New Delhi : India will roll out the red carpet for the Bhutanese royal couple – King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk and Jetsun Pema – on their honeymoon. Their marriage is scheduled for Thursday.

The 31-year-old monarch and Pema, 10 years his junior, will arrive here on October 23. The couple will stay here till November 1. The Bhutanese royals will take a trip across Rajasthan on a special train arranged by the Indian government.

The young monarch shares a deep bond with India and Pema, too, studied at Lawrence School, Sanawar, in Himachal Pradesh and at St Joseph’s Convent in Kalimpong, West Bengal.

Following his meetings with the political leadership including the PM, key ministers and senior officials on October 24, the royal delegation will leave for Rajasthan the next day via the special train. It is likely that the train will be designed on the lines of the famous Palace on Wheels.

While names of the destinations in Rajasthan that the young monarch will visit are being kept under wraps by the two sides, it is understood that the royal entourage will touch key tourist spots and areas of interest in the desert state.

Namgyel is no stranger to Rajasthan as he travelled to Ranthambore in October 2010 and was mesmerised by the nature and wildlife there.

During that trip, the monarch had also travelled to the Doon Valley for delivering an address at the Platinum Jubilee Celebration of the Doon School. Days before that Namgyel delivered convocation address at the historic Calcutta University. Though the King had received similar requests from Oxford and Harvard universities – where he had studied – Namgyel chose Calcutta.

As many as 12 agreements were inked between India and Bhutan during the monarch’s 2010 visit, following his coronation.

While the upcoming visit of the National Defence Collegeeducated monarch may not see signing of any formal accords for treaties, yet it has tremendous significance for the two countries.

That the royal couple is visiting India within ten days of their marriage speaks volumes of the warmth in the bilateral ties, official sources explained. This gesture by India to host Namgyel and Pema shows the close relationship between the two sides. It would further cement ties which has been a model of bilateral cooperation in South Asia, the source noted.

The marriage, to be solemnised on Thursday in a 17thcentury fort nestled in the mountains in the ancient Bhutanese capital of Punakha, will essentially be a low-key affair and will be attended by close friends of the King.

Jigme Khesar is the oldest son of Jigme Singye and his third wife, Queen Ashi Tshering Yangdon.