Manipur
The word Manipur literally means a 'jeweled town', a name that suits the small
and picturesque land. The people here are very polite and hospitable. Rich in
culture, tradition and ethnicity. Manipur is one of the 7 northeastern states of
India. It is also a state well known for its natural beauty. It comprises 1820 sq.km of flat plateau of alluvial valley and 20507sq.km of
hill territory and forms a part of the Himalayan mountain system which carries
this cup-shaped wonderland inside its series of hill ranges. 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.
By virtue of its geographical situation, Manipur is a shining pearl in the
Himalayan system. Manipuris call it as Meithei Leipak. In the valley Kongba
(Imphal), Eeril and Thobal are the big rivers which originate from the hills and
flow down into the valley and forms the drain for all waters flowing into the
valley carrying them off by Sagnu river through the southern ranges of hills
further into the Ningthee. The Bark river flows through its western borders. The
natural lake Loktak is a big water reservoir of 36 metres depth. It is 8 miles
long from north-west to south-east and 5 miles broad at its greatest breadth
from the east to west. The dark green Eichornia (water Hyacinath) reed and other
aquatic plants floats on its surface abundantly. In the valley there are
numerous small lakes and swamps. Encircled by nine hill ranges, Manipur is
marked out by a picturesque valley in the midst.
Getting There :
- By Air: Indian Airlines connect Imphal, the capital of Manipur,
with major cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati and Silchar.
- By Rail: Dimapur, 215 km from Imphal, is the closest railstation.
- By Road: Manipur is well linked with the rest of the country by
both national and state highways. The state transport corporation plies
regular scheduled buses from Imphal to the other cities in the region.
Fast Facts :
- Area: 22,327 Sq. Km
- Capital: Imphal
- Languages: Manipuri, Hindi, English, Burmese and Tibeto
- Religion: Hinduism, Islam and Christianity
- Literacy rate: 57.14%
- Best Time To Visit: October to February
Tourist Attractions :
Imphal :
Manipur's capital city has blended perfectly
into its beautiful natural environment. This pretty townp is the heart of the
official, commercial and cultural activity of Manipur.
Loktak Lake :
Ancient lake that plays an important role in the
economy of the Manipur State. Without the lake, the valley would be a victimto
high floods during monsoon and drought during dry season. It is a source of
water for hydropower generation, irrigation and drinking water supply. The
livelihood of the surrounding population is dependent upon the fish of the lake.
In the southeastern region of this lake lies Keibul Lamjao National Park.
Shree Govindajee Temple :
Imphal's historic Vaishnavite centre Shree Govindajee
Temple is located close to the Royal Palace. This interesting structure with its
twin domes has a paved courtyard and a great assembly hall where devotees
congregate to participate in various devotional activities. On either side of
the presiding deity are the shrines of Krishna and Balaram and Jagannath .The
Ras Leela dance performances held here are exceptional.
Kaina :
Close to Vaithou Lake, on the Indo-Burma Road, a
village famous for pineapples. On the lofty heights of the hill at Kaina lies a
legendary temple.
Khwairamband Bazar :
Imphal's Khwairamband Bazar is quite an unusual
market. Almost 3000 Imas (mothers), man the stalls in this unique bazaar. Stalls
are lined on either side of the road. On one side the stalls hawk anything from
farm produce to fresh fish and a great selection of groceries. Opposite these
are a row of stalls selling beautiful handlooms and household tools.
Manipur Zoological Gardens :
Go to see the rare but incredibly graceful sangai
brow antlered deer at the Manipur Zoological Gardens.
Khonghampat Orchidarium :
Manipur has at least 500 different varieties of
orchids. The Central Khonghampat Orchidarium just 7 km away from Imphal offers
visitors an excellent opportunity to see at least 110 of species, which are
showcased here.
Keibul Lamjao National Park :
Keibul Lamjao is famous not just because of the brow
antlered deer; its other claim to fame is the fact that this is one of the very
few floating protected areas in the world. This are was made into a sanctuary in
1969 and officially became a national park in 1977. It stretches over an area of
40 sq km, surrounded by marshes, hillocks and the lake itself.
