | Revitalization of traditional healing systems in border regions. |
Impact
- Serves as India’s first and only apex institution dedicated to Sowa-Rigpa.
- Preserves indigenous Himalayan medical heritage and manuscripts.
- Integrates traditional knowledge with modern biomedical validation.
- Strengthens India’s cultural diplomacy in the Himalayan and Buddhist world.
- Promotes eco-sustainable healthcare aligned with AYUSH and SDGs.