Imphal
State capital
Imphal, the capital of Manipur, sits in a fertile oval valley ringed by forested hills — the historic seat of the Meitei kingdom for some two thousand years, centred on the sacred Kangla Fort. It is the state's administrative, cultural and commercial heart, and the home of classical Manipuri dance and the martial art of thang-ta.
The city holds two remarkable institutions: the Kangla Fort, the ancient royal citadel, and Ima Keithel, the 500-year-old market run entirely by thousands of women. It was also the pivot of the 1944 Imphal-Kohima campaign of the Second World War, and is the base for Loktak Lake and the Sangai Festival. (Check current travel advisories before planning a visit.)
What it's known for
- The capital and the ancient Meitei royal seat (Kangla)
- Classical Manipuri dance and the martial art thang-ta
- Ima Keithel, the women-run market
- The base for Loktak Lake and the Sangai Festival
What to see in & around Imphal
See & do
- Kangla Fort and the Kangla-Sha guardians
- Ima Keithel, the mothers' market
- The WWII cemeteries and the Manipur State Museum
- Loktak Lake and the INA memorial at Moirang nearby
Getting there
Imphal airport has flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati and Bengaluru; an ILP kiosk operates at the airport. Check advisories before travel.