Manipur, the jewel city of India, is located in the north-eastern region and is one of the most beautiful regions in the country, where Mother Nature has been especially generous with her gifts. Manipur, with its distinctive landscape, rolling hills, green valleys, turquoise lakes, and deep forests, promises to be a fantastic tourist discovery. The only floating national park in the world is Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur. Rasleelas an...
Manipur, the jewel city of India, is located in the north-eastern region and is one of the most beautiful regions in the country, where Mother Nature has been especially generous with her gifts. Manipur, with its distinctive landscape, rolling hills, green valleys, turquoise lakes, and deep forests, promises to be a fantastic tourist discovery. The only floating national park in the world is Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur. Rasleelas and Manipuri, Manipur's classical dance, are well-known throughout the country. The city is lovely, tranquil, and serene with its most euphoric simplicity, richly endowed with the natural beauty of waterfalls, lakes, streams, evergreen forests, and nine sub-Himalayan ranges that attract travelers from all over the world. Tourists are drawn to the area because of its lush vegetation and nice climate. The state's principal tourist attractions include Loktak Lake, Sendra Island, the INA Memorial, and Keibul Lamjao National Park. Apart from the colorful local shops in the various cities, shopping in Manipur is all about native handicraft, handloom, and jewelry, which are all readily accessible at the Khwairamband Bazar, Tribal Emporium, and Sangai Handloom and Handloom House.
Modern History Of Manipur
Following the war, British India headed toward independence, and the princely kingdoms that had coexisted with it became responsible for their own external affairs and defense, unless they joined the new India or Pakistan. The Maharaja continued to be the head of state after the Manipur State Constitution Act of 1947 created a democratic form of government. Maharaja Budhachandra was summoned to Shillong in order to join the Indian Union. Under coercion, he is thought to have signed the merger deal. Following that, the legislative assembly was dissolved, and Manipur was annexed by India in October 1949. The North-Eastern Areas (Reorganization) Act, 1971 established it as a Union Territory in 1956 and a full-fledged State in 1972.
Vibrant Culture and Tradition of Manipur
Manipur is a small state that is brilliant with color and has a rich culture. Many people from all over the world are likely to be drawn to their history and customs. Foreigners have long been enchanted by their beliefs and superstitions. As a result, a modest area like this deserves to be discovered and cherished.
Here are a few characteristics of Manipur culture:
Festivals
Dol Jatra (Yaoshang), Rath Jatra, Lai-Haraoba, Ramadan EID, KUT, Gang-Ngai, Chumpha, Cheiraoba, Heikru Hidongba, Lui-Ngai-Ni, and Kwak Jatra are only a few of the important festivals held in Manipur.
Cuisine
Manipuris eat rice as a staple food. Their specialty is Kabok, which consists of fried rice with a variety of vegetables. Ngri, a type of fermented fish with a peculiar odor, is a favorite among Manipuris. Nga-thongba, ooti, chagem pomba, and kangshoi are some of their favorite dishes. Their favorite vegetable, a bean called lonczak, is one of their favorites. Iromba is a marinated traditional dish with fish, veggies, and bamboo stalks.
Traditional Dress
The most common Manipuri traditional dresses for women are Innaphi and Phanek. The villagers also weave a unique Phanek called Mayek Naibi, which features horizontal stripes and is quite attractive. The Meitai women sew a cloth called Kanap Phanek, which has a variety of designs. Other Manipuri traditional costumes include 'Lai-Phi' and 'Chin-Phi.' The Pagri, a white turban, is the most popular among men. Khamen Chatpa were given to poets and intellectuals when the monarchs governed the nation. Khamen Chatpa is still worn by men of the upper classes nowadays. People nowadays only wear traditional clothing for festivals or rituals, as modernization has taken over traditional customs.
Dance
The most famous dance genre is the Raas Lila, which is based on the love story of Radha and Krishna and has dominated the state's performing arts until this point. It is held at Shree Shree Govindjee's temples in Imphal, as well as throughout the nights of Basanta Purnima, Kartik Purnima, and Sarada Purnima. The Raas Lila's prelude, Nupa Pala, is also known as Kartal Cholom or Cymbal Dance. It's a cymbal-playing, white-turban-wearing group performance by male partners. When a person dances the Pung Cholom dance, he or she is attempting to contact a deity. Manipuri Sankirtana music is based on this.
Music
When the Meities go to work in the villages, such as fishing, they sing Khullong Ishei. The song's premise is love, and the vocalist adds his own tune to the lyrics. Pena Ishei is another type of song that is accompanied by a musical instrument known as the Pena. The main theme is Khamba-love Thoibi's story. A Pena resembles a slender bamboo rod linked to the circular dried shell of a coconut gourd. The bamboo rod is gripped in the left hand, and the drum shell is placed against the chest to create the musical symphony. The curved iron rod is held with the right hand. The curved iron rod is used to massage the strings.
Handicrafts
Kauna is a type of reed that is used to make mats and pillows and is frequently exported to nations such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, France, the United Arab Emirates, and Switzerland. Manipur pottery is an age-old skill that is decorated in a variety of vibrant colors. Women practise textile weaving, which is also known as Laichamphi.
Places to visit in Manipur
- Singda Dam - The Singda Dam, at 16 kilometers from Imphal, is the world's highest mud dam. The journey to the dam is gorgeous, with rice fields and lush green hills in the background. It's a favorite picnic and hiking spot because of the beautiful vistas and relative tranquility. The water in the dam-created lake is calm and serene, instilling a sense of tranquility within. The dam is a multipurpose irrigation project that sits at 920 meters above sea level and overlooks a beautiful lake.
- Shri Govindajee Temple - The Shri Govindajee Temple, which is located near the royal palace, is one of Manipur's most popular attractions. The golden twin-domed temple, which is dedicated to Shri Govindajee but houses the idols of several other Hindu deities, including Lord Krishna, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram, Goddess Radha, Goddess Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, was built in the Nagara style of architecture and was dedicated to Shri Govindajee. The temple edifice, which is spotless white, is beautiful and was the Vaishnavites' historical center.
- Loktak Lake - Loktak Lake is largest freshwater lake in India and one of Manipur's most stunning tourist attractions. It is situated in the Imphal Valley, approximately 50 kilometers from the capital city of Imphal. The lake, as well as Sendra Island, a floating island constructed of biological waste, offer breathtaking scenery and are a must-see. Many more floating islands dot the lake, providing food for the fishing settlements nearby.
- Imphal Valley - When visiting Manipur, the Imphal Valley, an oval-shaped canyon, is a spectacular sight. It was produced by the drainage of several small rivers that discharged their water here. River Iril, Imphal, Khuga, Thoubal, and Sekmai are just a few of the rivers that spring from the surrounding hills. The valley covers an area of 1843 square kilometers, over a tenth of the state of Manipur's total land.
- Kangla Fort - Kangla Fort, as one of Manipur's most prominent tourist attractions, occupies a special position of reverence among the people of Manipur since it is a symbol of the state's greatness and rich historical past. This historic city, which served as Manipur's center of authority until 1891, is a dazzling representation of the various rulers that ruled over this enchanted kingdom. It's also a reflection of Manipur's people, their culture, and their traditions.
- Khangkhui Cave - This natural limestone cave, one of Manipur's most prominent tourist attractions, attracts visitors from all over the world. The Khangkhui Cave, which is located in Manipur's Ukhrul district, is historically significant because of the finds unearthed there, which show evidence of Stone Age habitations. These caves draw researchers and archaeologists from all across the country and beyond, in addition to normal tourists.
- Lord Sanamahi Temple - The Sanamahi Kiyong Temple, nestled deep inside the folds of the Nongmaijing Hills, is one of the best sites to visit in Manipur, offering a perfect blend of natural magnificence and rich ritualistic traditions. The temple is dedicated to Lainingthou Sanamahi, an ancient Meitei god from Imphal. On Imphal's original Manipur Rifle Ground, it was created more than a century ago.
How to reach?
- By Air - The capital of Manipur, Imphal, features an airport that is served by a number of domestic airlines. Flights to and from Imphal are available on Indian Airlines, Jetlite, and Kingfisher Airlines.
- By Rail - Manipur does not have a railway system. Guwahati, Silchar, and Dimapur are the closest railway stations to Manipur, with major services to and from the rest of the country.
- By Road - An vast network of national and state highways connects Manipur to all of the country's major cities. From Imphal to the other cities in the region, the Manipur State Transport Corporation runs regular scheduled buses
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