Though the Phākharok Orchid Park is at an initial stage, it is attracting local tourists for camping and sightseeing.
By Tennoson Pheiray
Orchids are found worldwide but it is rare to see community preserving orchids in a reserved area of a village in Ukhrul District. The Phākharok Orchid Park at Paorei village, about 30km from Ukhrul Headquarter is blooming with colourful orchids.
The villagers had been preserving the area since 1996. Late professor M Horam and Ex-MLA of 45-Chingai Assembly Constituency cultivated the idea of setting up an orchid park in that very area, informed the Village Authority of Paorei. Though the concept was there before, the actual activities of planting orchids at Phākharok were initiated a few years back.
The youth of Paorei Village have taken the initiative of collecting different types of orchid from the jungle of Poarei and transplanted at Phākharok with an aim to fruition the long cherished dreams of the villagers.
Today, one can see hundreds of orchids of different varieties and different colours blooming beautifully in the reserved area, sending out a sweet fragrance. The villagers plan to procure more orchids from the forest this year too. Though the Phākharok Orchid Park is at an initial stage, it is attracting local tourists for camping and sightseeing.
The villagers with its limited resources are trying their best to convert this area as an orchid park and a hot destination for tourists in the coming years. They have also laid out a plan to construct homestay for the tourists. Spreading about 10 acres, one can witness plain areas filled with huge oak and alder trees with a good water source inside the park.
Chairman of Paorei Village, Robust Pheirei informed that it is the earnest desire of the villagers to construct this park at the earliest possible time. They have put up barbed wire fencing around the premises of the park to prevent stray cattles entering the park compound.
Orchids are found abundant in the forest and in the backyard of every house in Ukhrul District, but it is indeed rare to see communities coming up with a plan to preserve and propagate orchids in a huge reserved area.