SHILLONG, JAN 23: A heritage gateway to U Lum Sohpetbneng, sacred to the indigenous Khasi tribe of Meghalaya, was unveiled on Wednesday at its base besides the scenic Umiam Lake.
Former Meghalaya minister AH Scott Lyngdoh, who is the convener of the Meghalaya chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage (INTACH) unveiled the heritage gateway. Leaders and members of the Lum Sohpetbneng Committee Seng Khasi were also present during the unveiling.
The gateway, which is 15km away from Shillong, has been designed by Centre Point Hotel chairman Prabhat D Sawian, who is a renowned architect. The gateway is expected to attract tourists in drove.
The blocks of sandstone used for erecting the traditional heritage gateway were chipped and chiselled by a stone carver Charlestine Massar, who passed away recently.
Unveiling the gateway, Lyngdoh lamented the lack of interest and initiative in people to preserve and protect the state heritage sites which he said have been destroyed for selfish reasons.
Appreciating the initiative of Seng Khasi for erecting the heritage monument, Lyngdoh however expressed hope that with the Meghalaya Heritage Bill, 2011 now in place heritage sites will now be protected and preserved. He said U Lum Sohpetbneng was already one of the peaks being included in the list of heritage sites in state.
The construct of the gateway started in 2005 and the total cost in electing it is around Rs 30 lakhs.- By Our Reporter
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