Rs. 6.30 Crores Allotted for Shirui Lily Festival 2025

Ukhrul, April 26: The Executive Committee meeting of the 5th State Shirui Lily Festival 2025, held on 24 April 2025 at the office chamber of the Chief Secretary, Manipur, has approved and allotted Rs. 6.30 crores for the 5th edition of the Shirui Lily Festival 2025. The meeting was chaired by Prashant Kumar Singh, Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur.

After a two-year break, the much-awaited Shirui Lily Festival is back. The festival will kickstart on 20 May and wind up on 24 May 2025 at Ukhrul District.

The Executive Committee meeting was convened to discuss the detailed programmes of different Sub-Committees and the sub-allocation of the budget for the upcoming festival. The Executive Committee deliberated on the expenditure estimates submitted by all Sub-Committees for the organization of the 5th State Level Shirui Lily Festival 2025.

It was noted that different budget proposals amounting to Rs. 9.5 crores were submitted. All proposals were examined minutely and were scaled down or dropped after due deliberation.

“Given the urgency of the tasks at hand and the paucity of time, the Executive Committee resolved to exempt the standard tendering process, opting instead to nominate firms/agencies/organizations with past experience and proven records of work execution to undertake respective activities within the approved financial allocations,” stated the minutes of the meeting.

The Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul, Asish Das (IAS), stated, “As we prepare to host the Shirui Lily Festival 2025, we have a unique opportunity to showcase our rich cultural heritage and tradition to the whole world. This festival is not just a celebration of our natural beauty, but also a testament to our unity, resilience, and creativity.”

He also urged, “Each one of you to participate in this grand event with enthusiasm and dedication. Let us set aside our small differences and come together to host the world in Ukhrul. Let us make sacrifices, if needed, to ensure the success of the Shirui Lily Festival. We can demonstrate the true spirit of our community and make a lasting impression on our guests. Let us showcase our vibrant culture, traditions, and hospitality to the world. Together, we can make the Shirui Lily Festival 2025 a grand success and put Ukhrul on the global tourism map. Let us work hand-in-hand to create unforgettable memories and experiences for our visitors. Join hands, join hearts, and let’s make this festival a celebration to remember. Let’s make Ukhrul shine.”

The grand opening of the festival will be held at Shirui Village, the famed ShiRock will be held at Bakshi Ground, and the cultural cum closing ceremony will be held at Ukhrul Headquarters.

HOMESTAYS

The popular form of hospitality and lodging whereby visitors share a residence with the locals will be the major provider for lodging to the visiting tourists in Ukhrul Town during the Shirui Lily Festival 2025.

With few hotels and guest houses, homestays have been the only means for tourists when they want to stay over since 2017, when the Shirui Lily Festival became a state festival.

Preparations for the festival, including homestays, are in full swing. Usually, for better regulation including safety and security reasons, locals who want to provide homestay facilities to the visiting tourists during the Shirui Lily Festival 2025 are directed to register through the given numbers: 8974074561, 9362278900, and 8974549969.

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The concerned authority will verify the homestay and fix the rate depending on the conditions and facilities of the homestay. In the previous year, a special registration counter was opened at the DRDA Training Hall 24×7. This has been done for data collection, safety, and security reasons. Safety and convenience for tourists and locals during the Shirui Lily Festival is a priority. All private activities like the opening of tent houses, camping sites, outlet eateries, etc., were also made to register.

For queries related to homestay booking and others, the concerned authority will provide contact numbers in the coming days for ready assistance.

PLACES TO VISIT

Ukhrul District is a place of beautiful landscapes. For a quick escape, tourists can visit Duncan Park, Pisgah Eco Park, W. Shaiza Memorial Park, and Haoshim at Hungpung, all located within Ukhrul Headquarters. Mova Cave at Hundung—a limestone cave—is about 20 km away. The beautiful Zingkat Wonra—a recreational park at Halang village maintained by Halang Youth—is about 10 km from Ukhrul. The only tea estate in Ukhrul District, Nilai Tea Estate, is located between Halang and Talui and is about 20 km away. The limestone cave known as Mangsor Cave, with its striking structure and two openings, is at Khangkhui Khullen, about 16 km away. Harva Khangai—the grassland meadow at Khangkhui Khunou, where the first battle of the Second World War was fought on Indian soil on 18 March 1944—is about 19 km from Ukhrul Headquarters.

The rendezvous place of Shimreishang and Maitonphi at Tengron of Phungcham is about 28 km away. The Orchid Park at Paorei, about 30 km away, will be in full bloom.

Apart from Shirui, the most happening place of Ukhrul District during the Lily Festival is Phangrei and Jorcheng at Lunghar, situated about 22 km from Ukhrul Headquarters.

If you are a lover of handicrafts, you can visit Nungbi Khullen, about 35 km from Ukhrul. The famous black pottery known as “Longpi Ham” originated from this place. Sihai Khullen, about 37 km from Ukhrul Headquarters, is very famous for making rattan baskets and other forms of baskets made from bamboo.

One can drive farther if looking for a glimpse of a mesmerizing landscape view. Chingjui Matha at Chingjaroi, about 45 km from Ukhrul Headquarters, is another such point. The steep rising of Mount Chingjui Matha is really fascinating. One can also visit Wuyakachui of Shingcha, the place where the beautiful Wuyawon flowers bloom in abundance during July. It is approximately 45 km from Ukhrul.

One can visit all these places by road. There is inter-village public transport connecting Ukhrul Headquarters, or one can hire a taxi from Ukhrul to explore.

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EATERIES AT UKHRUL

Some of the places for eateries at Ukhrul Headquarters are Down Town Cafe situated inside the Mini Secretariat Complex, The Gracias Restaurant at Jorcheng, King Chilli Restaurant, The Sapphire Mankung Bakers at Phungreitang, and 25 Degree North Restaurant at Viewland near Viewland Church. Also, Food Inn, The Place, The Sam Food Court, and Undercroft at Viewland.

Ava Market (Women Market) at Phungreitang can be an additional place to visit for indigenous food and organic products. One may also explore the food stalls at the venue and the roadside vendors.

HOW TO REACH UKHRUL

Ukhrul Headquarters is about 82 km from Imphal, the capital of Manipur, and the nearest airport is Bir Tikendrajit International Airport at Imphal. From Imphal to Ukhrul, one has to take public transport or hire a taxi from the Inter-State Bus Terminus at Khuman Lampak for a 3-hour journey. The nearest train station is Dimapur, about 283 km away, and from there it will take around 10–11 hours by road transport.