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While the Saarc leaders conferred on regional matters at the tourist resort of Dhulikhel, the first ladies drove to the World Heritage Site of Bhaktapur, near Kathmandu, to enjoy the sights of the ancient city. |
The three Saarc first ladies who came to the Bhaktapur tour were Pakistan’s Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif, the wife of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and Maldives’ Fathima Ibrahim, the wife of President Abdulla Yameen and Sujata Koirala, Nepali Congress leader.
They were joined by the Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi Foreign Ministers’ spouses, Sabitri Neham Peiris and Shaheen Ali, respectively.
They were accompanied by joint secretary in the Nepal’s ministry of foreign affairs, Ambika Devi Luitel Koirala, who is Prime Minister Sushil Koirala’s niece.
The women took a stroll around Bhaktapur’s Durbar Square, a landmark in the city believed to be built during the Medieval period (12th to 15th century).
They also visited an Art Museum situated in the Durbar Square itself.
There was a small exhibition organised by Bhaktapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry in view of their visit, showing the traditional handmade items like woodcraft and clothes.
They were drawn to the hand-made pashmina and the traditional handloom items at the exhibition.
The VVIP guests also walked to the five-story Taumadi
Temple.
An official from the Department of Archaeology accompanying them explained about the historical importance of the site.
They stopped by a Nyatapol Cafe, a cafe that is built in the temple styled building.
The first ladies also saw a cultural dance being performed in Dabali, open stage.
According to the cafe owner, Shyamsundar Dhaubhadel, the VVIP guests only had tea/coffee and cookies. “The Ladies seemed to bond over tea/coffee,” he said.
“They were more interested in the cultural dance show Devi Pyakha that was being held while they stopped by the café,” he added. “They would ask me in between the dance what it was as the dance described the co-existence between the God/Goddesses and their creations, birds and animals,” he told the daily.
The locals were prevented from getting near the personalities but they watched curiously from afar.
