Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban with the autorickshaw drivers of Kochi in Kerala.
Credit: Facebook/Saleem Ibn Majeed
Thiruvananthapuram: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is on a vacation in Kerala since last week.
A strictly private vacation with his wife and two daughters, the PM's visit has received much attention as he took an autorickshaw, also known as 'tuk-tuk', ride at Fort Kochi the other day for sightseeing - a picture of which has gone viral on social media.
Being accompanied by a Keralite running an Ayurveda centre in Hungary, Orban's visit also triggered rumours about his health.
However, Orban himself dismissed the rumours in an exclusive conversation with a Hungarian media Blikk. "I'm healthy as a rock," he said as reported by the publication.
There were reports that his wife is undergoing Ayurveda therapy at a luxury resort in Alappuzha.
Orban also said that he was visiting Kochi as Vasco da Gama, whom he loved as a favourite explorer, died in Kochi.
He also said that another reason for opting India for vacation was that India's economy is on the verge of explosive development.
To a query if he would recommend India to others for recreation, he told Blikk, "India is not known for being a tourist paradise. If you want luxury, go to an Austrian ski resort or the Bahamas. If you are interested in culture, come to India!"
Orban and family visited the famed Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja temple in Alappuzha district the other day where serpents are worshiped.
Alappuzha backwaters, Thekkady wildlife sanctuary and Munnar in Idukki are learnt to be in his itinerary. He is scheduled to leave Kerala by January 16.
Incidentally, Orban's long vacation in Kerala is also happening just ahead of his known friend Donald Trump gearing up for another term as US President.
Even as Kerala government officials said that the Hungarian Prime Minister's visit is strictly private and no sorts of official discussions are involved, no surprise if the Kerala tourism industry try to make use of Orban's visit for its promotion.