The Dalai Lama has arrived in the northeastern Indian town of Tawang for a five-day visit that has heightened tensions between India and China.

The Tibetan spiritual leader arrived Sunday morning in this town near the border with Tibet to lead prayer services with local Buddhists.

Indian television showed footage of the Dalai Lama entering the monastery here surrounded by Buddhist monks.

The visit to this town near the disputed India-China border has angered Beijing. China sees it as infringing on its claims to Tawang and increasing tensions in Tibet.

India says the Dalai Lama is free to travel throughout its territory.