Dharamsala, Jan 1 : Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Friday began a nine-day visit to Gujarat and Bodh Gaya for delivering discourses and giving teachings.

"The Dalai Lama will deliver a discourse at Palitana near Bhavnagar in Gujarat Jan 3," according to a post on the website of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

"After that he will reach Bodh Gaya to give teachings from January 5 to 9," said the website.

The Dalai Lama, 74, along with many of his supporters fled Tibet and took refuge in India when Chinese troops moved in and took control of Lhasa in 1959.

He has ever since been heading the Tibetan government-in-exile from here which is not recognised by any country in the world.(IANS)