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About
Manipur Tours
 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".
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.
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.
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.
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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