Ayurveda project taking shape in Himalayan foothills

Ayurveda project taking shape in Himalayan foothills
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, JULY 2: A comprehensive Ayurveda complex, including a medical college for foreign students, a free hospital for locals and a pharmacy to produce medicines as per ancient texts, supported by a farm to grow endangered herbs is fast coming up in Kangra valley in the Himalayan foothills.

The Himalayan Heritage Institute of Ayurvedic Sciences, promoted by Ayurveda India - a Delhi-based group of Ayurvedic specialists - is being set up with to restore the pristine glory of the ancient system of Indian medicine through strict adherence to the basic texts, says Dr Naveen Gupta, the brain behind the project.

The medical college, scheduled to commence work from the next academic year, would be primarily catering to foreign students and would focus on teaching from the ancient texts, ``which are neglected and ignored by the new generation'', says Dr R K Kaushal, one of the Institute's Directors.

``We have already started receiving applications from China, Turkey, Holland, Belgium, Germany, United States and Spain,'' says a jubiliant Gupta.

According to him, the curriculum would be tailor-made for each student and would include short-term courses for alternative therapists and physicians of other systems of medicines and reorientation programmes for Ayurveda doctors.

A special feature of the Institute would be the 50-bedded hospital with an exclusive Panchkarma unit, which would have a free out-patient department for the benefit of the local population of the Kangra Valley.