Manipur : Thailand Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Arrives in Imphal

Guwahati: Princess of Thailand Maha Chakri Sirindhorn arrived in Imphal on Tuesday evening on a two-day maiden visit to Manipur to attend the 10-day Sangai Festival which has been underway at various locations since November 21.

According to official sources at the State Information and Public Relations Department, the Air India plane carrying the Princess landed at the airport around 5 pm.

On her arrival, Princess Sirindhorn was accorded a warm welcome by Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh, other ministers and tops officials of the State. The Princess is accompanied by officials from the Royal Thai Embassy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand, a Thai media team, besides officials of the Union Ministry of External Affairs.

The reception programme at the airport was attended by Public Health Engineering Minister Losii Dikho, Agriculture Minister V Hangkhalian, Chief Secretary Dr J Suresh Babu, DGP LM Khaute, and other high-level officers and police personnel.

During her two day stay in Manipur, Princess Sirindhorn will visit the picturesque Sendra Hill located at Loktak, the largest freshwater lake in North Eastern India, Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park in the country (both located in Bishnupur district) and Kangla Fort, the ancient capital of Manipur located in the heart of Imphal.

The visiting Thai dignitary is also likely to meet the titular king of Manipur, Leishemba Sanajaoba, prior to her departure on Wednesday, the sources added. Ahead of her visit, a team of Thailand officials arrived here on Monday and made necessary preparations and inspection.

Several Thai stalls have been set up at the Lamboikhongnangkhong, an important venue of the ongoing Manipur Sangai Festival, a State-level tourism festival which is aimed at promoting Manipur as a world-class tourist destination.

Before arriving in Manipur, the Thai Princess visited another North eastern state of Tripura on Tuesday.

During her visit to Tripura, the Princess visited the famous archaeological site of Unakoti in Raghunandan hills of Tripura’s Unakoti district. The Princess came on an air force helicopter to a helipad near the site.

Chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb and members of a delegation from Thailand accompanied her during the visit.

On her arrival at Agartala, Princess was received by officials of the district administration and MLA's, Bhagaban Das and Sudhangshu Das, and schoolchildren who lined the roads and waved flags of India and Thailand to welcome her.

The Thai Princess who is on her maiden visit to the North East of India had earlier also visited Meghalaya for 3 days from November 22.

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