Visiting Himalayan Hospital, Jolly Grant: How to Reach, OPD and What to Expect

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance someone close to you needs treatment at Himalayan Hospital, and you’re trying to work out the practical side. We get it. It’s a huge campus, it’s not where most people expect it to be, and the first visit can feel overwhelming. This guide walks you through the basics so you can focus on the person you’re there for.

This is practical visitor information, not medical advice. For appointments, timings and anything medical, please check the hospital’s official website (srhu.edu.in) or ask at the help desk. In an emergency, call 112 or go straight to the emergency department.

A little background

Himalayan Hospital is the teaching hospital of the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, which opened in 1995. The whole campus belongs to the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust and also includes Swami Rama Himalayan University, nursing and paramedical colleges, and a cancer research institute. That’s why you’ll hear several different names used for the same place.

Because it’s a tertiary hospital, people come here for complicated cases and referrals as well as everyday OPD visits. The departments you’ll find listed include general medicine and surgery, cardiology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, cancer care, gastroenterology, urology and kidney care, gynaecology and maternity, paediatrics, ENT, eyes, skin, psychiatry, emergency and trauma, radiology and a blood bank.

Public listings show the hospital as empanelled under schemes like Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) and CGHS. Whether your treatment is covered depends on the scheme and your eligibility, so go to the scheme or insurance desk early and ask.

Getting there

The hospital is in Jolly Grant, not in Dehradun city. That surprises a lot of first time visitors, so plan your travel around it.

Starting from	Roughly how far	Simplest way
Jolly Grant Airport	a few km	Taxi or auto, about 5 to 10 minutes
Dehradun city (Clock Tower or ISBT)	about 25 to 30 km	Taxi, or a bus towards Doiwala and then a short auto ride
Rishikesh	about 20 km	Taxi, or a bus or shared jeep towards Dehradun
Haridwar	about 35 to 40 km	Taxi, or a bus via Doiwala
Doiwala railway station	a short drive	Auto or taxi

Flying in? You’re in luck: the airport is the closest arrival point of all. Our Jolly Grant Airport guide covers flights and the terminal.

Coming by train? Most long distance trains end at Dehradun, about an hour away, or stop at Haridwar. A few stop at Doiwala, which is much closer. If the patient is unwell, a taxi from the station is worth the money.

Coming by bus? Buses between Dehradun and Rishikesh pass close to Jolly Grant. Tell the conductor you’re going to Himalayan Hospital, get off at the nearest stop and take a short auto to the gate.

How an OPD day usually goes

The OPD generally runs in the morning and early afternoon, Monday to Saturday, and is usually closed on Sundays and some holidays. Emergency is open round the clock. Exact timings differ by department and do change, so check before you set off.

On a first visit, expect something like this:

1. Register. Take the patient’s ID to the registration counter and get an OPD card or number.
2. Find your department. Staff will point you to the right OPD. Big departments can have long queues, which is why getting there early matters.
3. See the doctor. You may be sent for blood tests, an X-ray, ultrasound, CT or MRI.
4. Tests and payments. Labs and scans are on campus. Payment counters are usually separate from registration.
5. Come back with reports. Sometimes that’s the same day, sometimes another day. Keep every slip together.

Many departments let you book online through the hospital’s official website, which can save a lot of waiting.

What to bring

• photo ID for the patient and for you
• every old prescription, report, scan and discharge summary, ideally in one folder in date order
• a written list of the medicines the patient takes and the doses
• insurance card, Ayushman or other scheme card, and any referral letter
• a power bank, water bottle and something light to eat
• a warm layer if it’s December to February, because mornings at Jolly Grant get properly cold

A few things that make it easier

• Get there early. The first couple of hours see the longest registration lines.
• Split the jobs if you can. One person stays with the patient while another handles registration, payments and the pharmacy.
• Use the help desk. The campus is big, and the staff there will tell you which building and floor you need.
• Plan for more than one day if you’re coming from far away. Tests and follow ups often spill over. Our guide on where to stay near Jolly Grant can help.
• If the patient is admitted, read our attendant’s guide to Himalayan Hospital for food, stay and pharmacy tips.

Frequently asked questions