NEW DELHI, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Nepal to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in Kathmandu to be held on Nov. 26 and 27, but he will not go to other Hindu and Buddhist historical sites because of heavy schedules at home, said Indian government Sunday.
Modi formerly planned to visit Janakpur, Lumbini and Muktinath, key historical and cultural sites of Nepal, to highlight civilizational ties between the two countries.
The External Affairs Ministry said due to Modi's "unavoidable domestic commitments and pre-scheduled travels within" India, he will stay in Kathmandu for the summit only.
The three places he had specifically desired to go were Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, as well as Janakpur and Muktinath, which both Hindus and Buddhists hold as sacred, according to the spokesman.
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