Tibetian Settlement - Odeyrpalaya - Karnataka

Hidden near Odeyarpalaya in Kollegal, Karnataka, lies the Dhondenling Tibetan Settlement — a community created more than 50 years ago with a remarkable history behind it. Following the 1959 Tibetan Uprising, the 14th Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetans fled Tibet and sought refuge in India. As the number of displaced Tibetan families increased, permanent settlements were needed where they could rebuild their lives instead of depending on temporary refugee camps. In 1974, Dhondenling Tibetan Settlement was established as part of this rehabilitation effort. Land was provided in this region of Karnataka so Tibetan refugee families could build permanent homes, take up agriculture and farming, and gradually become self-sufficient. But Dhondenling was not created only to provide shelter. Far away from their homeland, the settlement also became a place where generations of Tibetans could preserve their language, Buddhist traditions, monasteries, customs and cultural identity while living in exile. What began as a humanitarian rehabilitation project eventually developed into a unique Tibetan community in the middle of southern Karnataka. In this video, we travel through Dhondenling near Odeyarpalaya, exploring the roads, surroundings and atmosphere of this fascinating settlement. A small piece of Tibetan history, culture and resilience — hidden in Karnataka. 🎥 Raw. Peaceful. Unfiltered. Santoverse. 📍 Dhondenling Tibetan Settlement 📍 Odeyarpalaya, Kollegal, Karnataka #Dhondenling #TibetanSettlement #Odeyarpalaya #Kollegal #Karnataka #TibetanRefugees #TibetanCulture #HiddenKarnataka #OffbeatKarnataka #Santoverse