KATHMANDU, May 11: Former King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah is currently visiting India with his family. It is understood that the former royal family went to India at the invitation of Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh.

According to sources, Adityanath had invited former King Shah and the royal family for a 'state visit' as a monarch. Accordingly, the former King, the former Queen Komal, the former Princess Himani, the former Queen Mother Ratna Rajya Lakshmi Shah and the former Princess Prerana went to India on May 5. Former Prince Paras was not in the tour team.

Phaniraj Pathak, the personal secretary of the former king, said that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath had a meeting with the former royal family Wednesday afternoon. He said that the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh’s capital. Pathak, however,  expressed ignorance about what figured in the conversation.

Sources from the former royal institution said that this visit is political. While the monarchist forces are trying to mobilize for the restoration of the monarchy in Nepal, the former king himself is also trying to gather international support. This is the former King’s second visit to India in two months. Earlier, he visited India with his wife last February.

No information has been given on how many days the former royal family will stay in India. The former King will be present at a civic felicitation to be organized in Dhangadhi on May 20.