Dalai Lama arrives on six-day visit to Kashmir

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama arrived in Srinagar on Thursday on a six-day private visit to Kashmir during which he is scheduled to meet Tibetan refugees living in the valley.

The Dalai Lama, who will be a state guest during his stay in the valley, was received at the airport by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

"The chief minister welcomed the (Buddhist) religious leader and conveyed his good wishes to him. Omar also enquired about the health of the Dalai Lama," an official spokesman said.

He said the Dalai Lama reciprocated the good wishes and prayed for peace, prosperity and development of the state. There are no public engagements for the Dalai Lama, who had recently retired from active politics, for Friday and Saturday but he will meet the Tibetan refugees living in Kashmir on Sunday, officials said.

"The Dalai Lama will visit a Tibetan school and Tibetan colony here on Sunday, while Monday and Tuesday have been marked as rest days for the Tibetan leader," sources said.

The Dalai Lama has also expressed his desire to visit some tourist places such as Gulmarg health resort during his stay in the valley, the sources added.