Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set for a significant three-day visit to Gujarat, commencing on January 10, 2026, which will be highlighted by a crucial diplomatic meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Ahmedabad. This high-level engagement underscores India's strategic outreach to Europe amidst evolving global trade dynamics.
Diplomatic Engagement and Strategic Partnership in Focus
The centerpiece of the visit will be the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merz on January 12 in Ahmedabad. This marks Chancellor Merz's first official visit to India, with his itinerary also including a stop in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The talks are strategically timed as India seeks to deepen its engagement with European partners.
The discussions are expected to comprehensively review the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs, the leaders will assess progress and explore ways to intensify cooperation across multiple sectors. Key areas on the agenda include trade and investment, technology collaboration, education, skilling, and mobility. The dialogue will also advance partnership in critical domains such as defence and security, scientific innovation and research, green and sustainable development initiatives, and fostering stronger people-to-people ties.
PM Modi's Packed Gujarat Itinerary: From Somnath to Rajkot
Prime Minister Modi's visit begins on January 10 with his arrival in Somnath. Here, he will participate in the grand Somnath Swabhiman Parv, a four-day event (January 8-11) organized to commemorate two pivotal historical moments: 1,000 years since the first attack on the Somnath temple by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026, and 75 years of the temple's restoration in 1951. Gujarat Minister Jitu Vaghani described the event as a symbol of India's unbreakable cultural faith and self-esteem.
On January 11, the Prime Minister will offer prayers at the Somnath temple, pay floral tributes to a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and join a grand roadshow and a Shaurya Yatra featuring 108 horses to honor those who defended the temple. He will address a public meeting, delivering a message of cultural unity. The Swabhiman Parv boasts several attractions, including a drone show by 3,000 drones depicting Somnath's history, continuous mantra recitation by 2,500 youths for 72 hours, and cultural programs on 20 grand stages.
Later on January 11, PM Modi will travel to Rajkot to inaugurate the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Summit for the Saurashtra-Kutch region at Marwadi University. This regional conference is part of the Gujarat government's new initiative to decentralize the flagship Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, with the first regional summit for north Gujarat held in Mehsana in October.
Ahmedabad Events: Kite Festival, Metro, and Gandhi Ashram Visit
The final day of the visit, January 12, will be action-packed in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. Alongside the meeting with Chancellor Merz, PM Modi is likely to inaugurate the International Kite Festival at the Sabarmati Riverfront. Sources also indicate that the Prime Minister and the German Chancellor may visit the historic Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram together, highlighting shared values.
Furthermore, on the same day, PM Modi is expected to inaugurate the new Metro route connecting New Secretariat and Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, a significant infrastructure boost for the capital region. In preparation for the high-profile visits, renovation work was visibly underway at the Mahatma Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad as recently as January 7.
The Gujarat government has made extensive arrangements to facilitate public participation in the Somnath events, organizing special trains from Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara on January 8, 9, and 10, alongside provisions for boarding, lodging, and temple visits for thousands of attendees, including sadhus and saints from across the nation.
