About Imphal
Those of you who like to get away from the rest and try things off the
beaten path should head of to Imphal. Situated in the north-eastern state of
Manipur, Imphal is a place of exquisite natural beauty, lush hills,
picturesque valleys and some exotic locales, as found nowhere else on the
planet. One of the most ancient cities in the country, Imphal still appears
to be shrouded in a mist of past with the remains of an old palace, ancient
shrines and old houses standing as testimonials to its rich history. The
tall pine and deodar trees that crowd the entire Manipur valley lend the
place a mystique look and feel.
Climate & Best time to Visit
The capital of Manipur, Imphal experiences pleasant weather all round the
year. The temperature during the summers ranges between 17 to 35 degrees
celcius while winters can be cold and chilly with temperatures of 0 to 18
degrees. Rainfall is heavy between May and September. The best time for a
visit to the city are the months from February to early May and late
September to November.
Tourist
Attractions in Imphal
Govindajee Temple
Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the holy Hindu shrine is situated near the
Manipur Palace. Besides the presiding deity, the temple houses idols of Lord
Krishna and Balrama. The unique architecture of the temple is adorned with
two huge domes, a massive courtyard, giant walls and an assembly hall used
to hold prayer and other ceremonies.
Shaheed Minar
Shaheed Minar is a towering structure, built to pay homage to the war
martyrs who gave up their lives defending their land against the intruding
British in 1891. The war cemetry located nearby houses the graves of brave
soldiers, both from the British and Indian armies.
Manipur Zoological Gardens
Situated in Iroisemba enroute Kangchup, the Manipur Zoological gardens is
home to a number of rare and exotic species of birds and animals, making it
one of the major tourist attractions in the region. The brow antelered deer
is one of the rarest animal species in the world and a major attraction at
the park.
Ima Market
Ima, which means mother in local tongue, is a one of its kind place with
all the shops (nearly 3000) in the market run by women. The place is a
favourite for tourists with all the items ranging from vegetables to
handicrafts available for sale.
Getaways
Kangchup
Kangchup is a beautiful hill station located just 16 km from Imphal at an
altitude of 921 mts above sea level. Overlooking the lush Manipur valley,
the place houses a health resort which offers a number of facilities for the
tourists. Kangchup is also the gateway to Tamenglong.
Moirang
Moirang, situated 45 km from Imphal, is a historically significant city,
being the place which served as the headquarters of Netaji Subhash Chandra
Bose's Indian National Army during the second world war. Lord Thangiing
Temple is the scene of the lai horaoba dance festival, celebrated every year
during the month of May.
Keibul Lamjao National Park
The only 'floating national park' in the world is located just 53 km from
Imphal on the banks of the Loktak lake. The park is especially known as the
last known natural habitat for the brow antelered deer or the dancing deer,
known so for its ability to balance on the drifting grounds.
Things to Do
Shopping
Handloom is a Manipuri specialty with almost each house having a loom, with
which the women of the household produce beautiful designs. Popular amongst
the designs are the moirangphee design and the snake design. Other must buys
include shawls, woolen clothing, hand decorated cushion covers, bedsheets
and hand woven scarves. These things can be bought at Paona Bazaar, Manipur
Sales Emporium, Tribal Emporium and Handloom House.
Stay At
Some of the best hotels in Imphal include Hotel Imphal (situated in North
AOC), State Guest House (situated in Babupara), Assembly Guest House
(situated in Majorkhul), Youth Hostel (situated in Khuman Lampak), Hotel
Nirmala (situated in Thangal Bazar), Hotel Excellency (situated in
Keishampat), Hotel Anand Continental (situated in Thangal Bazaar), Hotel
Prince (situated in Thangal Bazaar), Hotel White Palace (situated in Thangal
Bazaar), Hotel Pintu (situated in North AOC) and Hotel Deesh Deluxe
(situated in Thangal Bazaar).
Getting There
By Air : Imphal airport is situated just outside the main
city. Indian Airlines connects Imphal with Delhi via Guwahati on Wednesday
and Sunday. Imphal is also connected to Calcutta and some other cities in
east India.
By Rail : Dimapur, situated at a distance of 215 km is
the nearest railhead. Taxis and buses are easily available for Imphal from
Dimapur. A daily train connecting Delhi (Dep. 23:40) with Dimapur is the
Brahmaputra Mail.
By Road : Manipur state transport buses connect Imphal
with other neighbouring cities in Manipur and Nagaland.
Distance from Major Cities
- Agartala : 465 Km
- Aizwal : 374 Km
- Guwahati : 579 Km
- Itanagar : 413 Km
- Kohima : 123 Km
- Shillong : 643 Km
