The SAARC Car Rally completed its first week today with a flag off at Gelephu on the India-Bhutan border by the Governor of the Sarpang district of Bhutan. Soon thereafter, the Rally entered India at Hathisar in Assam to a very warm welcome by the local administration, from where it proceeded to the Bongaigaon Refinery. The Rally reached Guwahati in the early afternoon for the first stop-over on the second India leg of its journey.

The Rally was flagged off at Thimphu a day earlier by H.E. Lynpo Khandu Wangchuk, Prime Minister of Bhutan. The Prime Minister, while addressing the Rally participants and hundreds of schoolchildren, media persons and local residents, stressed on the importance of friendship, partnership and solidarity among the SAARC nations and that people-to-people contact was the best way to achieve this. He exhorted the participating rallyists to not only enjoy the hospitality and welcome in each country, but also strive towards achieving the Rally objectives of promoting friendship, harmony, peace and trade among the SAARC countries.

Enroute to the 280 kms from Thimphu to Gelephu, the Rally halted at the Dochula viewpoint, where it was greeted by Chencho Tshering, Governor of Thimphu. The monument at Dochula was built to commemorate the victory of the Bhutanese forces, led by the then King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, over Bodo and ULFA infiltrators in an operation to flush out the infiltrators in December 2003.

With stopovers at Kamichu and Tsirang, where the rallyists were welcomed by Governors of the respective districts, the rally drove past the Punakha fort, the erstwhile winter capital of the Bhutanese government, built at the confluence of two rivers. It reached Gelephu to a welcome by Tenzin Thinlay, the Sub District Administrator, and a colourful cultural programme by the local schoolchildren.

Sourced From: Confederation of Indian Industry