Sangai deer, Loktak Lake mesmerise Maharashtra EBSB team
Sangai deer, Loktak Lake mesmerise Maharashtra EBSB team

Imphal (PIB): Maharashtra EBSB team on Wednesday got the chance of glimpsing Sangai, the brow antlered deer, at its only natural home, Keibul Lamjao National Park, the only floating national park in the globe in Manipur’s Bishnupur district.

The team was also mesmerised by the beauty of the Loktak Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in South Asia on which the Keibul Lamjao National Park is located on the southern part of the lake.

On day three of the weeklong exposure tour to the State, the 50 students from Nagpur of Maharashtra accompanied by three faculties and four student volunteers visited the Loktak Lake and the floating Keibul Lamjao National Park.

Guided by M Asnikumar Singh, Chairman of the Loktak Development Authority (LDA), the team reached the national park early morning to get the glimpse of the Sangai deer at its original natural habitat.

Asnikumar himself drove the boat Maharashtra EBSB team on board in and around the lake and showed all the places in and around Loktak, Keibul Lamjao National Park. He also arranged all the food with local cuisines, boating, and transport in the area.

Mesmerized by the beauty of Loktak Lake and excited on seeing the Sangai deer in its natural habitat, the students expressed their sincere gratitude to the chairman. They are in awe of the serene beauty of the largest fresh water lake in India.

One student revealed that he heard about Manipur, but not about the Loktak Lake and Keibul Lamjao National Park.

She expressed her thankfulness to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for organising such an exposure tour while appreciating Chief Minister N Biren Singh and LDA Chairman M Asnikumar Singh for giving an opportunity to witness beautiful and wonderful Loktak Lake and the floating national park and to taste local cuisines.

“Last but not the least, I thank IIIT Manipur for coordinating such a wonderful program,” she added.

The team of 50 students with three faculties and four student volunteers from Nagpur of Maharashtra arrived in Imphal on February 27 on a week-long exposure tour to Manipur under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB), a pilot initiative by Government of India.

On day two of the program, the team had visited various historically significant tourist spots in Imphal and its outskirts.

Today, the day three of the tour after enjoying the beauty of the Loktak Lake, the team also paid a visit to INA Museum at Moirang from where they proceeded to INA HQ before heading for Sangai Ethnic Park at Moirang Khunou.

On the way back to Imphal, the team visited Imphal Peace Museum at Maibam Lokpa Ching and then to ISKCON Temple in Imphal’s Sangaiprou. The day’s sightseeing concluded at Govindaji Temple at Palace Compound in Imphal where the team members attained Arti.

The Maharashtra team arrived here to reciprocate the recent visit of Manipuri students to their state (Maharashtra) and will be leaving Imphal for Maharashtra on March 3.

On day two of the week-long exposure tour, the Maharashtra contingent visited Laishram Sharita Devi Boxing Academy. The delegation first paid a visit to the Laishram Sharita Devi Boxing Academy where they were also given a warm reception at the training ground of the academy.