Imphal, Dec. 4: There is a feast in store for diehard adventure lovers in this neck of the woods, literally.

Come December 10, extreme sports will be making its debut in the Northeast, as BMX cyclists from South Asian countries, including India, will be demonstrating their skills in the discipline. Besides, a feast of adventure sport disciplines too has been lined across Manipur.

As part of Manipur Tourism Festival, 2009, cyclists from several Indian states will be competing in extreme sports at Hafta Kangjeibung, the main venue of the event, here. The competition introduced for the first time in the festival, however, will be exclusively for Indian cyclists.

“Teams from Indonesia and Thailand have confirmed participation. We are awaiting confirmation from the BMX cyclists from Korea, China and Singapore. Riders from Mumbai, Chandigarh, Pune and Manipur will compete in the national event,” L. Surjit, the president of the Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association (MMTA), said today.

Adventure sports will form an integral part of the tourism festival, an annual event that will begin on December 10 and conclude on December 19.

“The Manipur government is preparing to make the event bigger from next year by changing its name to Sangai Festival on the lines of Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival,” link commissioner K.K. Chettry told reporters today.

Sangai, the most threatened deer species in the world, is the state animal.

The BMX cyclists will demonstrate their skills for four days while the invitational competition will also be a four-day event. Other events include parasailing, scaling of Mt Iso, the highest peak in Manipur and trekking in Dzuko valley in Senapati district, expedition to the Shiroi hill and Kangkhui cave in Ukhrul, expedition to the Tharon cave and a visit to Ziliad lake and waterfalls in Tamenglong. Visitors can also take part in general obstacle adventure like spider net, artificial rock climbing, natural rock climbing et al at Lamdan Adventure and Leadership Park in Churachandpur district.

Chettry said “kang”, an indigenous game of Manipur, would also be introduced in the festival.

The number of handloom and handicraft stalls has been increased from last year’s 150 to 300 this year.

“Myanmar has confirmed a food stall team. Teams from Thailand are also expected. There will be a food court with nearly 40 stalls to tickle the tastebuds of visitors with indigenous Manipuri as well as Thai and Myanmarese cuisine on offer,” Chettry said.

He also said that cultural items, including the famous raas leela would also form a part of the festival.

“The main idea behind the festival is to attract foreign and domestic tourists by packaging Manipur as a tourist destination,” Chettry added.