Here's how the visiting Indian Prime Minister's Nepal sojourn unfolds
KATHMANDU: Indian Prime Minister is arriving in Nepal on May 11 for a two-day official visit.
The Indian Prime Minister will begin his visit from Janakpur at early hours on May 11. Minister for Defence and Province 2 Chief Minister will receive the visiting PM at the Janakpur Airport.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will receive his Indian counterpart at the Janaki Mandir where the latter will offer prayers via the Shoshashopachar ritual for a brief while before the duo jointly inaugurate the Ramayan Circuit, a bus route connecting Janakpur (Sita's birthplace) to Ayodhya (Ram's birthplace).
Modi will then be offered a civic-reception in Janakpur where he is set to address the people gathered to welcome him. Leaders of parties representing the province have been invited to attend the programme. The provincial government, civil society and prominent leaders have been relentlessly working to make the much awaited Janakpur-visit 'a success'.
Following the reception, Modi will leave for Kathmandu where Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali will receive him at the Tribhuwan International Airport. He will then leave for the Hyatt Regency for lunch.
Minister for Foreign Affairs will hold bilateral talks will Modi following the lunch session at the Hotel.
He will then be escorted to the Sanik Manch (Army Pavilion) in Tundikhel where a Guard of Honour will be accorded to him.
The government recently changed the former system of offering Guard of Honour at the Airport itself and shifted the venue to the Sainik Manch.
Indian PM Modi, following the Tundikhel event, will call on Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun at Bahadur Bhawan and then President Bidya Devi Bhandari at the President's official residence, Sheetal Niwas.
Following the visit to the President, PM KP Sharma Oli will receive his counterpart at The Dwarika's Hotel in Battisputali for a delegation-level meeting.
The two will jointly lay the foundation stone for Arun III Hydropower Project in the evening following a series of official meetings. PM Oli and Indian PM Modi will then jointly address the media.
PM Oli is holding a reception in honour of his Indian counterpart to end the first day of the latter's state visit, Modi will then retire to Hyatt Regency after attending which.
On May 12, Modi will fly to Mustang district to offer prayers at the Muktinath temple. An addition to a series of likewise 'whirlwind' visits in the past by the Indian External Affairs Minister and then the Pakistani Prime Minister, this sojourn is being held, mostly, as a 'religious' one.
Modi will return to Kathmandu from, Muktinath valley and receive blessings from lord Pashupatinath. He will have lunch at the Hyatt Regency following the religious visit.
This will be followed by a series of political meetings where leaders from various parties will call on the visiting PM.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office will also offer civic reception in honour of Narendra Modi. The ceremony will be conducted at the City Hall in Bhrikutimandap where Modi is expected to arrive at around 3:15 pm.
On conclusion of all business, Modi will leave for New Delhi via Tribhuwan International Airport on the evening.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is yet to release an official itinerary on this visit. However, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali briefed the Parliament on the upcoming Nepal visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 9.