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A new book titled ‘Kathmandu Chronicle: Reclaiming India-Nepal Relations’ will cover in depth significant aspects of Nepal’s democratic movements, its transition from an absolute monarchy to a federal democratic republic and from a Hindu state to a secular one, the Maoist insurgency, framing of a new constitution, its foreign policy choices, China expanding footprint—and most importantly India-Nepal relations.

Written  by K.V. Rajan, Former Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and  Former Ambassador to Nepal, and Atul K. Thakur, a renowned policy professional, columnist and writer, the book combines first-hand experience with deep research to throw new light on key events including the hijacking of IC 814,  the Palace Massacre that wiped out King Birendra and his entire family,  the coup by King Gyanendra against democracy, and explains why the much-vaunted India–Nepal ‘special relationship’ has repeatedly experienced setbacks, some of them with long-term implications.

Based on in depth analysis and new resource materials, ‘Kathmandu Chronicle: Reclaiming India–Nepal Relations’ is important not only in explaining the how's and why's of the past but because of its relevance to the geopolitical uncertainties of the post-COVID world, as India asserts its aspirations on the global stage and China and other major countries raise their own profiles in the region.

Both at the level of government as well as civil society, Nepal and India urgently need to come to terms with the past, understand comprehensively and objectively the unique challenges and opportunities offered by the present, and to ‘repurpose’ their relationship if it is to achieve its exceptional potential in the coming years.

K.V. Rajan, to date India's longest serving Ambassadors to Nepal and author of the book, said that “India and Nepal must learn from the past but not live in it. They can build a model cooperative relationship for the needs and expectations of tomorrow's generations, building on their unique common civilizational ties combined with new mindsets and innovative approaches.”

Atul K. Thakur, a long-time Nepal scholar, public intellectual and co-author, said, “Many books on Nepal and its relations with India have been written by scholars and foreign policy practitioners, Nepalese as well as Indian. Yet too many unanswered questions remain, about the how's and why's of the past, the depth and challenges of present trends, and prospects for the future, in an increasingly uncertain post-COVID world.

Premanka Goswami, Associate Publisher, Vintage & Head, Backlist, Penguin Random House India, said, “Historically and culturally, India and Nepal have shared special relationship. Nevertheless, this association has experienced ups and downs.  What are the reasons for these issues?  Why is there so much mutual distrust between two nations?  Kathmandu Chronicle by KV Rajan, India’s longest serving Ambassador to Nepal to date (1995 to 2000) and Atul K Thakur, brings to light many stories of India-Nepal relationship that mostly remained untold and therefore unknown till date. We’re glad to publish the book from Penguin.”  

Over 400, 000 tourists visited Mustang by road from April 14, 2023 to April 12, 2024, according to data with the Ghasa police station located on the transit point to Myagdi-Mustang.

The statistics show that 414, 280 domestic and foreign tourists visited Mustang during that period.

The number of domestic visitors entering Mustang via road is 335, 466, including 220, 724 men and 114, 742 women, said Deputy Superintendent Bhojraj Pandey, the Chief of the District Police Office Mustang.

Similarly, DSP Pandey said 78, 814 foreigners visited Mustang during that period. Among them, 72 thousand 756 are from the SAARC countries while 6058 are from countries other than the SAARC member states.

According to him, 38, 821 males and 33, 935 women from SAARC countries visited Mustang during the period. Similarly, 3,648 male and 2,410 female visitors from countries other than the SAARC member countries visited Mustang in the same period.

The data shows that 11, 484 tourists arrived in Mustang via air. Among them, 1,679 are domestic tourists (1,134 males and 545 female), 8,055 including 3,767 male and 4,288 females are from the SAARC countries and 1,750 visitors (886 male and 864 female) are from countries other than the SAARC member countries.

Known as the district beyond the Himalayas, Mustang is a prime tourism destination known for its iconic desert-like landscape. The bare mountains, Himalayan climate, culture and lifestyle, lakes, monasteries, Muktinath temple, caves are the attractions of Mustang.

Inflow of tourists to the religious and tourist places of Mustang including Muktinath, Jomsom, Kagbeni, Lomanthang, Marpha, Thini, Dhumba Lake has gradually started increasing since last year, according to local tourism entrepreneurs.

Chemical fertilizer imported from China is being transported to Kathmandu from Tatopani Customs Office.

The fertilizer, which was stored in a warehouse for the past 11 months, is being transported to Kathmandu after Trans Silk, the company getting contract to import fertilizer, completed the necessary process.

According to the Tatopani Customs Office, a total 3,500 tons of chemical fertilizer has been sent to Kathmandu after the agreement between Agriculture Materials Company and Trans Silk.

Chief of Tatopani Customs Office, Dayanand KC, said out of 3,500 tons of chemical fertilizer, more than 1,200 tonnes of fertilizer has reached Kathmandu so far.

The remaining amount of chemical fertilizer would reach Kathmandu soon. 

Three persons died and 52 others were injured in a bus accident at Dharawati in Piskar-2 of Sindhupalchowk on Friday.

According to DSP Niranjan Bhattarai of the District Police Office, Sindhupalchowk, the bus (Ba 4 Kha 5616) belonging to Rolwaling Yatayat was carrying wedding attendants from Dolakha when the tragedy occurred in Dharawati, Tripura Sundari Rural Municipality-5 at around 7 am today.

The injured have been taken to a hospital for treatment.