PM Modi visits Nepal

Published on : Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Indian Prime Minister NarendraModi’s visit to Lumbini in Nepal on May 16 witnessed discussions regarding transnational Buddhist tourism circuit covering Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Besides increasingcollaboration in numerous areas including hydropower and connectivity, religious tourism features as a top priority. PM Modistressed on the mutualcivilizational and cultural heritage of the people of India and Nepal. This is PM Modi’s 5th visit to Nepal since 2014.

At Lumbini, the PM offeredhis prayers at the Mayadevi temple, which is the birth place of Gautam Buddha. In 2014, the PM had gifted a Bodhi tree sapling from Bodh Gaya to this temple during his visit that time. The Prime Minister took part in the Shilanyas (foundation laying) service of a Center for Buddhist Culture and Heritage.

PM Modi’s Nepal visit comes weeks after Nepal PM SherBahadurDeuba’svisit to New Delhi for wide-ranging bilateral talks.

Indian foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said that the Indian Prime Minister’s return visit truly reflects the nearness of the two country’s high-level exchanges along with themountingcourseof mutually favorable association.

Tourism constitutes the backbone of the Nepalese economy with religious tourism contributing a lot to the Nepalese tourism industry. Not only tourism has given riseto thousands of jobs, but it has also helpedexpand Nepalese culture, lifestyle and traditions.