The 14th Dalai Lama escaped Tibet to reach India in 1959.
| Photo Credit: The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
A group led by Buddhist monks and village chiefs in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh commenced a 100-kilometre trek along the Freedom Trail on Monday (March 31, 2025). The trek is intended to retrace the route taken by the 14th Dalai Lama during his escape from Lhasa, Tibet, in 1959.
The 300-member group, which also includes personnel from border-guarding forces, tourists, and members of the Panchayati Raj Institution, began their journey from Kenzamani, near the Line of Actual Control separating India and China. The trek will conclude at the Tawang Monastery on 5 April, commemorating the day the Tibetan spiritual leader reached Tawang town over six decades ago.
A group comprising 300 Buddhist monks, village chiefs, tourists, and others started a 100-km trek from near the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district to retrace the route taken by the 14th Dalai Lama during his flight from Lhasa in 1959.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
The event, organised by the Tawang district administration, began with an inaugural ceremony featuring prayers for the long life of the Dalai Lama, followed by cultural performances by monks and villagers.
Addressing the participants, Lungla MLA, Tsering Lhamu, emphasised the spiritual and historical significance of the journey. “Through this journey along the Freedom Trail, we draw strength from the wisdom of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and hope for a peaceful future,” he said.
He further noted that Arunachal Pradesh shares a centuries-old relationship with Tibet, rooted in shared history, culture, and mutual understanding.
“The bond between our people transcends borders. We remain inspired by the teachings of His Holiness and his unwavering commitment to compassion, non-violence, and the promotion of human values,” Mr Lhamu added.
He officially flagged off the trek alongside Jambey Wangdi, the Chairman of the State’s Department of Karmik and Adhyatmik Affairs.
Officials from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) received a portrait of the Dalai Lama and a branch from the holy tree at Chudangmo, offering a guard of honour.
Later in the day, the participants reached Chudangmo, located three kilometres from the starting point. The ITBP and the Indian Army provided accommodation for the group of trekkers.
On Tuesday, the team is scheduled to reach Gorzam Chorten after a five-hour walk. The trekkers will cover 22 kilometres – considered the most challenging part of the journey – in ten hours to reach Shakti. At Shakti, some village chiefs from Pangchen Dhingro village will join the group.
On the fourth day, they will walk 23 kilometres to reach Old Lumla, culminating in a visit to the Thar Dhoe Norbu Ling Gonpa. This will be followed by a 14-kilometre stretch to Thongleng on the fifth day, before the final leg of the journey to Tawang Monastery, a distance of 28 kilometres and an estimated 11 hours of walking.
Published – April 01, 2025 02:40 am IST
