Last Updated on July 8, 2024 by Mrunal & Jiten
The name Manipur means the land of gems! The gems you will discover in this Northeastern state are rich cultural heritage dating back in history, breathtaking landscapes, unparalleled art scene and exotic wildlife. Imphal is the capital city of Manipur.
Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Manipur
Table of Contents
Dzukou valley
This beautiful valley is located at an altitude of 2450 meters behind the Japfu range. It is accessed by trekking either from the Nagaland side or the Manipur side which will take you about 5-6 hours.
The name of this valley means cold water and refers to the cool stream passing through the valley. It is famous as the Valley of Flowers of the East. During the full bloom season, the entire valley is awash with the colour of exotic flowers, the most famous being the Dzukou lily.
Some rare animals that are found here are the clouded leopard, Asiatic black bear, stump-tailed macaque, serow and the Dzukou Valley horned toad.
Kangla Fort
Kangla was the capital of the Manipur’s Meetai monarchs. The Kangla Fort has survived invasions of the Chinese and Burmese rulers and later the British.
Steeped in history this place is also a holy site and the pond inside Nungjeng Ekon is considered sacred, believed to be the dwelling place of Lord Pakhangba, the local deity and Nunggoibi, the Goddess of war.
Manipur State Museum
This museum is also called the Manipur Pukei Lankei Shanglen. One of the prominent displays is a 78-foot-long Hiyang Hiren, a large and ceremonial raceboat of the royals.
Another notable display is the royal Howdah used by Sri Meidingngu Churachand Singh, the King of Manipur.
The museum also houses age-old manuscripts, coins, caskets, arms, basketry, time measuring implements – Tanyei Pung and Tanyei Chei, headgears, smoking pipes and lighters, dresses, paintings, gold and silver utensils, horse statues, ancient masks made of gold, pottery and ornaments.
RKCS museum
Major exhibits in this private museum are paintings done by a famous artist Rajkumar Chandrajit Sana (RKCS).
The exhibition also has some vintage movie posters, art works and art instillations. Overall it is a great experience for tourists to understand the contemporary art of artists in Manipur.
Lord Sanamai Temple
This temple is one of the oldest in Asia, dedicated to Lainingthou Sanamahi, the supreme God of Sanamahism. It stands on an Octagonal base with steps on the southern side. Explore this temple to experience serenity and bliss.
Shree Govindajee temple
This is an important temple for Meithei Vaishnavities in the state. It is located in Imphal next to the Royal Palace and was built by Maharaja Nara Singh in 1864.
The architecture of the temple is simple and aesthetic with 2 gold-plated domes, a raised Mandop and a paved court. The main deities are Lord Krishna and his consort Radha.
A well-maintained garden a small pond and an open space with lots of tall trees make it a tranquil location. Daily poojas are conducted in a ritualistic manner. A strict dress code is observed among devotees. Hence is better to check the dress code before visiting the temple.
Imphal War Cemetery
This cemetery with 23000 burials commemorates many Indian and British soldiers who died in World War 2. It is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
Khongjom War Memorial Complex
This war memorial is located on the Indo-Myanmar highway.
It was constructed to commemorate the war heroes of the Khongjom war between Meitei heroes and the British.
The entrance has an arch with three pillars with the figures of the 3 war heroes along with three cannons, lion statues and towers.
Khonghampat Orchidarium
This is a botanical garden in Imphal housing 500 varieties of orchids that grow in the state. Also called Khonghampat Urei Leikol, it was established by the Manipur Forest Department in 1976.
This place is a must-visit for Botanists wishing to understand the floral kingdom better.
Some of the Orchids that are grown here are Vanda ampullaceal, Dendrobium Chrysotoxum, Dendrobium chrysanthum, Dendrobium moschatum, Dendrobium pendulum, Rhynchostylis retusa and Vanda coerulea.
Shopping
Some of the unique products you can buy in Manipur are Phaneks – Manipuri women Sarong;
Handicrafts made of bamboo, wood, cloth clay, cotton and blackware products such as tray bowls, and cooking pans. You can shop for the above and other products in the following exclusive markets of Manipur.
- Paona bazaar is famous for silk saris, hand-woven shawls, handicrafts, bamboo, ivory, Paper Mache
- GM hall for branded and non-branded goods
- Khwairamband Bazaar – This market, also called Nupi Keithel is run only by women. It has about 3000 shops selling many things from vegetables to shoes to clothes to spices to ointments, show pieces, and woollen garments. Also, enjoy local delicacies in the popular eateries near this market.
- Ema Keithel Market – It isa 500-year-old market run by women. About 5000 women dealers have set up stores here selling household items, crafts, toys, utensils, flowers, traditional clothes and others.
- Tera Bazaar Check out this marketplace for handicrafts gifting items, fashion accessories and street food.
The best time to visit
The ideal time to visit Manipur is in the winter months of October to March.
How to reach
By Air
The Imphal International Airport is connected to major cities in India and is also a transit facility for international tourists.
By Road
There are daily buses on the NH39 from Guwahati to Assam to Imphal, Manipur.
By Rail
The nearest railhead is in Dimapur, Nagaland about 201 km by road.
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