Dalai Lama departs Dharamshala for Mundgod amid warm send-off

The 14th Dalai Lama, aged 90, departed Dharamshala on Thursday morning for Mundgod, Karnataka, as part of his winter retreat. He arrived in New Delhi on Thursday and is scheduled to continue his journey to Mundgod on Friday . A large gathering of Tibetans and foreign devotees had assembled at Kangra Airport to witness his departure.

Mundgod is home to several Tibetan refugees and houses the Drepung Loseling Monastery and the Gaden Jangtse Monastic College , major centers of Tibetan Buddhist learning. The Dalai Lama is expected to return to Dharamshala in February 2026, marking the end of his annual winter break.

Speaking to media personnel at the airport, the Dalai Lama said that he was going to South India and expressed appreciation for the Indian public. His remarks were conveyed as gratitude for the genuine compassion shown by the people and for their spiritual warmth.

This visit is part of the Dalai Lama’s long-standing tradition of winter retreats in India. Since coming to Dharamshala in 1959 following the Tibetan uprising, he has used these retreats to connect with Tibetan communities across the country, engage with spiritual studies, and promote Tibetan culture and Buddhism internationally.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Tibetan government in exile marked two significant occasions: the 36th anniversary of the Dalai Lama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize and the 77th World Human Rights Day . International delegations from the Czech Republic, Australia, France, Chile, New Zealand, and Fiji attended the ceremony, expressing support for the Tibetan cause and urging China to resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

Approximately 2,000 Tibetans , including officials of the Tibetan government in exile, members of the Tibetan parliament in exile, monks, nuns, and school students, gathered at Thekchen Choeling Tsuglakhang , the main Tibetan temple in Dharamshala. The ceremony included cultural performances by Tibetan artists, along with official statements delivered by foreign delegates and Tibetan leaders.

While delivering the official statement of the Kashag (Tibetan Secretariat), Sikyong Penpa Tsering , head of the Tibetan government in exile, conveyed that the 36th anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s Nobel Peace Prize, International Human Rights Day, and the Year of Compassion were being observed. Felicitations and obeisance were extended to the Dalai Lama, and greetings were offered to distinguished guests, friends, and supporters of Tibet worldwide.