Bhutan King begins 3-day visit to Assam, offers prayer at Kamakhya Temple

The King and his entourage will leave for the Kaziranga National Park, famed for its one-horned rhino, on November 4 where he will take a safari.

Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk on November 3 began his maiden three-day tour to Assam with a visit to the famed Kamakhya Temple atop the Nilachal Hills in Guwahati.

Earlier in the day, the 43-year-old King of the neighbouring Himalayan country arrived at the Lokpriya Gopinath International Airport in Guwahati and was received by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, his Cabinet colleagues and State government officials.

Mr. Sarma welcomed the King with the traditional Assamese 'Gamosa' (hand towel). The royal visitor greeted the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues with folded hands.

From the airport, the King went to the Kamakhya Temple where he was received by priests, Assam Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah, senior officials of the State and the Kamrup Metro district administration.

The King, draped with a traditional Buddhist yellow robe, prayed at the 'garbhagriha' (sanctum sanctorum) and did 'parikrama' (circumambulation) of the temple, besides lighting earthen lamps in obeisance to the Goddess, the temple Bor-Doloi (head priest) Kabindra Prasad Sarma told PTI.

The King also assured the temple priests that he would visit the place of worship again with his family in the future, he said.

The authorities presented a replica of the Kamakhya Temple to the royal visitor.