Seven feet three inches tall Rajan Adhikari, 28, the tallest person in Nepal, and Chitra Poudel, 24, who travelled 1800 kilometres by bicycle in Nepal, came to Dhaka on a four-day visit last Thursday after their visits to India and Pakistan.

Talking to The Daily Star at the Nepalese Embassy in the city, the world-travellers, born at the same village of Bayarban in Morang city, yesterday revealed their next tour plan to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore.

"This is the plan we want to complete in the first phase, but gradually we shall travel the whole world for spreading the message of peace and love in a world suffering from violence, intolerance and hatred," said Chitra.

Rajan Adhikary, the tallest person after the Chinese-born Bao Xishun (7 feet 9 inches) in the Guinness Book, started growing tall surprisingly at the age of ten.

"Many called me 'bamboo' and looked at me differently. I felt uneasy, but nothing was to do with the God-gifted height," Rajan said. His growth stopped at 25 following a hormonal surgery in India.

"Travelling by bus is not a problem for me, but I have to sit at the back seat," said Rajan, who travelled to Dhaka following visits to Nepal, India and Pakistan by bus and train.

Proud father of two kids, Rajan now works as a brand ambassador for Om Distillery (Pvt) Limited in Kathmandu, and along with Chitra, run 'Rajan Adhikari Foundation' that takes care of people with abnormal characteristics in Nepal.

Winner of National Award of Nepal for being the tallest person in Nepal, Rajan, the only son of his parents completed his secondary education in 2001 and started working at Om Distillery for earning, as his parents died.

"I have to make everything I use with special order," he said, adding his shoe size is 17 centimetres. "I sometimes used to be very embarrassed when people looked at me differently and make comments, but now I got used to it."

"I rather now think it is a special gift of God that I can use for spreading the message of love and peace," said Rajan, who is very fond of volleyball.

Asked how they got the idea of travelling around the world, Chitra said, "We are from the same village in Nepal and two of us have a nationwide identity his for being the tallest and mine for being a cyclist with a limped leg. So, we thought we can utilise it."

It is the polio that made his leg limped, but this disability could not stop him from his eagerness for knowledge. He studied up to XII class and always reads the books of wisdom that inspired him to be a cyclist.

"With my relentless practice I can now cross miles after miles that inspired me to travel the world for love and peace," Chitra said.

Chitra said awareness about HIV/AIDS, narcotic drugs, child labour and disability will be highlighted in their visits.

The two youths, who are scheduled to meet the officials of the ministries of foreign affairs and tourism today, will handover two crests inked "World Peace And Love". They planned to do the same in every country.

The Nepalese government, Nepalese Airlines and some private companies are sponsoring their tour, Chitra said.