Santhei park : Hot destination for picnickers
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 12 2014 :
Santhei Natural Park of Andro is fast growing as a popular destination for local tourists and picnickers.
Santhei Natural Park is located at the foot of Baruni hills about 27 Kms away from Imphal to the East within the periphery of ancient Andro village.
The park has become a popular destination for local tourists as well as picnickers alike and a large number of people are visiting the park every day.
With dust-bins lined up along the road leading from Andro Bazar to the park, the whole area carries an aura of tidiness and orderliness.
The park is jointly run and managed by the Andro Western Baruni Road Youth Club and Andro Maringthel Sporting Club.
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For picnic parties who wish to cook and have meal inside the park, each party is charged Rs 200 .
For those who wish to take in and enjoy meals inside the park, each party is charged Rs 100 .
Left overs and waste materials left behind by picnic parties are cleaned thoroughly by volunteers of the park.
At the very entrance of the park, there are rows of food stalls.
Ornamental and decorative clay models made by Andro villagers are also sold at these stalls.
According to Andro Western Baruni Road Youth Club member Salam Nandakumar, the park was packed beyond its capacity on New Year's Day.
The park now earns Rs 6000/7000 per day on an average from entry tickets alone.
Not far away from the park, Panam Ningthou Garden is being developed to provide a new place of rest and recreation to local tourists.
The Santhei Natural Park, Kaina temple and the Andro Living Museum now combine together as a tourism package, much to the convenience of local tourists.