Manipur villagers urge govt to develop WWII site to attract tourists

Khangkhui Khullen, a remote village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district which borders Myanmar has adequate tourism potential considering its flora and fauna, natural beauty and historical importance.

The stone age caves are locally called Khangkhui caves,located about 1km from the habitation area of the village while the two important peaks Khorung and Harva Khangai located about 3 km south-east and east of the village have around 200 households. “We want development of tourist infrastructures at Khorung, an attractive mountain peak where the beautiful seasonal flowers grow round the year,” says Chairman Sami Ignatius of the Tourism Development Organisation of the village. “We also want development of Harva Khangai as it is the first battlefield of Allied forces and Japanese on Indian soil during World War II.”

Khorung is also not only popular for being a popular view point but also for its rhododendron during February/March and caulokaempferia in July every year. On the other hand at Harva Khangai, the first battle between Allied forces and Japanese war occurred simultaneously when the Japanese who were at Khorung were under attack on March 11,1944, Sami said. “The remains of military trenches,war equipment and artifacts are still here in the village,”he said.