While the Saarc leaders conferred on regional matters at the tourist resort of Dhulikhel, their wives drove to the World Heritage Site of Bhaktapur to enjoy the sights of the ancient city.
The three Saarc leaders’ wives who came to Bhaktapur tour were Pakistan’s Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif, wife of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif; Maldives’ Fathima Ibrahim, wife of President Abdulla Yameen, and Sujata Koirala, wife of Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala.
They were joined by the Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi Foreign Ministers’ spouses, Sabitri Neham Peiris and Shaheen Ali, respectively, the Himalayan Times said.
They were accompanied by a joint secretary in Nepal’s foreign affairs ministry, Ambika Devi Luitel Koirala, who is also 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 the Bhaktapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry in view of their visit, showing 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-storeyed Taumadi Temple.
An official from the archaeology department accompanying them explained about the historical importance of the site.
They stopped by a Nyatapol Cafe, built in the temple style.
The VVIPs also saw a cultural dance being performed in the ‘Dabali’, an open stage.
According to cafe owner Shyamsundar Dhaubhadel, the VVIP guests only had tea/coffee and cookies.
“The ladies seemed to bond over tea/coffee,” he told Himalayan Times.
“They were more interested in the cultural dance show ‘Devi Pyakha’ that was being held while they stopped by the cafe.
“They would ask me in between the dance what it was, as the dance described the co-existence between the gods/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 far.
(IANS)