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Manipur literally
meaning "A jeweled land" nestle deep within a lush green
corner of North East India. It seems much like an exquisite
work of art executed by superb hands of Nature and is indeed
a state of exquisite natural beauty and splendour, the beauty
of which once inspired Mrs. St. Clair Grimwood described it
as " A Pretty Place more beautiful than many show places of
the world" Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru paid a fitting
tribute by describing it as "Jewel of India".
Tourist Spots
The important tourist centres in the state are Imphal, the
capital and centre of all cultural and commercial activities
adorned with two War Cemeteries maintained by the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Govindajee Temple, Women
Bazaar, etc. Besides, the Bishnu Temple at Bishnupur built in
1467 AD, the Loktak Lake, the biggest freshwater lake in the
eastern India, Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park
in the world, the Orchid Park at khongampat, etc. are
attractive places of tourist. s interest.
Location
Manipur is situated in the northeastern region of the
country. As one might say without hesitation, the land is a
paradise come true on earth. Literally meaning . the jeweled
land. , Manipur is richly endowed with natural beauty and
splendour. Home to Sangai, a rare species of deer and Siroy
Lily, the only terrestrial lily grown on the hill tops of
Siroi hill, St. Clair Grimwood described it as " A Pretty
Place more beautiful than many show places of the world."
Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru paid a fitting tribute by
describing it as "Jewel of India".
Manipur is bounded by Nagaland in the north, Mizoram in the
south, Upper Myanmar in the east and Cachar district of Assam
in the west.
Manipur is comprised of nine districts: Bishnupur, Chandel,
Churachandpur, Imphal East, Imphal West, Senapati, Tamenglong,
Thoubal and Ukhrul
Surrounded by blue hills with an oval shape Surrounded by
blue hills with an oval shaped valley at the centre, rich in
art and tradition and surcharged with nature's pristine
glory. Manipur lies on a melting pot of culture. It is birth
place of Polo. This is the place where Rajashree
Bhagyachandra created the famous Ras Lila, the classical
dance of Manipur, out of his enchanting dream by the grace of
Lord Krishna. Her folk dances reveal the mythological concept
of creation of Manipur.
People
The people of Manipur include Meitei, Naga, Meitei Pangal and
other colourful communities which have lived together in
complete harmony for centuries. Theses are the people whose
folklore, myths & legends, dances, indigenous games and
martial arts, exotic handlooms & handicrafts are infested
with the mystique of nature. The wonders has no end in
Manipur.
Having a varied and proud history from the earliest times,
Manipur came under the British Rule as a Princely State after
the defeat in the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891. After
independence of India in 1947, the Princely State of Manipur
was merged in the Indian Union on October 15,1949 and became
a full-fledged State of India on the 21th January, 1972 with
a Legislative Assembly of 60 seats of which 20 are reserved
for Scheduled Tribe and 1 reserved for Scheduled Caste. The
State is represented in the Lok Sabha by two members and by
one member in the Rajya Sabha.
Festivals
Manipur is a land of festivals. Number of festivals is
celebrated throughout the year with pomp and gaiety.
Important ones are Ningol Chakouba and Yaoshang. Ningol
Cackouba, a festival of the Meiteis is the celebration of
family union. On this day, married women along with their
children go to their parental house to be treated to a grand
feast. Their parents and brothers give them gifts and the
guests in return offer them blessings. It is observed on the
second day of the new moon in the Manipuri month of Hiyangei
(November).
Celebrated for five days commencing from the full moon day of
Phalguna (february/March), Yaoshang is the premier festival
of Manipur. The Thabal Chongba - a kind of Manipuri folk
dance, where boys and girls hold hands and sing and dance in
a circle, is particularly associated with this festival. Boys
and girls and old women collect donations from house to house
and the money so collected is spent in a number of parties
and feast. Indeed, Yaosang to Manipur is what Durga Puja is
to Bengal, Diwali in north India and Bihu to Assam.
Tourist Destinations in Manipur
Imphal
The capital of Manipur, Imphal is a bustling minimetropolis
situated at a height of 790 m above sea level.
Keibul Lamjao National Park
The only flaoting National Park in the world , it is situated
on the fringes of the Loktak Lake. This is the last natural
habitat of the marsh dwelling SANGAI brow antlered deer of
Manipur better known as the dancing deer (due to the fact
that it has to balance itself on the unique floating
wetlands).
Khonghampat Orchidarium
The Orchid Yard of the forest Department, on the National
Highway No. 39, about 7 km from Imphal, is another place of
interest. More than 110 varieties of Orchids, including
several rare species are grown here. Peak season is
April-May.
Loktak Lake and Sendra Island
48 kms from Imphal, Loktak Lake the largest freshwater lake,
in the Eastern region of India, resembles a miniature inland
sea. From the tourist bungalow set atop Sendra Island,
visitors get a bird's-eye view of life on the lake - small
islands of floating weed, shimmering blue waters,
labyrinthine boat routes, fascinating water plants, the
fisherman and their families who live in neat huts on its
shores and who make full use of their watery environment.
They cast their nets on it, rear fish farms in it using nets
as floating walls, harvest it for the water chestnut known as
Heikak, and even build their houses on the islands of
floating weed that dart around the lake. The Sendra Tourist
Home with an attached cafeteria, at the centre of the lake,
is an ideal tourist spot. Boating and other water sports are
being introduced here.There are buses and cycle rickshaws to
cover the last 3 km. to Sendra. The Tourist Home charges Rs.
10 per bed.
Manipur State Museum
This interesting museum near the Polo ground has a fairy good
display of Manipur's tribal heritage and a collection of
portraits of Manipur's former rulers. Particularly
interesting items are costumes, arms and weapons, relics and
historical documents. Opens at 10 am through 4.30 pm, sunday
& holiday closed.
Manipur Zoological Garden
About 6 km off Imphal towards the west, is this Zoological
garden at Iroishemba on the Imphal Kangchup Road. Graceful
brow-antlered Deer, one of the rarest species in the world ,
can be seen here in sylvan surroundings. A trip to this
garden, at the foot of the pine -growing hillocks in the
westernmost corner of Lamphelpat, is really enjoyable.
Moirang
This town is one of the main seats of early Manipuri folk
culture with the ancient temple of pre-Hindu diety Lord
Thangjing, situated here. In the month of May, men and women,
dressed in colorful traditional costumes sing and dance in
honour of the Lord at Moirang, LAI HARAOBA which is a ritual
dance festival held every year. It was from the village of
Moirang, too, that the graceful Khamba-Thoibi dance
originated, traditionally celebrated in May. The town also
has a special place in the history of the Indian Freedom
Struggle. It was in Moirang that the flag of the Indian
national Army was first unfurled on April 12, 1944. The INA
Museum containing letters, photographs, badges of ranks and
other memorabillia reminds the visitor of the noble
sacrifices made by the INA under the charismatic leadership
of NETAJI SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE.
Sekta- Archeological Living Museum
Sekta Mound locally known as the "SEKTA KEI" is a protected
Archaeological Site. The site is located at Sekta village,
about 16 km. from Imphal on the Imphal-Ukhrul Road. It is a
site where practice of secondary burial was discovered. The
site was jointly excavated by the Archaeological Survey of
India and the State Archaeology, Manipur and is preserved as
a Living Museum.
Waithou Lake
Situated on the Indo-Myanmar Road, this idyllic spot is
famous for its pineapple slopes. There is also a tourist
lodge, at the fringe of the lake.
War Cemeteries
The British and Indian Army Cemeteries commemorating those
who died in the second world war are serene and
well-maintained with little stone markers and bronze plaques
recording their anguish and sacrifice. These grave are
maintained by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission
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