On 23 August 2024, Ms. Siriporn Tantipanyathep, Consul-General of Thailand in Kolkata called on Shri Praveen Prakash, Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling to discuss ways to enhance relationship and cooperation between Thailand and Darjeeling. The meeting was also joined by Shri Ram Tamang, Additional District Magistrate. The Consul-General informed 5 purposes of her visit to Darjeeling; namely, (1) to organize the activity ‘Consul-General visits 60 Thai students who are studying in Darjeeling’; (2) to participate in the ‘Presentation Ceremony of 173 Phra Buddha Jayanti Sri Siam Buddha Statues’ to local Buddhist community in Darjeeling, demonstrating the importance of Buddhist ties in bringing the peoples of Thailand and Darjeeling closer to one another; (3) to organize a CSR activity titled ‘We Do Good by Heart’ by donating medical supplies to Darjeeling District Hospital to promote good relationship and to request the Hospital to take care of Thai monks and students in Darjeeling; (4) to organize another CSR activity by providing sportwear and school supplies for students at Kripasaran Buddhist Mission, Darjeeling; and (5) to organize an activity to commemorate ‘Thai Mother’s Day’ at the Thai temple in Darjeeling – Wat Thairachaduta 609 – with an aim to empower Thai community in Darjeeling by cultivating the sense of Thai cultural identity, unity, mutual assistance and patriotism among Thai students.       

The Consul-General requested the Darjeeling side to take care of Thai monks and students in Darjeeling, and proposed that the Darjeeling side consider the installment of signages to point the direction to the Thai Temple in Darjeeling, so that Thai tourists and local Indians can visit the temple more easily for worshipping and merit-making. The Darjeeling side agreed to the Consul-General’s proposal and also invited Thailand to take part in ‘Darjeeling Melotea Festival & Hill Marathon 2024’ during 18-22 December 2024. The Festival will offer prize money for the music band who win the performance competition and organize the Marathon at the end of the event.