By Tenzin Sangmo
The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ugyen Trinley Dorjee who was airlifted to safety after being stranded for 48 hours in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahual and Spiti district flew into Delhi from Leh yesterday.
“The spiritual leader reached Delhi this morning (Wednesday) by an Indian Airlines flight… he will leave for Dharamsala after two days,” the Karmapa’s Secretary Gompa Tsering told IANS on phone from Delhi.
“Since the Manali-Leh highway is still closed at a number of places and it’s not safe to travel on the Leh-Srinagar highway, we decided to reach our residence in this hill town via Delhi,” he further added.
The Karmapa had embarked on a ‘Dharma Tour’ beginning September 8 to October 3, 2008. He was scheduled to visit regions of Ladakh, Lahual Spiti and Kinnaur. He was headed towards the town of Keylong in Lahual Spiti after concluding his visit to Ladakh when heavy snowfall forced the entourage which included His sister and General Secretary Drupon Rinpoche to cut their visit short.
Gompa Tsering said of the religious tour in Lahaul and Spiti, “For the time being it has been cancelled. The visit will be replanned.”
