Tawang: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama arrived at Bomdila on April 4 on a nine-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India.

The Dalai Lama arrived by road as his chopper could not take off from Guwahati in Assam because of inclement weather.

He was accompanied by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, among others.

He is scheduled to give a discourse at the Buddha Park in Bomdila on April 5 and teach at Dirang and confer the ‘Avalokiteshvara Permission’ at Thupsung Dhargyeling Monastery during his stay.

Meanwhile, India ignored Chinese objections to the Dalai Lama’s trip to Arunachal Pradesh urging its neighbor not to create “artificial controversy” around the Tibetan spiritual leader.

External affairs ministry also asserted that the government has clearly stated on several occasions that the Dalai Lama is a revered religious leader, who is deeply respected by the Indian people.

“No additional color should be ascribed to his religious and spiritual activities and visits to various states of India,” the ministry said in a release on April 4.