1st May: Despite a spike in COVID-19 cases across the world, the Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement in Karnataka, located on the border of the Mysuru and Kodagu districts, has escaped the virus thanks to the strict steps taken by monastic leaders.
After news of the COVID-19 outbreak began to trickle in from India, the settlement has been closed to tourists for the past 402 days. The monasteries felt compelled to prohibit outsiders from entering the settlement, presumably following strict protocol advice from the CTA.
At Bylakuppe, over 40,000 Tibetan families are living in close quarters, and a disease of this magnitude could have spelled disaster. Only a few COVID-positive people remain in the settlement, thanks to the strict measures, and they have recovered. Monks have been rule-abiding, following the government’s instructions at all times, both at home and outside.
The Bylakuppe Settlement is one of Tibetan’s oldest settlements. Since January last year, all entrances to the Tibetan Camp have been declared closed, and precautionary steps, including screening of monks who have come from outside the camp, have been in place.
The public celebration of Tibetan New Year ‘Losar’ which is normally held on a grand scale across Bylakuppe, was also canceled due to the pandemic. Celebrations were limited to private residences.
Tibetans are settled across 15 camps in Bylakuppe and the monastery management is ensuring the safety of all with frequent communication, awareness, and also targeted management.
The entry ban will remain in place until normalcy is restored, according to monk authorities.
The Centre and State Governments relaxed lockdown norms in stages as part of the COVID unlock scheme introduced last year, restoring normalcy. However, the monk heads and administrators agreed to keep the monasteries closed, allowing no outside visitors.
The Buddhist Monks Charitable Trust released orders prohibiting outside visitors and restricting the monks’ movement on the premises. Despite the Trust’s determination to open the monasteries, the plans were shelved when the second wave arrived in a more lethal shape.
And when the government wanted to open up the tourism industry, the monk authorities refused to budge and held the gates shut. The monasteries, Golden Temple, and other Tibetan religious and cultural sites are often present in the tourist itinerary in Bylakuppe, which is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Kodagu.
The gates, however, have been closed since January, and any tourists who visited Bylakuppe had to leave disappointed. Notably, even VIP visits were objected upon.
Picture courtesy: tripoto.com
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