Manipur Tourism
Capital : Imphal
Area : 22,300 Sq. km.
Population : 2.1 Million
Languages : Manipuri
Literacy rate :60%
Best Time To Visit : All year around
Nestling within a lush green corner of North East India,
is the amazingly beautiful little shangri-la called Manipur. Literally
meaning ' a jewelled land ', this little state of India is a veritable
paradise, where Nature can be espied in all her magnificence.
Tourist Attraction of Manipur
Imphal
The capital of Manipur, Imphal is a bustling minimetropolis situated at
a height of 790 m above sea level. It is connected by road with Guwahati
(Assam) through National Highway N.o. 39 and Silchar (Assam) through National
Highway No. 53.
Khomghampat Orchidarium
7 kms from Imphal on Highway No. 39, is the Central Orchidarium, which
covers 200 acres and houses over 120 rare varieties of orchids, which
include almost a dozen endemic species. The peak blooming season is April-May.
Manipur Zoological Gardens
6 km to the west of Imphal, at the foot of the pine growing hillocks at
Iroisemba, on the Imphal-Kangchup Road are the Zoological gardens. The
most important inhabitant of this park, is the graceful Brow Antlered
Deer, one of the rarest species in the world.
Bishnupur
27 kms from Imphal is Bishnupur, famous for the conical roofed shrine,
dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Built in 1467, during the reign of King Kiyamba,
the temple is interesting for its antiquity and Chinese design. Bishnupur
is also renown for its stone production
Moirang
45 kms away is Moirang, one of the principal centres of early Manipuri
folk culture, with an ancient temple of the pre-Hindu deity Lord Thangjing.
In May, men and women attired brilliantly sing and dance in honour of
the Lord at the Moirang Lai Haraoba, a ritual dance festival held annually.
Ukhrul
83 kms to the east of Imphal, this district headquarters of Manipur East,
is the highest hill station of Manipur. A centre of the colourful warrior
tribe Tangkhul Nagas, it is well developed, and renowned for a peculiar
type of landlily - the Siroi, grown on the Siroi Hills. Siroi Hills and
KhangKhui Lime Caves are interesting places for excursions.
Kaina
It is a hillrock, about 920 m above sea level, and a sacred place of the
Hindus. The sylvan surroundings, and the aura of serenity that envelopes
it, add to the solemnity of the site. Kaina is only 29 kms from Imphal.
Keibul Lam Jao National Park
This tiny park, perched on the edges of the Loktak Lake, is home to the
Sangai or Manipur brow-antlered deer (the endangered dancing deer). It
has the unique distinction of being the only floating National Park in
the world. Only 40 sq.km in area, the park was once a hunting reserve.
It was declared a sanctuary in 1954 when a great number of the Sangai
were getting seriously decimated. The deer, noted for their curving antlers,
live on the floating vegetation on the Loktak Lake.
