Manipur – Graceful Contours

One of the loveliest, but lesser known holiday destinations in the North East is Manipur. This erstwhile royal state is slowly slipping into mainstream tourism from its sheltered environs amongst the blue-hued hills and is set to be one of the hottest tourist finds in India.

One of the oldest states in the North East, Manipur enjoys its own individual identity with vigorous enthusiasm. This is reflected in the martial arts of Thang-ta and Sarit-Sarak. Its artistic learning are visible in its graceful Ras Leela dance form and intricate hand-woven shawls. The Meiteis (of Tibeto-Burman provenance) Manipur’s primary populace, inhabit the fertile Imphal valley whose eastern periphery lies in the Chindwin-Irrawaddy basin. In the surrounding hills reside the Nagas in the north and its Kuki-Mizo populace to the south.

This shangrila of the North East has a galaxy of natural wonders and cultural traditions to be enjoyed at leisure. Home of colourful people and dazzling rituals, myth and legends, lively festivals and an evocative classical dance form, martial arts and indigenous games, Manipur offers visitors a comprehensive diversity of tourist delights. The stunning environs of the Loktak Lake are a wonderful natural and cultural experience. Sundry wars in which the Manipuris played a role are commemorated in the INA museum and war memorials.

Also known as the land of Radha and Krishna, Manipur, in the best of traditions, has gifted to India’s classical dance repertoire her lyrical Ras Leels dance that re-enacts the love story of Radha and Krishna. The Lai Haraoba (Spring Festival) is also celebrated with the Manipuri’s graceful movements in all dance forms. Even its expressive tribal folk dances are performed with traditionally aesthetic movements.

Manipur Cities

Bishnupur	Chandel	Churachandpur
Imphal	Senapati	Tamenglong
Ukhrul

Tourist Attractions in Manipur

Central Khonghampat Orchidarium : Manipur has at least 500 different varieties of orchids. The Central Khonghampat Orchidarium, just 7 km away from Imphal, offers visitors an excellent opportunity to see at least 110 species which are showcased here.

Moirang : Moirang used to be the focal point of Manipur’s early Meitei culture. Located 45 km from Imphal, the town has an ancient temple of the pre-Hindu deity Lord Thangjing. Every May, men and women, dressed in colourful traditional costumes sing and dance during the Lai Haraoba ritual dance festival to honour the deity.

Loktak Lake and Sendra Island : One of the most enchanting and biggest freshwater lakes in the North East is Manipur’s Loktak Lake, just 45 km from Imphal. The Sendra Island Tourist Bungalow offers dazzling views of the lake, its rich plant and avian life and the intriguing floating weed, shallow bowl-like islands (Phumdi) and the fishermen who live on them harvesting water chestnuts.

Langthabal : Set amidst stands of jackfruit and pine, Langthabal (8 km down the Indo-Myanmar road) is dotted with relics of an old, historic palace, temples of architectural importance and ceremonial houses.

Kangchup : The health resort of Kangchup, 16 km from Imphal, offers lovely views of the Manipur valley from its lofty perch at a height of 921 m.

Waithou : Close to the Waithou Lake, on the Indo-Burma road, is a village famous for pineapples.

Kaina : On the lofty heights of the Kaina Hills (29 km) lies a legendary temple where the famous Ras Leela dance is performed on particular days.

Khongjom : Khongjom, 36 km on the Indo-Burma road, is known for the martyrdom of Manipur’s Major General Paona Brajabashi in 1891. Khongjom Day is celebrated on April 23 every year.

Tengnoupal : You can also enjoy grandstand views of the Manipur valley from Tengnoupal (69 km), the highest point on the Imphal-Burma road.

Adventure Sports in Manipur

What used to be a national pastime has taken on great importance for Manipur in the field of national sports and promoting adventure activities to tourists.

Today, nodal agencies have been set up to promote different adventure sports as well as to impart training. The indigenous martial arts and games of Manipur have become world-renowned and are an important feature of the tourist experience in this lovely state. Some of these are :

The Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association : Lamdan (Sudarshan Peak), near Loktak Hydro-electric Power Project.

The Manipur Adventure and Allied Sports Institute: Kairao, and Tourist Home in Siroi Hills near Ukhrul.

The Adventure Academy of Manipur: RIMS, South Gate, Imphal – offers courses and assistance in white water rafting in the state.

Fairs and Festivals in Manipur

Ras Leela : Manipur’s famous classical dance form, Ras Leela, is based on the legendary love of Radha-Krishna and the devotion of the Gopis to Lord Krishna. Performances (in a mandap close to a temple) can sometimes last all night. Shri Govindaji Temple is an important venue for these performances, particularly on the night of Basanta Purnima and Kartika Purnima. This performance here spearheads other performances in the city’s various venues.

Lai Haraoba : The spring festival of Lai Haraoba (April/May) is a harmonious blend of stylized and ritualistic dances for peace and prosperity performed in honour of the local sylvan deities in the Manipur Valley. The one at Moirang Attracts huge crowds.

Yaosang : Manipur’s biggest festival Yaosang is celebrated for five days commencing from the full-moon day of the lunar month of Phalgun (Feb-March). The festivities ring with the music of Thabal Chongba, a folk dance linked with the festival.

Heikru Hidongba : The high point of the annual celebrations of Heikru Hidongba or Hitongba, the colourful boat races, are held at Imphal in September.

Cheiraoba : In the month of April, the Cheiraoba celebrations are a joyous occasion for all. Houses are given a facelift with decorations and the deities bless the food eaten. Cheiraoba marks the New Year for the Meiteis. An unusual tradition is the climb of the villagers up to nearby hilltops in the belief that it enables them to rise to heights in their worldly life.

Ningol Chak Kouba : The annual Meitei festival of Ningol Chak Kouba, Organized in October/November, features lavish feasts being arranged by the parents and brothers to honour their married daughters and sisters.

Gan-Ngai : Celebrated by the Kabui Nagas, Gan-Ngai is a colourful blending of rituals, feasts and dances. The five days festival is celebrated in December-January.

Ratha Yatra : The Ratha Yatra or Car Festival is held in June-July in the Imphal Valley.

Kwak Yatra: The centuries old Kwak Yatra (corresponding to Durga Puja) is observed around October in the Valley.

Chumpha: The Chumpha festival of the Tangkhul Nagas is held in early December.

Shopping in Manipur

Manipur’s main shopping attractions are the traditional Manipuri handwoven textiles. The Manipuri dance doll with its graceful stances is a lovely memento to buy for family and friends. A visit to the famous IMA ‘Khwairamband Bazar’ where 3000 Imas or mothers sell all varieties of goods, is a great tourist attraction.

Popular Shopping Outlets

Handloom House, Paona Bazar
Manipur Handlooms & Handicrafts Development Corporation, Paona Bazar
Eastern Handlooms & Handicrafts, Paona Bazar
Manipur Development Society, Uripok

Recommended tourist Circuits

1. Imphal – Moirang – Loktak Lake – Keibul Lamjao National Park and back
2. Imphal –Ukhrul- Imphal

Access : Imphal, the capital, is connected by air with Delhi and Kolkata. The nearest railhead is Dimapur. Imphal is connected by road with Kohima, Guwahati, Silchar and Shillong.

Temperature : Summer: 14 C to 32 C. Winter 0 C to 25 C.

Best time to Visit : From October to March. The monsoons are from April to October.

Games and Martial Arts in Manipur

The itinerant wars with Burma and the competitive edge amongst the small kingdoms of Manipur became a springboard for its martial arts. In time these have become an integral part of its cultural ethos.

Tracing its history back to the 33 AD, the lively games of Sagol Kangjei can be seen as the mother of modern polo. The Pana-style polo of Manipur is played with the famous Manipuri pony (not more than 4.5’ tall) and involves 7 players on each side. This particular version of polo is swifter than the modern game played in international arenas. Players use a cane stick with an angled wooden striking head and the ball is made of bamboo root. Both the indigenous version and the international styles of polo are popular in Manipur.

The Manipuri version of hockey Khong Kangjei is played with 7 players on each side. The game, vigorous and volatile, is an admixture of hockey, football, rugby and wrestling.

The last day of the Lai Haraoba festival is punctuated with Kukna, the Manipur version of wrestling. The opponents are matched by physical built and weight, but have no other rules – so it’s a general free for all. The game once enjoyed royal patronage.

The lively game of Yubi-Lakpi (akin to modern-day rugby) is played with an oil-smeared coconut and has its roots in Hindu mythology. It is considered a re-enactment of the celestial snatching of the pot of nectar after the Samudra Manthan. It is played with 7 players on either side and to score a goal, the player has to pass the goal line with his greased coconut.

Between the Manipuri New Year Day and the Rath Yatra festival, contestants meet up on the mud floor of a mandap to play Manipur’s famous indoor game, the Kang. This game of skill involves living fixed targets with a flat, oblong disc (kang) made of ivory or lac, and 7 players on each side. A game of mixed doubles allows women to participate as well.

Two of Manipur’s very popular ritualistic martial arts are the Thang-ta and Sarit-Sarak. A great deal of dexterity and practive are needed to perform the elaborate and precise rituals of this battle-craft, which involves spears, swords and shields. Rules have to be abided strictly.

How to reach Manipur

By Air : Nearest airport Imphal (7 km from downtown). Indian Airlines/Alliance Air and Jet Airways connect Imphal with Delhi (3 hrs 45 min). Kolkata (one hr), Guwahati (50 min), Aizawl (30 min), Jorhat (35 min) and Silchar (30 min).

By Rail : Nearest Railhead Dimapur or Manipur Road, (on the North-East Frontier Railway (NEF), in Nagaland, 215 km from Imphal). Regular bus services to Imphal are available from Dimapur. The Journey takes around 8-9 hours. The other railway station is Jiribam, a small town on Manipur-Assam border, 225 km away.

By Road : Imphal is connected by road to all the important cities in the North East. Once can reach Imphal by road from Silchar in Assam by NH 53. Buses are available and take about 10 hrs to cover the distance of 225 km between Dimapur in Nagaland and Imphal (215 km) on NH 39, and from Guwahati to Imphal along NH 39 (495 km).