Dalai Lama arrives in Arunachal to rousing reception by Tibetans

I am hurt by China's claim over Tawang: Dalai Lama

Tawang, Nov 8 (PTI) Braving the winter chill, thousands of Tibetans and locals today lined up along the roads leading to the Tawang Monastery and gave a rousing reception to the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who arrived here on a four-day visit.

After his arrival here by a helicopter from Guwahati, the 74-year-old Dalai Lama, accompanied by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Kandu, was welcomed by cheering Tibetans as he drove along the 10-km stretch from the helipad to the 400-year-old Tawang Monastery.

The Dalai Lama's cavalcade stopped at three places -- old market, Manjusree Vidyapeeth and new market -- as the spiritual leader blessed the people who greeted him.

Nestled in the snow-capped mountains and perched at a height of 10,000 feet, this town wears a festive look with colourful posters with the Dalai Lama's pictures and Tibetan and Indian flags flying everywhere.