Sikyong Penpa Tsering Visits Tibetan Settlements in Kullu-Manali and Address the Public

Dharamshala: On 23 and 24 August 2025, Sikyong Penpa Tsering, in his capacity as the incumbent Kalon (Minister) of the Department of Religion and Culture as well as the Department of Home, visited several Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, schools, Men-Tsee-Khang branches, Tibetan health care centres, the Local Tibetan Assembly Office, the Regional Tibetan Freedom Movement Office, and settlements and clustered communities in the Kullu-Manali area as part of the second leg of his official tour in the region.

During these visits, Sikyong — accompanied by Additional Secretary Tashi Dekyi and Tibetan Settlement Officer Tenzin Tsultem — reviewed the construction of retaining walls initiated by the 16th Kashag to safeguard settlements along the Beas River. These protective structures are critical for mitigating the impact of frequent torrential monsoon rains, which often cause severe damage to properties located near the riverbanks.

Before returning to Dharamshala on 25 August, Sikyong addressed the Tibetan residents of Kullu and Manali at the ...