Ahmedabad: President Ramnath Kovind today arrived here on a two day Gujarat visit which was his first trip to this western state after assuming the highest office in the country.

Kovind was welcomed at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport here by Governor O P Kohli, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and DyCM Nitin Patel, Speaker of assembly Ramanlal Vora and other ministers of the state. He was also given traditional guard of honour at the airport.

From the airport to he reached Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram in Ranip area here and took a traditional tour of the historic place which was observing the centenary of its foundation. Governor Kohli, CM Rupani and Dy CM Patel along with other dignitaries were also present on the occasion. Kovind garlanded the picture of Gandhiji and also did plantation in the ashram premises. He visited Hridya Kunj, the residence of Gandhiji in Ashram premises where students of school conducted by it recited popular bhajan of the legendary figure (Vaishnav Jan to Tene Re Kahiya). He also visited the archives of the ashram.

In the visitor book of the ashram he wrote his feelings on the occasion and termed his visit as a matter of ‘privilege’. The trustees of the Ashram presented him with replica of spinning wheel (Charkha) and a copy of Gandhiji’s autobiography.

After the Ashram’s visit Kovind flew to North Gujarat town of Mahesana by chopper. He is to attend the launch of various social welfare programmes there on the occasion of the 83rd birthday of eminent Jain Saint Acharya Padmasagarsuriji Maharaj who was observing Chaturmas there.

He would return to capital Gandhinagar for a night halt at Rajbhavan where he would also participate in a dinner with CM Rupani and other ministers.

Tomorrow at around 9 am, President Kovind would go to Rajkot to have Darshan in Ghela Somnath temple near Jasdan and also to lay foundation stone of Saurashtra Narmada Avataran Irrigation Yojana (SAUNI) Phase-II Link-4. SAUNI project, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims at filling 115 major dams by diverting overflow of water from the Sardar Sarovar Dam on Narmada river in Kevadiya in Central Gujarat. He would also address a meeting on the occasion. Governor, CM and DyCM were also remain present on the occasion.

President Kovind would fly back to Delhi from Rajkot airport after the event tomorrow