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

Buddhist monks embark on a 400-km march to Hyderabad, reviving awareness of Buddha's teachings and promoting interfaith harmony.

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.