It began on July 1, 1958, when the Swamiji of Puttige Mutt, Shri Sujnanedra Theertha Swamiji, inaugurated a humble institution. After five years in Valakadu under Principal Dr. Gundacharya Savanoor, the college found its permanent home at Kuthpady, Udupi. On November 18, 1968, the same transformative year when Paramapoojya Dr D. Veerendra Heggade became Dharmadhikari, the foundation stone for the permanent campus was laid.
The hospital infrastructure expanded dramatically alongside educational growth. Beginning as a modest 50-bed facility in 1958, the hospital grew to 225 beds by 1994 and now operates as a comprehensive 310- bed teaching hospital with the Rathnashree Arogyadhama, a 120-bed specialized extension offering holistic wellness modules. The hospital now serves over 500 outpatients daily from across India and abroad, making it one of the country’s leading Ayurvedic Healthcare Centers.
Academic Excellence and Scholarly Recognition
Affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Bangalore, and recognized by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) New Delhi, the SDM Hospital holds the highest honor of NABH accreditation. A distinctive achievement marks SDM Ayurveda College Udupi’s global standing: it secured 5th rank in India and 2nd rank in Karnataka in the NCISM MARBISM assessment.
Global Collaborations and Alumni Leadership
The college has forged international partnerships with prestigious universities, facilitating student exchanges, short-term courses, and faculty development programs. Over 50% of faculty are institution alumni. Across India, many faculty members at premier institutions like Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and ITRA Jamnagar are SDM alumni, with several BHU department heads hailing from SDM.
Teaching Hospital as Living Classroom
The campus of SDM College of Ayurveda, Hospital & Research Center integrates classical Ayurvedic principles with modern diagnostic infrastructure. Modern laboratories, a herbal garden with over 1000 medicinal plant species among them around 200 are endangered with a total of around 4000 medicinal plants, a state-of-the-art pharmacy, and dedicated Panchakarma therapy units provide hands-on learning. Students encounter diverse clinical cases, from chronic lifestyle disorders to musculoskeletal conditions, pediatric ailments, ENT disorders, and surgical procedures.
Community Care and Healing Initiatives
SDM College of Ayurveda, Hospital & Research Center, Udupi, extends its mission beyond campus walls through robust community outreach. Regular health camps, wellness programs, and rural medical camps ensure students gain exposure to diverse populations while serving underserved communities. Specialty OPDs provide accessible care across disciplines, while rural postings ground students in public health realities.
Research and Public Health Excellence
Recognized as a SIRO (Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) Research Center, the constituent research center of the college supports government-approved research activities in Ayurveda, contributing to evidencebased practice and advancing the field’s scientific credibility.
The Legacy Continues
Sixty-seven years on, SDM College of Ayurveda, Hospital & Research Center, Udupi, remains true to its founding vision: to revive ancient Ayurvedic wisdom and make it a force for contemporary healing. Under the steadfast vision of Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade and guided by dedicated faculty and administrators, the college continues to produce not just qualified practitioners but conscious healers committed to service, scholarship, and the restoration of health.
AT A GLANCE NABH
- Accredited Hospital with SIRO Recognized Research Center status, ensuring world-class clinical and research standards.
- Comprehensive programs combining classical Ayurvedic knowledge with modern research methodologies for disease management.
- Dedicated to propagating authentic Ayurveda while providing accessible healthcare services to underserved communities.
COURSES OFFERED:
BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery)
Ph.D. PROGRAM
5 SPECIALIZATIONS
- Kayachikitsa
- Prasuti Tantra & Stree Roga
- Dravyaguna
- Rasashastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana
• Roganidana
MD (AYURVEDA)
SPECIALIZATIONS
- Samhita, Siddhanta and Sanskrit (Basic Principles of Ayurveda)
- Rachana Shareera (Human Anatomy)
- Dravyaguna (Pharmacology and Materia Medica – Herbal)
- Rasashastra & Bhaishajya Kalpana (Materia Medica – Minerals & Metals and Pharmaceutical Science)
- Roganidana and Vikriti Vigyan (Methods of Diagnosis, Diagnostic Procedures and Pathology) • Agada Tantra (Clinical Toxicology and Medical Jurisprudence)
- Swasthavritta & Yoga (Life Style Management, Public Health & Yoga)
- Kayachikitsa (Internal Medicine)
- Panchakarma (Therapeutic Procedural Management)
- Kaumarabrithya (Pediatrics)
- Manovigyan & Manasaroga (Psychiatry)
MS (AYURVEDA)
SPECIALIZATIONS
- Shalya Tantra (General Surgery)
- Prasuti Tantra & Stree Roga (Gynecology & Obstetrics)
