Upon the Royal Command of His Majesty The King, His Majesty The King’s Kidu Mobile Medical Unit will set up a medical camp to treat Bhutanese pilgrims in Bodhgaya.

The medical camp will be operational during the peak months when Bhutanese travel to Bodhgaya, and will be set up annually henceforth, so that the pilgrims, most of whom are elderly, receive timely treatment and medication while on pilgrimage to the holy site. Most pilgrims travelling to Bodhgaya do not have access to healthcare during their travel if they develop travel related illnesses, and many people in the past have had to go to the hospital immediately upon their return or even cut their trips short if they fall ill.

It is estimated that about 100,000 Bhutanese travel to Bodhgaya annually during the peak season, which is from November-February.

Staff reporter