Mansarovar, China: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda,' who has been on an official visit to China since September 23, is set to depart from Mansarovar to Chengdu today. The Prime Minister is scheduled to take a flight from Ngari Gunsa Airport at Mansarovar to Lhasa Airport at 9:45 am local time and then proceed to Chengdu from Lhasa.

The Chengdu leg of the visit includes a visit to the Panda Breeding Centre. In the evening, Prime Minister Prachanda will meet with Wang Xiaohui, the Secretary of Communist Party of China (CPC), Sichuan Province Committee. A dinner reception in honor of Prime Minister Dahal will be hosted by Secretary Wang this evening.

During his stay in China, PM Prachanda visited Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake, significant Hindu pilgrimage sites. In Mansarovar, he stated that accessible arrangements will be made for pilgrims to visit these sites via Humla district in Nepal. An agreement in principle has been reached with the Chinese government for visitors and pilgrims, including Nepali, Indian, and other tourists, to travel through Humla to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar.

PM Prachanda expressed that despite the bumpy road from Simkot to Mansarovar Lake, the route offers advantages for Nepali and Indian visitors in terms of travel costs, distance, time, visa procedures, and more.

Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake hold great religious significance for Hindus. The visit to these holy shrines and the discussions with Chinese authorities mark a step toward facilitating pilgrimage travel through the Nepali route. Prime Minister Prachanda is expected to return home from Chengdu on Saturday.