Manipur Tourism
Location : Northeast part of India.
Area : 29.57 sq. km.
Attractions : Khwairamband bazar, Keibul Lamjao National Park.
Altitude : 790 meters above sea level.
Temperature : max. 32°C min 0° C.
Rainfall : 1980.8 mm ( May to October).
Ideal time to visit : October to February.
¤ Manipur, Land of Jewels
Manipur tourism offers a picturesque tourist destination, situated at
the easternmost part of India, with Myanmar in the east, Cachar
district of Assam, Nagaland in the north and Mizoram in the south, was
described by Jawaharlal Nehru as Land of Jewels. It is famous for its
Keibul Lamjao National Park which is habitat to the Brow antlered deer
found nowhere else. With the fresh water lake (Loktak lake) situated
in one of the districts and the lush green hills makes it an abode for
tourists coming to Manipur.
Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur, organises a tour on
luxurious coaches for visiting places like Govindajee Temple,
Bishnupur, Phubala, Moirang, Keibul Lamjao National Park and Sendra
Tourist Home.
¤ History
The royal chronicle, known as Cheitharol Kumbaba, had established the
existence of a former kingdom in the first century A.D., a kingdom
supposed to be formed by the unification of the ten clans under the
Ningthouja(royal) clan. It has also been the historical place where
the Japanese armies of the Axis was defeated by the British armies of
the Allies in the Second World II.
¤ Main Attractions in Manipur
Manipur also called land of jewels is famous for its rich culture,
rare wild life, flowers and sportsmanship. The unpolluted and
unexploited greenery of the region is also a solace for the holiday
seekers. Imphal (the capital city of Manipur) which has markets like
Paona Bazar and Khwairanbam Bazar, Keibul Lamjao (the sanctuary for
the Brow Antlered Deer) and the fresh water lake, Loktak is worth
visiting.
Manipuri Dance
The world famous Manipur Dance enthralls its viewers throughout the
show. The fine movement of the Ras Lila (Manipuri Dance), the
extravagance of Thang-ta (martial arts) can make it an all-together
different experience. Ras Lila is among the five most acclaimed
classical dance of India. The gentle motion of the dance coupled with
the elegance of the hand-embroidered dress can impress all the
audience.
¤ Fairs and Festivals
Due to the mixed race of people, all festivities are observed in
Manipur. The Hindus celebrate Holi and Ningol Chakouba, the Muslims
celebrate Ramjan ID and Christians observe Christmas. All these
festivals makes Manipur a more vibrant and cheerful place. Nowadays
many of these festivals are observed by the different communities
irrespective of their own race.
¤ Adventure in Manipur
Manipur is stocking stimulus to growth and development of adventure
sports in the state. Nodal agencies have been set up to assist diverse
adventure-sports and also to impart training.
Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association-facilitates trekking
to Lamdan (Sudarshan Peak), near Loktak hydroelectric power project.
The Adventure Academy of Manipur - offers courses and assistance in
whitewater rafting in the state.
¤ Shopping in Manipur
Imported goods from the smallest of sun-flower seeds to the big home
theaters are all available at the markets but the best one is situated
at the India-Myanmar border by the name of Naphalong(Moreh). If people
are interested in the local product then they can buy at the Paona
Bazar or Khwairambam market. Shoppers can buy the exotic
shawl(Hauphee), the Tangkhul scarf, the various wood craft items and
the most popular Moirangphee(a thin cloth) for their own. In Imphal,
buying is quite easy as the markets are placed together but people
have to travel three hours for Moreh market. What makes Moreh stand
out is the picturesque journey and the cheap imported goods available.
¤ Excursions
Bishnupur Temple
A temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu which is 27 kms away from the
capital. The architecture of the temple is unique and resembles
Chinese design. It was built in 1467 during the reign of King Kiyamba.
Moirang This town is 45 kms away from Imphal and this is where
the birth of Manipuri folk culture was born. During the month of May,
men and women dance in the honor of the Lord. Lai Harouba is
celebrated every year and many people from all over the state flock
and watch this spectacle.
There is the famous Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's(a national hero)
statue at Moirang which commemorates the struggle of our freedom
fighters. This statue is the reminder of the INA(Indian National Army)
that Netaji brought along with Japanese armies to defeat the British
in 1944.
Permit to Visit
Foreign tourists require Restricted Area Permit which is issued by
the Ministry of Home Affairs, South Block, New Delhi. The Indian
comission abroad also issue this permit. Imphal City, Loktak Lake, INA
Memorial(Moirang), Sendra, Waithou Lake, Keibul Lamjao National Park
and Khongjom War Memorial are areas that can be visited.
Domestic tourist travelling by road from Dimapur to pass through
Nagaland require an Inner Line Permit . This permit can be obtained
from liaison officers of the Govt. of Nagaland at New
Delhi/Kolkata/Guwahati/Shillong and the Sub-divisional officer (civil)
at Dimapur. Permit is not required for tourist bound by flight.
¤ Accessibilty to Manipur
By Air
Imphal airport can be reached by daily flights from New Delhi (app.3
hrs.), Kolkata (one hr.), Guwahati(app.50 minutes) and Aiwal(30 min.).
There is also a direct flight from New Delhi on Sundays and
Wednesdays. The airport is just 7 kms from downtown and tourist taxis
and auto-rickshaws are provided for transfer to the city.
By Rail
The nearest railhead to Manipur is Dimapur on the North East Frontier
in Nagaland (215 kms from Imphal) and Jiribam(225 kms from Imphal).
Bus services are available from Dimapur and it takes around 9 hours
to reach Manipur.
By Bus
National highway no. 39 connects Imphal with Guwahati ( Assam) and
National Highway no. 53 connects Imphal with Silchar (Assam). The
journey from Silchar (250 kms) to Imphal takes around 10 hours.
Local Transport
For travelling locally, un-metered taxis and auto-rickshaws are
available at the bus stand of Mahatma Gandhi Road and airport. Rates
are negotiable.
Major Circuits
Major Tour Packages To Manipur
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