Dharamsala, Oct 13 (IANS) Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has returned to his official residence in this north Indian hill town after a three-week visit to the US and Canada, an aide said Tuesday.
“His Holiness (the Dalai Lama) reached his residence this (Tuesday) morning after a hectic scheduled visit to the US and Canada,” Tenzin Taklha, joint secretary at the Dalai Lama’s office, told IANS.

Thousands of Tibetans and followers of the Buddhist monk, carrying traditional white scarves, flowers and incense sticks, lined up on both sides of the road to welcome their spiritual leader. He had left Sep 21 for the foreign tour.

The speaker, deputy speaker and standing committee members of the Tibetan parliament and officials of the government-in-exile received the Nobel laureate at the Gaggal airport near here.

“During his visit to the US, the Dalai Lama received a human rights award from US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and met powerful lawmakers,” Taklha said.

According to an official site of the Central Tibetan Administration, the Dalai Lama will begin a four-day teaching series for devotees from Taiwan at Tsuglagkhang, the main temple here, from Oct 15.

The spiritual leader, along with many of his supporters, fled Tibet and took refuge in this Indian hill station in 1959. He has since been heading the Tibetan government-in-exile from here.