Manipur: Emerging tourist destination Naamai Zho to host Cosmos flower festival from Oct. 8

Our Correspondent

Koide village, Oct. 6 (EMN): With the arrival of the festive season, people from different places including Nagaland have been flocking to Naamai Zho, one of the picturesque landscapes in Northeast, to witness the blooming of cosmos, a seasonal flower, as well as its serene biodiversity.

Naamai Zho, an emerging tourist destination located at Koide village in Manipur’s Senapati district, is one such beautiful tourist destination for the nature-loving people.

The picturesque spot is located about 90 km north of Manipur’s state capital Imphal and about 60 km south of Nagaland’s capital Kohima and lies on the bank of state’s biggest river- Barak which passes through the green and pristine valley of the hill district.

A young lady from Kohima who made his debut visit to Naamai Zho expressed her joy in seeking the beautiful landscape. Fascinated by the picturesque landscapes, the lady who had come with her friends said that one must visit the place while expressing, “Taking pictures with a camera is not enough here”. 

According to President of Naamai Ecotourism society of Koide village Mathew Nakhu, Naamai Zho, means ‘a leisure place’ where village elders used to come and take rest since time immemorial.

He said, during the nationwide lockdown to prevent further spread of COVID-19 pandemic, the villagers of Koide, particularly the womenfolk, started the beautification activities of Naamai Zho.

‘Naamai means Koide people, Zho means leisure place or we call it a pleasant place where people can take and find the beauty of nature and the beauty of the landscape,’ Mathew said.

Naamai Ecotourism Society has a plan (for the park) to not only grow the cosmos flowers but also plans to grow medicinal plants besides planting trees to promote and conserve natural environment and wildlife.

The Cosmos flower festival which started some years ago will be held this year too for three days starting Oct. 8, said Th Thohe, the president  of Koide Union.

Manipur is a popular tourist destination among the Northeast states for its Loktak, largest freshwater lake in Eastern India, Keibul Lamjao, the only floating park in the world and home to Sangai-a rare brow antlered deer, Mapal Kangjeibung, oldest living pologround and Shirui peak where state flower Shiuri Lily blooms, etc.

Considering its natural beauties and tourism potential, the state government has been continuously organising its annual state tourism festival called Sangai Festival for ten days every November end.