Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, will undergo surgery to remove a gallstone, his spokesman said Friday.

The Dalai Lama was admitted to hospital in New Delhi early Friday.

The Dalai Lama will have a gallstone removed at a New Delhi hospital. (Associated Press)

At that time, spokesman Tenzin Taklha said he was being checked in for "further consultations with doctors." He did not say when the 73-year-old spiritual leader was admitted to hospital or give any details on his condition.

Later in the day, another spokesman, Chhime R. Chhoekyapa, said "a gallstone will be removed."

The Dalai Lama underwent a medical exam in the Indian capital two days ago, and was given the go-ahead to resume travel around the world. He was due to return Thursday to the northern Indian town of Dharamsala, where he has lived in exile since 1959.

It was not immediately clear what, if anything, changed between then and now.

In August, the Dalai Lama cancelled trips to Mexico and the Dominican Republic after doctors diagnosed him with exhaustion. He was admitted to a Mumbai hospital and underwent tests for abdominal discomfort before being released four days later.

Taklha in September said that the spiritual leader was in good condition but doctors had advised him to rest as much as possible.

The Dalai Lama usually spends several months a year travelling the world to teach Buddhism and raise awareness of the struggle Tibetans face as they lobby for greater freedom from China.

Tibetan Buddhists say the spiritual leader is the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. According to centuries-old tradition, monks search for the reincarnation of the lama after a spiritual leader's death.

With files from the Associated Press