300 indigenous varieties of orchids well preserved in State
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 01 2013 :
More than 300 indigenous varieties of orchids are well preserved at the State Orchidarium (Orchid Preservation Centre) located at Khonghampat in Imphal West district.
The Orchid Preservation Centre which is functioning under the State Forest Department harbours many indigenous varieties of orchids.
The Centre was established way back in 1976 in an area expanding up to 50 hectares.
Different varieties of orchids are collected from different hill areas of the State and they are planted and preserved at the State Orchidarium.
Visitors were not allowed to enter at the Centre in the initial years of its establishment.
However, the forest authorities have started allowing visitors by charging fee since 2012 .
Large number of visitors including students and researchers thronged at the Centre everyday to see different varieties of orchids including local varieties of Khonggun Melei and Kwak Lei.