Medicinal plants have always remained a topic of interest to researchers and policymakers due to their importance in supplying raw materials for modern therapeutics. We assessed the current state of knowledge on Himalayan medicinal plants to understand the gaps and future research opportunities. We reviewed the scientific literature published during 1959–2022 to assess spatial, temporal, and thematic trends in the research on the Himalayan medicinal plants. The number of publications increased continuously nearly fivefold during the last decade in the Himalaya. Ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and ecology are the dominant fields of research. India ranks at the top in research contribution and funding for research on medicinal plants in the Himalaya. More research has been conducted in western Himalayan states and Nepal, whereas eastern Himalayan biodiverse regions are least studied for their medicinal plant wealth. The highest percentage of research has been conducted on themes like conservation, ethnobotany, antioxidants, traditional knowledge, essential oil, ethnomedicine, phytochemicals, etc. The scientific information on the Himalayan medicinal plants provides a powerful resource for pharmaceutical advancement, drug discovery, and economic upliftment of the indigenous communities in the region. Summarized information in this study can further be utilized for data-driven and well-informed policies for the conservation and sustainable utilization of the medicinal plant wealth of the Himalaya.