In 1847, the British colonial government established the Bangalore Lunatic Asylum on Hosur Road.
That institution — through 179 years of transformation — is now the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) — India’s apex centre for mental health and neurosciences. Institute of National Importance. 174 acres. 1,096 beds. 26 departments. Budget ₹917 crore (2026).
There is no other institution in India quite like NIMHANS. And there’s one critical thing most guides get wrong — NIMHANS has three separate lines at the Screening Block. Knowing which line to join saves hours.
💡 Quick Answer Patient Portal: appointment.nimhans.ac.in Website: nimhans.ac.in OPD Registration: Mon–Sat 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM Screening OPD Fee: ₹20 Specialized OPD Fee: ₹100 Video Consultation: Available — Patient Portal NIRF Rank: 7 (Medical) — 2025 Address: Hosur Road, Near Bangalore Milk Dairy, Bengaluru – 560029
⚡ 2026 Update NIMHANS budget ₹917.21 crore (2026). Video consultation available via patient portal — appointment.nimhans.ac.in. Lab reports online using UHID. NIMHANS Digital Academy — online mental health training. Director: Prabha Chandra.
NIMHANS — At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Origins | 1847 — Bangalore Lunatic Asylum |
| AIIMH | 1954 — All India Institute of Mental Health |
| NIMHANS | 27 December 1974 — merger |
| Deemed University | 1994 |
| Institute of National Importance | 2012/2013 |
| Campus | 174 acres — Hosur Road |
| Beds | 1,096 (NABH accredited) |
| Departments | 26 |
| Centres of Excellence | 16 |
| Budget (2026) | ₹917.21 crore |
| NIRF Rank | 7 (Medical) — 2025 |
| Director | Prabha Chandra |
Three Lines — The Most Important Thing to Know
When you arrive at NIMHANS OPD Screening Block, there are three separate queues:
| Line | Who | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Line 1 — General | Walk-in, no referral, no online booking | Slowest |
| Line 2 — Referral | Patients with doctor’s referral letter | Priority — faster |
| Line 3 — Online Portal | Pre-registered via appointment.nimhans.ac.in | Fastest |
Tip: Always book online (Line 3) or carry a referral letter (Line 2). Line 1 is the longest — arrive by 7:30 AM for Line 1.
NIMHANS OPD Online Appointment — Step by Step
Step 1 — Open appointment.nimhans.ac.in
Step 2 — New patient → “New Appointment for OPD Clinics” → Register with mobile number
Step 3 — Fill patient details → Select department → Available date and time → Confirm
Step 4 — Printout or SMS confirmation
Step 5 — Reach NIMHANS → Counter No. 3, Hall No. 2, Screening Block → Show printout or SMS → Pay ₹20 (screening) or ₹100 (specialized) → OPD slip → Department
If you have a referral letter — come at 8:30 AM → Referral Counter (Line 2) → ₹20/₹100 → faster processing.
Walk-in Registration
Reach Screening Block by 8:00 AM → Line 1 (General) → ₹20 screening fee → Medical Officer screens → sent to Psychiatry or Neurology as appropriate.
OPD Timings 2026
| Timing | |
|---|---|
| OPD Registration (Mon–Sat) | 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM |
| F2-OPD Registration | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
| PDMD Clinic (1st & 3rd Saturday) | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
| Emergency | 24 Hours |
| Sunday / Holidays | OPD Closed |
OPD Fee
| Fee | |
|---|---|
| Screening OPD | ₹20 |
| Specialized OPD | ₹100 |
| Emergency | Free |
Video Consultation
NIMHANS Patient Portal — appointment.nimhans.ac.in:
- Book video call with doctor
- View and download lab reports using UHID
- View/print/cancel existing appointments
Departments — 26
| Department | |
|---|---|
| Psychiatry | Flagship — India’s best |
| Neurology | Brain, Epilepsy, Stroke |
| Neurosurgery | Brain surgery |
| Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Children’s mental health |
| Geriatric Psychiatry | Elderly mental health |
| Psychosomatic Medicine | Mind-body |
| Clinical Psychology | Psychological assessment |
| Psychiatric Social Work | Social rehabilitation |
| Psychiatric Nursing | Specialised nursing |
| Speech Pathology & Audiology | Communication disorders |
| Neuroimaging | MRI, fMRI, PET |
| Neurovirology | Brain infections |
| Neuropathology | Brain tissue |
| Neurochemistry | Brain chemistry |
| Biophysics | Physics of brain |
| Human Genetics | Genetic disorders |
| Biostatistics | Research support |
| Epidemiology | Mental health data |
| Physiotherapy | Neuro-rehab |
| Occupational Therapy | Functional recovery |
| Centre for Addiction Medicine | Drug, alcohol — de-addiction |
| Centre for Well Being | Preventive mental health |
| Advanced Centre for Ayurveda | AYUSH mental health |
| Centre for Public Health | Community mental health |
| Disaster Mental Health | Emergency mental health |
| NIMHANS Digital Academy | Online training |
What Makes NIMHANS Unique
Human Brain Bank: NIMHANS maintains a Human Brain Bank — one of only a handful in Asia. Donated brains are preserved for mental health and neurological research.
Neuropathology Museum: Brain specimens — for academic and research study. Unique in India.
Centre for Addiction Medicine: India’s leading government centre for drug and alcohol de-addiction — inpatient and outpatient treatment.
Disaster Mental Health Expertise: NIMHANS teams are deployed nationally during disasters — floods, earthquakes, mass casualties — to provide psychological first aid.
NIMHANS Digital Academy: Online mental health training — for professionals and patients.
Who Should Come to NIMHANS
| Condition | NIMHANS? |
|---|---|
| Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar | ✓ Yes — Psychiatry OPD |
| Schizophrenia, Psychosis | ✓ Yes |
| Epilepsy, Seizures | ✓ Yes — Neurology |
| Stroke, Brain tumour | ✓ Yes — Neurology/Neurosurgery |
| Child behaviour problems | ✓ Yes — Child Psychiatry |
| Elderly mental health | ✓ Yes — Geriatric Psychiatry |
| Drug/Alcohol addiction | ✓ Yes — Addiction Medicine |
| General medicine, Surgery | ✗ NIMHANS is mental health + neurosciences only |
NIMHANS does NOT treat general illnesses — no General Medicine, Cardiology, Orthopaedics. It is exclusively mental health and neurosciences.
Documents Required
- Aadhaar Card — mandatory
- Online appointment printout / SMS — for Line 3
- Referral letter (if available — for Line 2)
- Previous reports, prescriptions, hospital records
- ₹20 or ₹100 fee
How to Reach NIMHANS
Metro: Lakkasandra Metro Station (Green Line — Reach Bengaluru Metro) → 10-15 min walk / auto
Bus: Hosur Road — BMTC routes to NIMHANS stop. Near Bangalore Milk Dairy.
From Bangalore City Railway Station: ~8 km → Cab 20-25 min
From Kempegowda International Airport: ~35 km → Cab 50-60 min (depending on traffic)
Address: NIMHANS Campus Rd, Hosur Road, Near Bangalore Milk Dairy, Bengaluru, Karnataka – 560029
Contact Details
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Patient Portal | appointment.nimhans.ac.in |
| Website | nimhans.ac.in |
| Emergency | nimhans.ac.in/contact-us |
| Address | Hosur Road, Bengaluru – 560029 |
Frequently Asked Questions
NIMHANS Bangalore OPD appointment 2026 mein kaise book karein?
appointment.nimhans.ac.in → New Appointment → register → department → date → confirm → printout or SMS → Counter No. 3, Hall No. 2, Screening Block → Line 3.
NIMHANS OPD timings kya hain?
Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Emergency 24 hours. Sunday closed.
NIMHANS OPD fee kitni hai?
₹20 for Screening OPD. ₹100 for Specialized OPD at Counter No. 3, Hall No. 2.
NIMHANS mein kaunsi problems treat hoti hain?
Mental health — Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar, Schizophrenia, Addiction — and Neurosciences — Epilepsy, Stroke, Brain tumour, Neurosurgery. NIMHANS does NOT treat general medicine, cardiology, or orthopaedics.
NIMHANS mein three lines kyon hain?
Line 1 — General walk-in (slowest). Line 2 — Referral patients (faster). Line 3 — Online pre-registered (fastest). Always book online or carry a referral letter.
NIMHANS Human Brain Bank kya hai?
NIMHANS maintains one of Asia’s few Human Brain Banks — donated brains preserved for mental health and neurological research.
NIMHANS kaise pahunchein Bangalore mein?
Lakkasandra Metro Station (Green Line) → 10-15 min. Or Hosur Road BMTC bus — NIMHANS stop. Near Bangalore Milk Dairy.
From a colonial asylum in 1847 to India’s apex mental health institution — NIMHANS, Bengaluru.
appointment.nimhans.ac.in → OPD appointment confirmed.
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