How India Saved the Dalai Lama from China | The Story of Dalai Lama’s Escape from Tibet

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]When China was after the life of the Dalai Lama, India gave him shelter and you may already know this, but the dangerous circumstances in which the Dalai Lama escaped from China will surprise you. The year was 1959 when the situation in Tibet was rapidly changing.

[00:00:14]In 1950, [music] the army of the People's Republic of China had entered Tibet and was gradually taking control. The religious and cultural life of Tibetans was under [music] growing threat and during this time, the 14th Dalai Lama, their most important spiritual leader, also began to feel unsafe. By March 1959, [music] tension in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, had reached its peak. News spread that the Chinese army might arrest the Dalai Lama. Thousands of people gathered outside his palace, Norbulingka, to protect their leader. [music] Now, the biggest question before him was, should he stay or leave? On the night of 17th March 1959, he made a major decision.

[00:00:47][music] Disguised as an ordinary soldier and accompanied by only a few close companions, he quietly [music] left Lhasa. From here began a dangerous 13-day journey that changed history.

[00:00:56]This life-threatening journey was not easy at all. He mostly traveled at night to avoid the Chinese army. Along [music] the way, he crossed high Himalayan mountains and dangerous passes. He had to cross icy rivers. Every moment carried the fear of being caught. In this journey of about 1,000 km, the Dalai Lama and his companions faced constant danger. Many times they had to move silently as even the sound of horses could alert enemies.

[00:01:17]>> [music] >> Finally, after about 13 days, at the end of March 1959, they crossed into India.

[00:01:22]They entered through the Kenzemane area of Arunachal Pradesh and then reached Tawang. In Tawang, the Dalai Lama received a warm welcome. The local people saw him not just as a refugee, but as a great spiritual leader. Soon after, the government of India officially granted him asylum. Later, [music] he settled in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, which today is the main center of the Tibetan government in exile. By reaching Tawang [music] and receiving shelter in India, not only was the Dalai Lama's life saved, but Tibetan culture and its struggle [music] also found a new direction.