Indian President Pranab Mukherjee reaches Nepal on three-day state visit

The Indian President is on a three-day state visit to the Himalayan kingdom at the invitation of the President of Nepal Right Bidhya Devi Bhandari.

On Wednesday, Vice President, M. Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister, Narendra Modi met the President and bid him farewell at Rashtrapati Bhavan n New Delhi.

This would be the first visit by a President of India to Nepal in 18 years.

This visit is also the first visit by any head of state to Nepal after it became republic in 2008, said the Sudhakar Dalela, Jt. Secretary (North), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)..

According to the MEA, there would be calls by the Vice President of Nepal, Prime Minister and other dignitaries on Wednesday followed by a meeting between the presidents of both countries.

President of Nepal will be hosting a banquet in the honor of of the Indian President on Wednesday.

Thereafter, President Pranab Mukherjee will be attending a civic reception in Kathmandu and addressing a think tank event in the afternoon.

Prime Minister of Nepal will be hosting a banquet in honor of the Indian president on Thursday.

Kathmandu University will be conferring an honorary doctorate on President Pranab Mukherhjee at a special convocation.

Apart from Kathmandu, Pranab Mukherjee will be visiting Pokhra as well as the ancient city of Janakpur and during his visit he will be visiting sites of historical and cultural significance.

The President of India will be travelling back to India in the afternoon of Nov 4.

Image: PIB