Background & History:
In the early 1960s, a small number of Tibetan refugee families arrived in Delhi and initially settled at Ladakh Budh Vihar, a Buddhist Temple located on Bela Road in Delhi. At the behest of then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, in 1964, these Tibetans were relocated to their current residence known as ‘Majnu-ka-tilla.’ This area had previously been vacant land. The settlement comprises primarily of two colonies New Aruna Nagar and Monastery Market which houses 418 families, and in addition to this, there is a sizable Tibetan diaspora community living in and around Delhi.
The Samyeling Tibetan Settlement Office functions as the liaison office for the Department of Home and the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala. It is responsible for implementing various welfare programs aimed at benefiting the residents of the two colonies and other dispersed Tibetans in Delhi and its neighboring areas.
Settlement Location:
It is situated in India’s national capital, within the North Delhi district under the jurisdiction of the Delhi NCT government. The location rests on a flat terrain at an elevation of 725ft above sea level. The area experiences average temperatures of around 33°C and receives approximately 617mm of rainfall annually.
Livelihood:
They mainly rely on small-scale businesses such as running restaurants and ready-made clothing shops. Similar to many other Tibetan refugees, quite a few individuals here also take part in the winter sweater trade to sustain their livelihood.
Facilities in the settlement
The settlement offers a range of facilities, including a primary school, a health clinic, as well as offices for the settlement and village administration. It also houses various organizational offices such as those for the Regional Tibetan Freedom Movement, Tibetan Women’s Association, Tibetan Youth Congress, among others.
Monastery & Chapels:
The settlement has following monasteries and chapels
- Drepung Ngakpa Dratsang, New Aruna Nagar, Delhi
- Ka-Ning Jangchup Lhakhang, New Aruna Nagar, Delhi
- Drepung Loseling Jangchup Choling, Laxmi Nagar. Delhi
- Buddha Ashram Sakya Heritage Society, Village Asola, Delhi
- Gaden Jangtse Lhamo Khang, New Aruna Nagar, Delhi
- Gyudmed Dolma Lhakhang, Monastery Market, Delhi
