Kathmandu: The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, is set to visit Nepal in four days.

Secretary-General Guterres is scheduled to embark on a four-day visit to Nepal from the upcoming Friday through Monday (October 14-17).

Despite the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict creating a tense situation, Nepali government officials are confident about his visit.

“Though the Israel-Hamas conflict is a concerning situation, it won’t deter his visit. We are preparing for it,” said an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to ministry sources, Secretary-General Guterres will arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport on Friday afternoon and depart from Nepal on Monday morning. He will reach Kathmandu through regular international flights.

Although plans were made for a three-destination tour, there is a possibility that he might visit only two of them.

Schedule to visit Lumbini and Pokhara

First and second Secretary-Generals, Trygve Lie and Dag Hammarskjöld, respectively, have previously visited Nepal. All Secretaries-General share one common aspect: they visit Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, during their trips to Nepal.

The United Nations is a global institution established for peace, and its connection to education related to Buddhism has prompted the tradition of visiting Lumbini.

Regarding his visit to Nepal, Secretary-General Guterres is also scheduled to visit Pokhara, a popular tourist city. Previous Secretaries-General have generally opted for this destination, despite occasional variations.

Mount Everest Observation by Mountain Flight:

Amid global concerns about climate change and its significant impact on the Himalayan region, Nepal has been prioritizing the issue on international platforms. During his visit to Nepal, Secretary-General Guterres is also planning to observe the Himalayan region.

According to sources, the Secretary-General has expressed a desire to observe the majestic Himalayan mountains from a mountain flight.

“According to the current plan, he will even go as far as Kalapatthar, which provides a close-up view of Mount Everest,” the source said. “He is very interested in it.”

The Secretary-General was planning to visit Kalapatthar, but the plan has been put on hold due to adverse weather conditions. The flight was originally intended to coincide with cold weather, making the viewing even more impactful.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has extended an invitation to Secretary-General Guterres for his visit to Nepal. During the UN General Assembly and previous meetings, Prime Minister Prachanda had invited him to visit Nepal.