The Govt. of Uttar Pradesh founded Dr. Pitambar Dutt Barthawal Himalayan Govt. P. G. College, Kotdwar in July 1971. With just  Bachelor of Arts. commerce and science  Course. With 12 subjects (Hindi, English, Sanskrit, History, Geography, Poltical Science, Economics, chemistry, Physics, Biology, Maths, Botany, Zoology). Since then the college has gone through many changes and developments to meet the requirements of the youth of this region. College get the status of PG in 1974-1975. B. Ed course was started in 1979-80.  IGNOU study center was established in 1999-2000. The expansion and developments of the college has taken place within the broader guidelines of the National Education Policy and the plans of the Educational developments of the state. The college has now become a multi faculty institution providing Arts, Commerce and Science Coursed at Under Graduate and Postgraduate level. College is affiliated to Sri Dev Suman Uttarakhand University, Badhaithaul, Tehri Garhwal.

The college has now different  departments offering Under Graduate and Post Graduate courses in three faculties of Arts, Commerce and Science. The college was started with the aim of imparting higher education to the poor students of the surrounding backward hilly area. Being a multi faculty college it provides knowledge and skill through various academic and Professional programmes to shape the students as sensitive and and responsible citizens. Further the college has introduced a three-year degree course in B.Sc. Biotechnology and MSc Biotechnology course. Beside Open University Haldwani (Uttarakhand) has started study center for various courses. Uttarakhand Application center Dehradun has launched a satellite system (Edusat) to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge to the rural and remote population of Uttarakhand.