Northeast India · Manipur
Imphal, Manipur
Sources: wikimedia
About Imphal
- Hills
Where it is
Imphal, the capital of Manipur, lies in the oval Imphal Valley at nearly 800 m, ringed by forested hill ranges near India's border with Myanmar, with Loktak Lake a short drive to the south.
History
Imphal was the seat of the Meitei kings of Manipur, who ruled from Kangla Fort for centuries. Burmese invasions in the early 19th century were followed by growing British influence, and after the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 the kingdom became a princely state. In 1944 the Battle of Imphal turned back a Japanese invasion of India, and Manipur merged with India in 1949, becoming a state in 1972.
People
Most people in Imphal speak Manipuri (Meiteilon), and the city is the centre of Meitei culture, known for Manipuri classical dance, the martial art of thang-ta and the Lai Haraoba festival. Naga and Kuki peoples live in the surrounding hills, and handloom weaving is a treasured tradition.
Known for
- Ima Keithel, the women's market
- Kangla Fort
- Shree Govindajee Temple
- Manipuri dance and polo
- Loktak Lake nearby
Did you know?
Ima Keithel, the Mothers' Market at the heart of Imphal, is run entirely by several thousand women traders; it dates back to the 16th century and is often described as one of Asia's largest women-run markets.
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