Dalai Lama leaves McLeodganj for scheduled visit to Karnataka

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama left McLeodganj on Thursday morning for a scheduled visit to Mundgod in Karnataka. A large number of Tibetans, locals and foreign devotees gathered at the Kangra Airport to see him off before his departure.

Mundgod houses one of the largest Tibetan settlements in India and is home to the Drepung Loseling Monastery and the Gaden Jangtse Monastic College.

Speaking briefly to reporters at the airport, the Dalai Lama said, “Actually I am going to South India. Wherever I go, Indian public is really showing genuine compassion and we truly spiritual… thank you.”

According to the Dalai Lama’s office, he will halt in Delhi for the night and undergo a routine medical check-up before travelling to Mundgod on Friday. He is expected to return to McLeodganj in February 2026 after seven weeks.

Meanwhile, his office has issued a detailed circular outlining procedure for devotees seeking blessings during his stay at the Mundgod Tibetan settlement.

The announcement specifies separate documentation and registration requirements for visitors from different regions. Bhutanese, Indian, Nepalese and Tibetans residing in the Indian subcontinent must email their proposed visit dates to dalailamainmundgod@gmail.com along with valid identification such as Bhutanese Citizenship Card, Aadhaar Card or Nepalese Nagrikta Card. The foreigners from other countries must attach copies of their passport, valid Indian visa and Protected Area Permit (PAP). The PAP, issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, must be obtained through the official portal.

The office has warned that foreigners without an approved PAP will not be allowed to enter the blessing line and may face detention for illegal entry into the protected Tibetan settlement. Tibetan settlements like Mundgod fall under protected areas where access for foreign nationals is regulated by tough Indian laws.

Although the detailed schedule is awaited, thousands of devotees from India and abroad were expected to visit Mundgod during the Dalai Lama’s stay, which traditionally draws large crowds and requires extensive logistical coordination.