Dalai Lama discharged from Delhi hospital after left knee replacement
Synopsis
The Dalai Lama has been discharged from Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi just four days after undergoing his second knee replacement surgery in under a year — this time on his left knee. Now 90, he is already scheduled to travel to Ladakh by end of June and attend a public event for his 91st birthday on 6 July, signalling a remarkably swift return to his public role.
Key Takeaways
The Dalai Lama underwent a successful left knee replacement at Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi on 8 June 2025 .
He was discharged on Friday, 12 June and is described as stable with a full recovery expected.
In June 2024 , he had his right knee replaced at the Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City .
He is scheduled to visit Ladakh towards the end of June for an extended stay.
A public programme marking his 91st birthday on 6 July is expected in Leh .
The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh since 1959 , following the Chinese suppression of the Tibetan uprising.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama was discharged from Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi on Friday, 12 June, following a successful left knee replacement surgery performed on Monday, 8 June, according to a medical bulletin issued by the hospital. The 90-year-old Buddhist monk is described as stable and expected to make a full recovery.
What the Medical Team Said
A Senior Consultant at Apollo Hospitals confirmed the procedure and the discharge in an official statement: 'His Holiness the Dalai Lama underwent successful left knee replacement surgery on Monday, June 8. Throughout his treatment, His Holiness’s personal medical team and the office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama remained in close coordination with the administrative and medical staff at Apollo Hospitals. His Holiness is stable and expected to make a full recovery. He was discharged on Friday morning, June 12. It has been a great honour for the hospital and the medical team to serve His Holiness the Dalai Lama.'
A Second Knee Surgery in Under a Year
This is the Dalai Lama’s second major orthopaedic procedure within twelve months. In June 2024, he underwent a right knee replacement at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and, according to his office, made an excellent recovery. The left knee procedure in Delhi marks a continuation of his medical care under a coordinated team that spans both his personal physicians and specialist hospital staff.
Ladakh Visit and 91st Birthday Plans
Following his recovery, the Dalai Lama is scheduled to travel to Ladakh towards the end of June for an extended stay, his office has confirmed. He is also expected to attend a public programme marking his 91st birthday on 6 July, likely held in Leh. The Ladakh region, with its remote mountain terrain bordering Tibet, holds special significance for the spiritual leader, who regularly visits to give audiences to people of all faiths. His visits to the region have previously drawn criticism from China.
Background: Six Decades of Exile
The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since 1959, when Chinese troops suppressed the Tibetan national uprising in Lhasa, forcing him and more than 80,000 Tibetans to flee. After a three-week journey across the Himalayas, he initially took residence in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, before settling in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, where the Tibetan government-in-exile is based. The exile community continues to seek complete autonomy for Tibet under Chinese rule.
With his discharge confirmed and travel plans already announced, attention now turns to how swiftly the Dalai Lama resumes his public engagements ahead of his milestone birthday.
Point of View
A region China views with deep suspicion, is unlikely to be read in Beijing as merely a convalescent trip. Each public appearance in the border region carries political freight that no medical bulletin can neutralise. With his 91st birthday approaching and no clarity on the reincarnation process, the Dalai Lama’s continued mobility and public presence remain among the most geopolitically watched health stories in Asia.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What surgery did the Dalai Lama undergo in Delhi?
The Dalai Lama underwent a left knee replacement surgery at Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi on 8 June 2025. He was discharged four days later on 12 June and is expected to make a full recovery.
Has the Dalai Lama had knee surgery before?
Yes. In June 2024, he underwent a right knee replacement at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and made an excellent recovery, according to his office.
Where is the Dalai Lama travelling after his discharge?
He is scheduled to visit Ladakh towards the end of June for an extended stay, and is expected to attend a public programme in Leh marking his 91st birthday on 6 July.
Why does the Dalai Lama’s health matter internationally?
As the preeminent figure of Tibetan Buddhism and the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharamsala, his health is closely watched by millions of followers worldwide and carries significant geopolitical implications, particularly regarding the unresolved question of Tibetan autonomy and the future reincarnation process.
Why has China criticised the Dalai Lama’s visits to Ladakh?
Ladakh borders Tibet and China considers the Dalai Lama a separatist figure. His visits to the region, where he gives public audiences, are viewed by Beijing as politically provocative, drawing repeated official criticism from Chinese authorities.
