Foundation stone for a guest house at Shirui peak
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 10 2011: In a move to boost up Tourism industry Manipur,a foundation stone of a new Guest house was laid close to the Shirui peak,about 100 km north of Imphal in Manipur's Ukhrul district by state works minister Kangngujam Ranjit on Tuesday morning.

The new guest -house will be dedicated to the visitors who come to see the state flower "Shirui Lily" and its majestic peak which is expected to be constructed at the cost of 1.5 crores.Shirui peak has more than 100 different varieties of wild flowers.

After unveiling of the foundation stone of guest house half a kilometer from the National Highway 150, Minister Ranjit said that the plain the hill people who have been living together for more than 2000 years need a peaceful co-existence.

The story of valley-hill brotherhood is far more older than the present conversion of Christianity, some 150 years ago.

A cultural troupe at the foundation lying ceremony of Shirui guest house in Ukhrul

He further added that though he had been extensively traveling in most part of the district it was his first time in Shirui village and that it deserve real consideration for the significant it play in the topography of the district.

Work minister also announceed two development projects including road connection from the main road to the peak as well as black topping to the 4 km stretch from zero point up to the middle peak via Sarikan to Pinbai via Ngapakong to Raimaka.

Principal secretary (works) Ram Muivah,the man behind such development activities in Ukhrul said that Shirui Lily deserve good attention from everyone as this flower have give a name in the flower-map of the world in terms of its uniqueness and beauty when it was first recognized and given a golden award at the Botanical Flower exhibition in the year 1950 which was discovered and brought by the plain hunder Captain Kindomward from the Shirui Mountain an represented in the name of his wife Miclliean Lily.

According to headman of the Shirui Chingkha, Ngatasngkhui,though the world most exquisite and magnificent flower called the modest Shirui 'Lily' has been known and acknowledged by everyone--the same has been neglected for long to give its due respect and honors by the state government being the 'state flower'.

Earlier one Ms Phylazan Shang on behalf of all the villagers clarified the mistake of naming the village as 'SHIROI '(in the stone) instead of 'SHIRUI 'saying that the frequent misspelling of the village name in more than many occasion is a reason to be worried and that it need immediate acknowledgement from the concern, she said.

The state works department Chief Engineer DC Ukhrul and other officials of electricity besides the Pastors ,village headmen attended the day's inaugural function.