Ambassadors from Various Countries Enjoying Kanyam for promoting Tourism

Prem Adhikari / Ilam : On the occasion of Nepali New Year 2082, ambassadors from various countries to Nepal have arrived at Suryodaya Municipality in Ilam. As part of an informal visit organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nepal Tourism Board, and coordinated by Suryodaya Municipality, ambassadors from 15 countries have come to the municipality.

Led by Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, over 45 high-level officials — including Secretary of the Ministry Amrit Rai, staff from the ministry and the tourism board, and ambassadors — arrived in Kanyam on Sunday.

The municipality welcomed them in Kanyam and took them to Antu. In Kanyam, Foreign Minister Dr. Rana and the ambassadors were greeted with a traditional panche baja (a set of traditional Nepali musical instruments). On this occasion, the ambassadors, adorned in traditional attire representing different ethnic groups, took a horse ride up to Kanyam’s Labdanda. Dressed in ethnic costumes, the ambassadors also toured around Kanyam. After the welcome event, they were accommodated in Antu on Sunday.

According to Mayor Ran Bahadur Rai of Suryodaya Municipality, this year’s program in Kanyam and Antu was arranged as part of the ministry’s annual initiative to take ambassadors based in Nepal to new tourist destinations on the occasion of the New Year.

On the occasion of New Year 2082, there is a program in Antu to view the sunrise. The ambassadors will also experience traditional dances such as Rai, Lepcha, Newar, Sakela, and Jhankri. They will get to experience tea picking in Antu, fishing in Antu Pokhari (pond), taste cardamom, and sample different varieties of tea produced in Ilam.

According to the municipality’s Chief Administrative Officer Amrit Bahadur Rai, ambassadors from Egypt, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Thailand, Australia, France, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and ICIMOD are scheduled to attend the event.

Mayor Ran Bahadur Rai stated that the visit of the ambassadors would help further promote Antu and Kanyam, which already attract a high number of domestic and international tourists throughout the year. The municipality has clarified that the ambassadors’ visit is informal in nature.