Imphal - Hilltop Trips India
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Imphal - इम्फाल
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 Photo by : dicintio in webshots More Imphal images ... |
Imphal, the tiny capital city of the northeastern state of Manipur, is an ideal destination off the beaten track. The landscape of green-blue hills, lush fields and low clouds is like an exquisite painting.
Hill Resort | Elevation | Travel | Season | Tourist places | Accommodation | Location | Imphal Map
If you want to add a touch of glamour to your visit, plan a trip to the city during November when Imphal becomes the stage for a national festival of classical dance on the lines of the Khajuraho, Ellora and Badrinath festivals.If you are one of those who are always on the lookout for the quaint and the unusual, get off the beaten track and visit Imphal. You may feel that Imphal is too far away but this is not really true. It is far easier to reach than you may think. You can reach either through Calcutta or Guwahati by any fast train or fly down to either of these places and then to Imphal. The airfare in the northeastern sector is highly subsidized and is just a little more than the first-class railway fare. Alternatively, you may take a bus from Guwahati. The road journey, though a little tiring and time consuming, brings to you unspoilt scenes, limitless greens, virgin forests and crisp air. However, if you wish to travel by road, keep a passport-size photograph handy because you will required to get an Inner Line Permit-a mere formality-for traveling through Nagaland to reach Imphal.
Yet another special feature of Imphal is the Archery Stakes that are held everyday on various low-lying stretches of ground just below a stand of conifers. Evolved from an ancient tribal sport, it is still very popular in Manipur and one can see archers shooting as many as 500 arrows within a span of a few minutes. For the history buffs, there is in the heart of the city the Old Palace with interesting ruins of an old fortress wall and a palace.
The best way to visit the places in Imphal is to hire an auto-rickshaw or a cycle-rickshaw on an hourly basis. It will take you to all the interesting sites and finally to the central market where you can spend as much time as you like.
Lying at the center of Manipur valley, Imphal is one of the most ancient towns in the Indian subcontinent and has much to offer to a discerning tourist.
Shri Govindjee Temple is Manipur's pre-eminent Vaishnavite temple. It has two gold domes and has an impressive large prayer hall. This temple is a simple yet beautiful structure. Twin domes, a paved courtyard, and a large raised congregation hall forma perfect backdropfor priests who descend the steps, to accept offerings from devotees in the courtyard. The shrines of Krishna and Balaramand Jagannath flank the teo sides of the presiding deity.
The core of Imphal's traditions, however, lies in its various temples. The most important of these is the Shri Govindajee Temple, a historic center for Vaishnavites. A simple, twin-domed structure, it adjoins the magnificent palace of the former rulers of Manipur. Constructed in the early 18th century under the Rajarishi Bhagyachandra regime, the temple comes alive during festivals when thousands of people come to offer prayers. In fact the best time to visit it is during Holi, also known in Manipur as Dolijatra or Yaosong when boys and girls do the Thaba Changba folk dance, all night. In the center of the temple stands the presiding deity, Lord Vishnu flanked by the shrines of Balarama and Krishna on one side and Jagannatha on the other. The temple also has a paved court and a large raised congregation hall.
One of the main features of Imphal is the Khwairamband Bazaar. What makes this market different is that it is run by women. Split into two sections on either side of the road, it has tribal women clad in colorful, traditional attire, selling everything from hand-woven shawls, skirts, vessels, mugs and mats to fish, lotus, oranges and orange-flavored honey. And if you wander in the quaint by lanes around the market, you will get a glimpse of Manipur's customs and traditions.
Book Rooms and Resorts at Imphal using yatra.com
From Rs. 849 to Rs. 1,477 Hotel Anand Continental - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 960 to Rs. 1,800 Hotel Bheigo - at cleartrip.com
Hotel Prince at Rs. 964 - at cleartrip.com
Hill Resort | Elevation | Travel | Season | Tourist places | Accommodation | Location | Imphal Map
The Hill Resort
Imphal, the capital of Manipur, lies in the heart of an oval shaped valley. Imphal is a bustling mini-metropolis situated at an altitude of 790 m above sea level. One school of scholars thinks that the town was founded in the 3rd century BC making it one of the oldest state capitals of the country. It derives its name from yumpham, which means homestead.If you want to add a touch of glamour to your visit, plan a trip to the city during November when Imphal becomes the stage for a national festival of classical dance on the lines of the Khajuraho, Ellora and Badrinath festivals.If you are one of those who are always on the lookout for the quaint and the unusual, get off the beaten track and visit Imphal. You may feel that Imphal is too far away but this is not really true. It is far easier to reach than you may think. You can reach either through Calcutta or Guwahati by any fast train or fly down to either of these places and then to Imphal. The airfare in the northeastern sector is highly subsidized and is just a little more than the first-class railway fare. Alternatively, you may take a bus from Guwahati. The road journey, though a little tiring and time consuming, brings to you unspoilt scenes, limitless greens, virgin forests and crisp air. However, if you wish to travel by road, keep a passport-size photograph handy because you will required to get an Inner Line Permit-a mere formality-for traveling through Nagaland to reach Imphal.
Yet another special feature of Imphal is the Archery Stakes that are held everyday on various low-lying stretches of ground just below a stand of conifers. Evolved from an ancient tribal sport, it is still very popular in Manipur and one can see archers shooting as many as 500 arrows within a span of a few minutes. For the history buffs, there is in the heart of the city the Old Palace with interesting ruins of an old fortress wall and a palace.
The City
One of the few places in India where nothing seems to have changed is Imphal, a tiny valley tucked away in the northeastern state of Manipur. Relics of an old, historical palace, well-planned temples and ceremonial houses in all their splendor amidst the tall pine and jackfruit trees, speak of Imphal's ancient past. At places, Imphal looks almost like a painting-clouds hanging low over long stretches of lush green fields and numerous small hills of the green-blue Koubrou and Namaijing ranges forming a garland around the valley. Adding a riot of color are hundreds of orchids.The best way to visit the places in Imphal is to hire an auto-rickshaw or a cycle-rickshaw on an hourly basis. It will take you to all the interesting sites and finally to the central market where you can spend as much time as you like.
Lying at the center of Manipur valley, Imphal is one of the most ancient towns in the Indian subcontinent and has much to offer to a discerning tourist.
Shopping
Sales Emporium, Manipur Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd., Paona Bazaar, Imphal (Ph: 20340). Eastern Handlooms and Handicrafts, Paona Bazaar, ImphalMiscellaneous
Foreign tourists visiting Manipur require Restricted Area Permit issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi. Domestic tourists visiting Manipur by road via Dimapur, Kohima, require inner line permit issued by the sub-divisional officer (Civil), Government of Nagaland, Dimapur. For further details, tourists may contact: Tourist Information Center, Directorate of Tourism, Government of India Tourist Office, Jail Road, Imphal 795001 (Ph: 21131). Because Imphal is situated in the extreme east of the country, the sun rises and sets quite early. So, plan your excursions accordingly.Some entertainment
The Polo Ground is one of the main features of the city. According to the legends, the Manipuri game of Sagol Kangjei is the original form of the modern game of polo.Elevation
Imphal - 790 metres
TopLocation Details
In the state of Manipur in India.How to Reach There and Distances
Imphal is 567 km from Agartala, 3067 km from Ahmedabad, 2949 km from Amritsar, 3489 km from Bangalore, 2517 km from Bhopal, 2100 km from Bhubaneshwar, 3316 km from Mumbai, 1620 km from Calcutta, 2752 km from Chandigarh, 2503 km from Delhi, 1094 km from Gangtok, 469 km from Guwahati, 2923 km from Hyderabad, 4088 km from Thiruvananthapuram, 3394 km from Srinagar, 2871 km from Shimla, 520 km from Shillong, 1492 km from Patna, 3635 km from Panaji, 3298 km from Chennai, 1979 km from Lucknow, 123 km from Kohima, 3089 km from Jammu, 2533 km from Jaipur, and 495 km from Itanagar.Air
Imphal is connected with major cities like Delhi, Guwahati, Calcutta and Silchar with Indian Airlines flights. Tourist coaches are operated betwen Hotel Imphal (a unit of Tourism Department, Govt. of Manipur) and the Imphal airport daily. Tourists may contact Tourism Department's Reception Counter at Imphal airport for booking, information and assistance. Indian Airlines office is situated at Mahatma Gandhi Avenue, Imphal. Tel :- 220999.Rail
Dimapur 215 km from Imphal, is the nearest railhead. Another railhead is at Jiribam, a small town on Manipur's border. It is 225 km from Imphal.Road
Imphal is connected by road with Guwahati through National Highway No.39 and Silchar through National Highway No. 53. Imphal is about 579 km from Guwahati, and there are State Transport buses and other private bus which gives regular services to connect these two cities. Auto and cycle rickshaws are the main means of transport within Imphal, and taxis and rental cars can also be booked.Best Season to Visit/Weather
Best time to Travel: October to March.Weather Conditions
The climate of Imphal is moderate. The months of November, December, January and February remain dry and the remaining eight months are more or less rainy. January is very cold in winter and May-June are the hottest in summer.Tourist places near Imphal
Places to visit
Shaheed Minar. The indomitable spirit of the Meitei and tribal martyrs who sacrificed their lives while fighting the British in 1891, is commemorated by this tall Minar at Bir Tekendrajit Park in the heart of Imphal.War Cemeteries
Commemorating the memories of the British and Indian soldiers who died during World War II, these cemeteries are managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Serene and well maintained, the graves carry little stone markers and bronze plaques recording the sacrifice of those gallant soldiers.Langthabal
8 km down the Indo-Myanmar road lies his small hill feature with relics of an old,historic palace, temples of architectural importance and ceremonial houses. Set among symmetrically planted jackfruit and pine trees. Langthabal offers a view of the Manipur University and some picturesque vistas.The Manipur State Museum
The Manipur State Museum is another place that is worth a visit. The museum has a rich collection of Manipuri costumes, war implements, historical documents and relics, and gives you a sample of the state's complex history. Here, the visitors can also see sculptures of the local forest gods, and the motif of the Phakangba, the man who could turn himself into a dragon. Represented in his dragon form, Phakangba is considered as the ancestor of all Vaishnavites. All these things speak about the importance that the Manipuris attach to the organic relations of humanity with nature. Right in the heart of the city is the tall Shahid Minar at the Bir Tirkendrajit Park that was built in memory of Manipur's martyrs who sacrificed their lives for India's independence. From another era, there are the famous cemeteries of the British and the Indian armies that commemorate those who died in the Second World War. Well maintained by the Commonwealth Grave Commissions, it has stone markers and stone plaques, each of which has a record of the sacrifice made by the soldiers.Khonghampat Orchidarium
It is spread over 200 acres with over a hundred species of orchids. It lies 7 km from Imphal on National Highway 39 and is best visited during peak blooming season in April and May when the orchids are in bloom.nbsp; Eight kilometers from Imphal, at the foot of the pine-covered hillocks, you will find a wealth of rare birds, animals and reptiles at the Manipur Zoological Gardens. In the zoo's sylvan surroundings, you will even get a glimpse of one of the rarest species of deer in the world, the graceful brow-antlered thamin deer.Shri Govindjee Temple is Manipur's pre-eminent Vaishnavite temple. It has two gold domes and has an impressive large prayer hall. This temple is a simple yet beautiful structure. Twin domes, a paved courtyard, and a large raised congregation hall forma perfect backdropfor priests who descend the steps, to accept offerings from devotees in the courtyard. The shrines of Krishna and Balaramand Jagannath flank the teo sides of the presiding deity.
The core of Imphal's traditions, however, lies in its various temples. The most important of these is the Shri Govindajee Temple, a historic center for Vaishnavites. A simple, twin-domed structure, it adjoins the magnificent palace of the former rulers of Manipur. Constructed in the early 18th century under the Rajarishi Bhagyachandra regime, the temple comes alive during festivals when thousands of people come to offer prayers. In fact the best time to visit it is during Holi, also known in Manipur as Dolijatra or Yaosong when boys and girls do the Thaba Changba folk dance, all night. In the center of the temple stands the presiding deity, Lord Vishnu flanked by the shrines of Balarama and Krishna on one side and Jagannatha on the other. The temple also has a paved court and a large raised congregation hall.
One of the main features of Imphal is the Khwairamband Bazaar. What makes this market different is that it is run by women. Split into two sections on either side of the road, it has tribal women clad in colorful, traditional attire, selling everything from hand-woven shawls, skirts, vessels, mugs and mats to fish, lotus, oranges and orange-flavored honey. And if you wander in the quaint by lanes around the market, you will get a glimpse of Manipur's customs and traditions.
Shopping
Khwairamband, a unique all women's market in Imphal, having 3000 "Imas" or mothers who run the stalls is split into two sections on either side of the road. Vegetables,fruits, fish and household groceries are soldon one side and exquisite handlooms and household tools on the other. Not far away is a street where beautiful wickerworks and basketry are sold.Around the city
Loktak Lake and Sendra Island It lies 48 km south of Imphal, and is a huge water body, fed by numerous rivers and dotted with islands. It is home to a community of fishermen, who live on large floating rafts made of reeds. Rare and endangered dancing Sangai, brow-antlered deer, live on the floating vegetation that covers much of the lake also supports hog deers. From the Tourist Bungalow set atop Sendra Island,visitors get a birds eye view of life on the lake - small islands that are actually floating weed. The Sendra Tourist Home with an attached cafeteria in the middle of the lake is an ideal tourist spot. Boating and other water sports are being introduced here.Keibul Lamjao National Park
Much of the lake comes under the Keibul Lamjao National Park, which is 53 km form Imphal. It is the only floating National Park in the world. Many waterfowl and migratory birds visit the Lake during November and March.Moirang
It is situated 45 km south of Imphal, is a centre of Meithei culture, with a temple devoted to the pre-Hindu deity Thangjing. Here, a large festival is organised each May. There is also a memorial and museum to commemorate the unfurling of Indian flag by Indian National Army, under Netaji Subhas Chandra Boss. here is an INA museum, which contains letters, photographs, badges of rank and other articles associated with this movement. There is also a statue of Netaji. The graceful Khamba-Thoibi dance originated here.Phubala
40 km from Imphal on the western fringe of the Loktak lake to the South of Imphal is a charming little resort,linked to the mainland by a narrow causeway. Boating and other water sports are being introduced here.Bishnupur
27 km from Imphal on the Tiddim Road, is a picturesque town situated at the foot hills that roll down to valley. The 15th century Vishnu temple built of peculiarly small bricks supposedly of Chinese influence during the reign of King Kiyamba is of historical importance. Bishnupur is also famous for it's chiselled stoneware.Kaina
It is a hillock about 921 m above the sea level and a sacred place of the Hindus. The scenery is charming and the hill shrubs and natural surroundings give the place a saintly and religious atmosphere. It is only 29 km from Imphal by bus via Thoubal.Khongjom
36 km on the Indo-Myanmar road. A war broke out between Manipur and British India in 1891 and Manipur was invaded from three directions. The British troops that came from Myanmar were resisted at Khongjom with heavy casualities. A war memorial has been constructed on top of Kheba hill. Khongjom Day is celebrated every year on April 23.Churachandpur
It is on the Tiddim Road,60 km from Imphal and is one of the most beautiful places for sightseeing and holidaying.Inhabited by the hill tribes,it is an advanced tribal town and district headquarters where products of arts and crafts of the area are available in local market.Tamenglong
It is 156 km from Imphal and is the district headquartersof the Tamenglong district. This region is known for it's deep gorges, mysterious caves and splendid waterfalls and it's exotic orchids. The Tharon cave, Buning meadow, Zailad lakes, Barak waterfalls are some of the places of tourist interest. Rongmei, Lengmei, Zemei and Puimei Nagas are dominant tribes of Tamenglong.Waithou Lake
16 km on Indo-Myanmar road. A picturesque site famous for it's pineapple slopes. A tourist lodge at the fringe of the lake.Tengnoupal
69 km from Imphal. The highest point on the Indo-Myanmar road, from here one can have a full view of the valley of Manipur.Moreh
110 km from Imphal. This border town is located on the Indo-Myanmar road. A commercial town attracting a large number of people from neighbouring places. It is only 5 km away from Tamu, it's Myanmar counterpart. Tamu depicts a total change in the attire and eating habits of the people and in the architecture of it's buildings.Ukhrul
83 km east of Imphal, this district headquarters of Manipur East is the highest hill station of the state. A centre of the colourful warrior tribe Tangkhul Nagas, it is well developed and famous for a peculiar type of land-lily, the Siroi, grown on Siroi hills. Siroi Hills and Khangkhui Lime caves are interesting places for excursions.Ukhrul bears gay and festive appearance during Christmas.Kangchup
Kangchup 921 m above sea level, 16 km from Imphal in west,is a health resort on the hills of over-looking the Manipur valley. The scenery is picturesque and worth seeing. With the construction of Singla Dam at Kangchup the place has become one of the important picnic spots.Red Hill (Lokpaching)
Red Hill is a hillock about 16km from Imphal on Tiddim Road. It is a thrilling spot where a fierce battle took place between the British and the Japanese forces in the World War II and regarded as a holy place. The Japanese War Veteran had constructed "India Peace Memorial", a monument in memory of Japanese Martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the fierce battle.Accommodation
Book Rooms and Resorts at Imphal using yatra.com
From Rs. 849 to Rs. 1,477 Hotel Anand Continental - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 960 to Rs. 1,800 Hotel Bheigo - at cleartrip.com
Hotel Prince at Rs. 964 - at cleartrip.com
 Photo by : dicintio in webshots |
 Photo by : dicintio in webshots |
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 Photo by : Empress Bach in flickr |
 Photo by : maibam in flickr |
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