Tears & Angels: Ukhrul, A place to visit

.... I was writing my next blog when I came to realize that I have so much to describe about a particular place but sadly there seem insufficient data or even blogs on this place. And I bet the readers would find it a bore to read wikipedia's description about the place. This place which I've been referring to a lot of times in almost all my blogs, is Ukhrul, a little town in Manipur, a little state in Northeast India. :) Well if you need more help with that then here's a link to Google maps for further directions- Ukhrul Google Map

To start out let me explain why I am so interested in this place. It is the first place that brought me close to nature and secondly it is breathtaking! Do I then need to explain further? I have lived here for a period of only one year but I still can't stop myself from coming back every time I get the chance, which would be meeting up my granny :)

Here lets get started. Imagine you are new here and you wanna reach Ukhrul, well then you can either take a bus from Imphal, the capital of the state, Manipur or even all the way from Kohima, Nagaland. As you find yourself riding from one hill to another with a number of turns and halts, you may as well appreciate the scenes in front of you. Once you reach Ukhrul, your first scene would be of houses one at a time emerging amid the greenery. When your reach Hunphung, the area would appear crowded. Then you will start noticing people dropping off one at a time. In no time you would have reached the main town of Ukhrul District, Ukhrul!

Now, lemme show you all, Ukhrul from my eyes...
In spring, around March to early May, in the remote areas of Ukhrul passerby or joggers would most definitely be greeted by cherry blossoms blooming besides the roads. Nothing beats the fresh morning air of Ukhrul. That is my particular favorite! The local people wake up early, before the dawn of day and as I take my usual morning walk down from my aunt's home, I start to notice girls with their water basket or sopkai.

Water availability and transport is the main problem of every household in Ukhrul. Most of them would either have to travel great lengths to the closest water reservoir or ponds to fetch water but in the main town, people have tube wells and facilities of water tankers. Problems aside, seeing a woman in the complete tangkhul attire with a sopkai is a rare treat. However if you're fortunate enough you might just as well get to spot the elderly walking in traditional attire with it or maybe join in one of the festivities of the people where girls and boys alike dress up to dance to the beat of the drums.

Famed for its Shiroi Lily which grows only in the hills of the Shiroi village, Ukhrul is also popular as any culturally rich regions with varied folktales and beliefs. I mentioned this particularly because my students would ask me about these stories, mostly circling the Shiroi lily. Sadly I would not be able to describe them here (which means you have to wait for my next blog on folktales). Personally I would suggest you to come here and listen the tales from the mouth of an experienced storyteller, which probably would be someone's grandmother :).

The tangkhuls are probably the most generous people I have ever met, especially when it comes to food!!! In my one year stay there, both me and my sister gained weight which I am able to lose only after 10 years!!! lol! Well they will invite you home for dinner if you ever find a friend among tangkhuls and they will stuff you with anything they find. Sadly if you love red meat, YOU'RE DOOMED!!! The tangkhuls, I must added, love meat so much that we could literally say that meat is their staple food! Raja Mirchi/ UMorok/ Kasathei is the personal favorite of tangkhul too. Umorok is the world's hottest chilly variant! Imagine a chef taking a little nib landed straight to the hospital, when my uncle could happily munch off FIVE of them in a meal! That is certainly a legend. No wonder they are known for their bravery.

During my one year stay there, I could not have the opportunity to visit tourist spots like Khangkhui Caves or even Shiroi Hills, but I'm not disappointed. Ukhrul have much more sites and scenes to offer. If you have ever walk close to Savio School, close to Junction do wait and watch the sunset and the fields below the peak, a little walk across the road. It will perhaps be the best evenings you ever had. Another place you should visit is a hospital!!! Surprised? Yes, it is not a mistake! Leishiphung Hospital is founded by a tangkhul couple who are right now living in the US. They constructed the only major hospital in Ukhrul with a mindset of helping the people. Here, the chief attraction is the marigold filled artificial hill which offer a magnificent sight to the different hills of Ukhrul. My previous visit to Ukhrul led me there.

Of all that I stated, the ultimate Kim's experience in Ukhrul would be the pleasant morning walk in spring, breathing in the chilly air in a lonely road, almost as there will already be Jawans/soldiers taking their routine jog or women fetching water or even men walking to their fields, hours away from home.
Here I leave you with the pink fresh cherry blossoms with the marigold hill and a romantic evening to look out for, with your loved one watching the sunset and the hills of the beautiful Ukhrul!
Hope You Enjoy The Pictures Below: