Mount Wuya Kachui is a hillock located at Shingcha village in Manipur which is about 45 km from Ukhrul town and 95 km from the state capital Imphal. The mountain is famous for its rhododendron groves and pink orchid ginger flowers – locally known as wuyawon. (Photo by Worngachan A Shatsang)
Beautiful sculpted mountains surround Mt. Wuya Kachui and mist envelopes the mountain on most days, giving it a mystical look. (Photo by Worngachan A Shatsang)
The mist-covered Mount Wuya Kachui is a favourite spot among nature lovers and tourists. (Photo by Worngachan A Shatsang)
When the wuyawon flowers are in bloom, the mountainside appears as a carpet of green, dotted with pink flowers. (Photo by Worngachan A Shatsang)
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The local people believe that the misty weather renders the wuyawon flower a fresher look. The flowers bloom in great numbers along the side of the hillock in July each year. (Photo by Worngachan A Shatsang)
The hillock wears a different look in winter. (Photo by Kahorpam Horam)
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The stunning misty hills appear the most appealing in July when the pink flowers bloom in large numbers. (Photo by Worngachan A Shatsang)
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Legend has it that the villagers experienced sleep paralysis while sleeping on the hillock. The name of the hillock is derived from the local word wuya for sleep paralysis. Wuya Kachui literally translates as Mountain of Sleep Paralysis. (Photo by Worngachan A Shatsang)
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Although the flower has been blooming in the area for a long time, the villagers didn’t pay much attention to its beauty. The place became popular only around 2015 when a couple of youths from the village started promoting Mt. Wuya Kachui and the flowers on social media. (Photo by Worngachan A Shatsang)
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In winter, the lower reaches of the hillock are covered in a red blanket of rhododendron blooms, making it a camping haven for the local people and tourists alike. (Photo by Kahorpam Horam)
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Today, Mt. Wuya Kachui is one of the most visited tourist sites in Ukhrul district along with the Shirui peak where Shirui Lily, the endemic state flower of Manipur, blooms. The influx of tourists has boosted the local economy, allowing the village women to sell their organic produce right at their doorstep. (Photo by Worngachan A Shatsang)
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The lead image on top shows the beautiful wuyawon flowers, or pink orchid ginger flowers, in full bloom against the backdrop of the misty Mt. Wuya Kachui. (Photo by Worngachan A Shatsang)
Worngachan A Shatsang is a freelance journalist based in Ukhrul, Manipur. He writes about football, rural life, farming and environmental issues. He was a Rural Media Fellow at Youth Hub, Village Square in 2022.
