Yangon (Myanmar), Feb. 8 : Vice President M. Hamid Ansari paid a visit to the mausoleum of former Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar here on Saturday.

Acknowledging Zafar's contribution to India''s first war of independence in 1857, Ansari said: "Bahudar Shah Zafar occupies a place in our history and played a prominent role in the First War of Independence in 1857 and every citizen in the country (India) knows about it. It is a matter of great regret that he had to spend the last days of his life away from his own country."

Ansari is on a four-day official visit to Myanmar.