On Saturday, 19 September 2026, Men-Tsee-Khang Sowa-Rigpa Medical College organized an educational tour for its students to the Regional-cum-Facilitation Centre (RCFC) North-I of the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH, located at the Research Institute in Indian Systems of Medicine (RIISM), Joginder Nagar, District Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. The visit included the Herbal Garden, Herbarium, and laboratories, providing students with valuable exposure to medicinal plant cultivation, identification, research, and the development of quality planting materials.
The primary objective of the educational tour was to enhance students’ practical knowledge of the classification, identification, and characteristics of medicinal plants through direct observation and hands-on learning. The tour was guided by Deputy Dr. Tsetan Mingyur and Dr. Samphel Tsering from the Materia Medica Department (MMD) of Men-Tsee-Khang. A total of four teaching faculty members and 32 students from the first, second, and third professional years participated in the programme.
The group departed from Men-Tsee-Khang Sowa-Rigpa Medical College at 6:30 a.m. by minibus and arrived at the Regional-cum-Facilitation Centre in Joginder Nagar at approximately 10:30 a.m. Upon arrival, the faculty members and students received a warm welcome from the Ayurvedic doctors and staff of RIISM, followed by an engaging interaction and exchange of knowledge.
During the visit to the Herbal Garden, Deputy Dr. Tsetan Mingyur introduced the students to approximately 40 different medicinal plant species, explaining their identification, characteristics, and medicinal significance. This practical session provided students with an opportunity to connect their theoretical knowledge with real-life observations and deepen their understanding of medicinal plants.
Following the visit to Joginder Nagar, the group proceeded to the Men-Tsee-Khang Herbal Garden at the Chauntra branch. There, Mr. Tsewang Tharchin, the gardener and person in charge, introduced the students to various medicinal plants cultivated in the garden without the use of artificial fertilizers. The visit also included an educational tour of the Men-Tsee-Khang Pharmacy Department at Chauntra, where students gained further insight into the institution’s pharmaceutical activities and related practices.
The educational tour was successfully completed within a day. It provided students with valuable practical exposure to medicinal plant identification, cultivation, and related research, complementing their academic studies in Sowa-Rigpa medicine. The students and faculty members returned safely to Men-Tsee-Khang Sowa-Rigpa Medical College, concluding a productive and enriching educational experience.