PM Modi inaugurates 400-bed Nepal-Bharat Maitri Pashupati Dharamshala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart K P Sharma Oli today jointly inaugurated a 400-bed Nepal-Bharat Maitri Pashupati Dharamshala - a rest house for pilgrims - build with the Indian assistance in Kathmandu.

"I am glad to inaugurate the Nepal-Bharat Maitri Pashupati Dharamshala in Kathmandu," Prime Minister Modi said as he handed over the rest house to the Pashupati Area Development Trust.

The Dharmashala has provision for family rooms, kitchen, dining hall, library and some multipurpose halls to meet the requirements of the travellers and families on pilgrimage to Pashupatinath Temple - located on the banks of the Bagmati River.


The three storied Dharamshala has 82 rooms with 400 beds and is equipped with all modern facilities.

Pashupatinath temple attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims from both Nepal and India annually.

"This is not just a building...The Nepal-Bharat Maitri Pashupati Dharamshala will remind the visitors about the friendship of the two neighbours," Modi told a gathering, amid applause.

"People-to-people relation is more important than government-to-government relation between Nepal and India, and the Dharamshala will help in strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries," Modi said.

He said it will help in boosting religious tourism in Nepal.

He also hailed the Nepal Government's decision to publish in Nepali language the poems of late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"I thank Prime Minister Oli and the Nepal Government for this touching gesture," Modi said.

He said the Buddhism teaches how to successfully confront the challenges of extremism and terrorism.

Modi also lauded the political stability in Nepal, saying the government in Kathmandu is working for the welfare of the Nepalese people.

Oli said, "The construction of the Dharamshala with Indian assistance reflects our commitment to further strengthening the bilateral ties."

He expressed hope that Modi will come to Nepal again soon to visit Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha.