Laikonpat attracts visitors
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 9 : Laikonpat, located at Khonghampat Awang Leikai in Imphal West, has become a popular destination for local tourists due to the widespread blooming of lotus plants in the water body.
Laikonpat covers an area of around seven paris (a local unit of land measurement)
Speaking to The Sangai Express, Yumlembam Japan, assistant secretary of the Laikonpat Fish Culture Cooperative Society (LFCCS) said that a large number of visitors have been flocking to the site to admire the blooming lotus flowers and enjoy eating fox nuts (thamchet).
Saying that lotus plants have been growing naturally at Laikonpat since the time of their forefathers, he added that the LFCCS was formed to protect and preserve the water body.
He said that the number of visitors to the water body has increased significantly over the past five years.
The Society charges an entry fee of Rs 20 per person and allows visitors to view the blooming lotus from 9 am to 5 pm, he further said.
According to him, the number of visitors is higher on holidays.
Saying that the Society earns around Rs 20,000 per month from ticket sales, Japan added that a woman from Thanga regularly purchases lotus stalks from them to make lotus fibre thread.
The Society, which currently has around 600 members, allots the rights to cultivate lotus plants or rear fish through an auction process among its members and the successful bidders are granted these rights for a period of five years, he said.
Saying that two rounds of auction have been conducted so far, he added that the current rights holders secured the rights to cultivate lotus plants and rear fish by paying Rs 7.10 lakh through the auction.
Further stating that many people visit Laikonpat to buy lotus flowers, lotus leaves and fox nuts for religious purposes as well as for resale in local markets, he said that lotus leaves are sold at Re 1 each, while fox nuts are priced at Rs 10 per piece.
He added that bulk buyers who purchase directly from the site are offered fox nuts at a discounted rate of Rs 7 per piece.
Lotus flowers meant for offering to deities are often given free of cost, he said and added that traders, however, are charged Rs 10 for every eight lotus flowers.
Both white and red varieties of lotus are grown in the water body, he said.
Saying that lotus plants flourish till June or July, he added that their numbers begin to decline from August to September.
IMPHAL, Jul 9 : Laikonpat, located at Khonghampat Awang Leikai in Imphal West, has become a popular destination for local tourists due to the widespread blooming of lotus plants in the water body.
Laikonpat covers an area of around seven paris (a local unit of land measurement)
Speaking to The Sangai Express, Yumlembam Japan, assistant secretary of the Laikonpat Fish Culture Cooperative Society (LFCCS) said that a large number of visitors have been flocking to the site to admire the blooming lotus flowers and enjoy eating fox nuts (thamchet).
Saying that lotus plants have been growing naturally at Laikonpat since the time of their forefathers, he added that the LFCCS was formed to protect and preserve the water body.
He said that the number of visitors to the water body has increased significantly over the past five years.
The Society charges an entry fee of Rs 20 per person and allows visitors to view the blooming lotus from 9 am to 5 pm, he further said.
According to him, the number of visitors is higher on holidays.
Saying that the Society earns around Rs 20,000 per month from ticket sales, Japan added that a woman from Thanga regularly purchases lotus stalks from them to make lotus fibre thread.
The Society, which currently has around 600 members, allots the rights to cultivate lotus plants or rear fish through an auction process among its members and the successful bidders are granted these rights for a period of five years, he said.
Saying that two rounds of auction have been conducted so far, he added that the current rights holders secured the rights to cultivate lotus plants and rear fish by paying Rs 7.10 lakh through the auction.
Further stating that many people visit Laikonpat to buy lotus flowers, lotus leaves and fox nuts for religious purposes as well as for resale in local markets, he said that lotus leaves are sold at Re 1 each, while fox nuts are priced at Rs 10 per piece.
He added that bulk buyers who purchase directly from the site are offered fox nuts at a discounted rate of Rs 7 per piece.
Lotus flowers meant for offering to deities are often given free of cost, he said and added that traders, however, are charged Rs 10 for every eight lotus flowers.
Both white and red varieties of lotus are grown in the water body, he said.
Saying that lotus plants flourish till June or July, he added that their numbers begin to decline from August to September.