Indias New Ambassador to Nepal Meets with Officials to Strengthen Bilateral Ties
Indias new ambassador to Nepal, Sudhakar Dalela, discusses tourism and infrastructure collaboration with Nepalese ministers in Kathmandu.
Kathmandu, November 13 (Daily Kiran) : Sudhakar Dalela, India’s newly appointed ambassador to Nepal, met with key Nepalese officials on Friday in Kathmandu. The discussions included the Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Khadka Raj Poudel, as well as the Minister for Infrastructure Development, Sunil Lamsal, and the Foreign Secretary.
The meeting comes as preparations are underway for Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s upcoming visit to New Delhi. Both sides explored ways to enhance cooperation in tourism, aviation, and infrastructure. They specifically discussed developing a joint Buddhist and Ramayana tourism circuit and improving air connectivity by linking Nepal’s international airports with major Indian cities through regular commercial flights.
India and Nepal share a rich cultural heritage rooted in Buddhism and the Ramayana. Lumbini, located in Nepal, is recognized as the birthplace of Lord Buddha, while Bodh Gaya in Bihar, India, is where he attained enlightenment. Additionally, Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh is noted for being the site of his Mahaparinirvana.
The two countries are also working on establishing a special train service connecting Janakpur and Ayodhya. Earlier this month, India conducted a trial run for the proposed Ayodhya-Janakpur rail service, a significant step towards direct rail connectivity between these two important religious cities.
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation reported that both nations discussed joint tourism promotion efforts and the development of the Buddhist and Ramayana tourism circuits. This initiative aims to enhance their shared religious and cultural heritage and strengthen ties between their peoples.
Poudel emphasized the need for regular commercial flights connecting Pokhara International Airport and Gautam Buddha International Airport with major Indian cities. Nepal has long sought additional air entry routes from India to increase the utility of its international airports and attract more international tourists. He also called for enhanced bilateral cooperation in aviation safety and technical capacity building.
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu shared on social media that the meeting between Dalela and Poudel yielded meaningful discussions on connectivity, people-to-people relations, and tourism promotion. The embassy reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the close friendship and cooperation between India and Nepal.
Dalela also held a separate meeting with Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal, focusing on deepening bilateral cooperation in infrastructure development and connectivity.
In another meeting with Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, the two sides discussed various aspects of cooperation and strategies to reinforce their relationship. The Nepalese Foreign Ministry stated that both parties exchanged views on multiple issues concerning Nepal-India relations, seeking further collaboration for mutual benefit.
Sudhakar Dalela presented his credentials to Nepalese President Ram Chandra Paudel on November 6, officially taking up his role as India’s ambassador to Nepal.
