A group of Buddhist monks who have been walking across the country for peace since October arrived in Washington, DC on Tuesday, Feb. 10, one of their last stops in a 2,300-mile journey.
The men have traveled across eight U.S. states — Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia — to reach the nation's capital.
The trek has been far from easy. In recent weeks, the approximately two dozen traveling Buddhist monks have been confronted with brutal freezing temperatures. In November, the monks' security vehicle was involved in a car accident that left one of the monks with injuries so severe that his leg was amputated.
Additionally, Aloka, the group's beloved dog, a former stray adopted from Kolkata, India, underwent surgery for a leg injury. The pup has since rejoined the group.
The monks embarked on the journey to remind Americans that peace is not a destination, according to the pilgrimage's announcement.
