Thai, Indian monks bring 400-km Dhammayatra to Hyderabad with call to revive Buddhism in India

Monks who took part in the third Dhamma Padayatra-2026, reaching Hyderabad on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit:
NAGARA GOPAL

Nearly 70 Buddhist monks and nuns from Thailand and India, clad in ochre robes, arrived in Hyderabad on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) as part of the 400-kilometre Buddha Dhamma Padayatra, a trans-State spiritual march aimed at rekindling awareness of the Buddha’s teachings in the land of its origin.

The procession reached Kukatpally Y Junction on Wednesday and was formally received by Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu and Minister for Labour, Employment, Training and Factories, Mines and Geology Gaddam Vivek Venkatswamy. Senior IAS and IPS officers, public representatives and devotees gathered to receive the monks, turning the arrival into a moment of reflection in a bustling metropolis.

The yatra, which began on February 2 at Siddhartha Buddha Vihara in Kalaburgi, Karnataka, is progressing towards Buddhavanam at Nagarjunasagar, where it will culminate on March 1. The closing ceremony is scheduled for March 2.

Led by Pra Songshak Kovido, Sangha Project Director from Thailand, and organised by Gagan Malik, president of the Gagan Malik Foundation, Mumbai, the yatra has brought together 60 Thai bhikshus and nuns along with around 10 Indian Buddhists.

The Padayatra, described by organisers as the “awakening of Buddha teachings in India”, is both symbolic and physically demanding. Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Gagan Malik said that the monks have been walking for an average of six hours each day, carrying approximately eight kilograms of personal belongings, including their bhiksha patra, a sleeping net and essential items for sustenance. Participants eat only once a day, particularly breakfast.

Many of the participating bhikshus have been undertaking such Dhammayatras for nine years, after undergoing a year of rigorous training. They continue to observe the 227 monastic rules that guide the life of a bhikshu, even while on the road.

Mr. Malik said the yatra is an expression of gratitude to India, the land where Gautama Buddha was born and where the path of Buddhism first took shape before influencing much of Asia. “We owe it to India ,several bhikshus said during interactions,” he shared, adding that while Buddhism flourished globally, its presence within India remains limited. The yatra, they said, is an effort to gently reawaken awareness of the Buddha’s teachings in the country of its origin.

What has stood out during the journey is the reception the monks have received across communities. Organisers said that masjids, mandirs, Christian institutions as well as Sikhs have welcomed the group, offering food, rest and encouragement. The gesture, they noted, is a powerful message of interfaith harmony at a time when such images are rare. “This is a message not only for India but for the entire world,” Mr. Malik said.

According to the schedule of the yatra, after entering Hyderabad through BHEL and Kukatpally, the monks are set to stay at Mahabodhi Buddha Vihara on February 20. The procession will then move through Uppal, Turkayamjal, Ibrahimpatnam, Yacharam, Mall, Chintapalli, Konda Mallepalli, Angadipet and Peddavura before reaching Buddhavanam, Nagarjunasagar, on March 1. The full route, beginning from Kalaburagi and covering towns across Telangana, spans 423 kilometres.

The Hyderabad leg is part of a meticulously planned itinerary that began in early February and charts daily halts across districts including stops in Lingampally, Sadasivapet, Sangareddy, Isnapur, Yacharam, Chintapally, culminating in chanting at the main temple complex in Buddhavanam. The yatra marks the third such Dharmayatra undertaken by the organisers, following earlier editions in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. This is the first in southern India, an attempt to geographically and spiritually reconnect regions to the Buddha’s message.

Importantly, organisers emphasise that the yatra will not conclude at Buddhavanam. Instead, it will mark the beginning of sustained outreach. Meditation shivirs (or camps) will be established at, Nagarjunasagar and two additional locations. These temporary camps will offer specialised training in the teachings of the Buddha, meditation practices and an experiential introduction to monastic life, allowing participants to understand the discipline and simplicity of a bhikshu’s daily routine.

Published – February 19, 2026 07:04 pm IST