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Sreenyanika Das

Come see the serenity of Manipur

The gateway to north east India is Manipur (land of jewels). The smoky blue mountains, lush green f orestsmake it a f ascinating destination f or tourists. Legends say that the god took the delight of discovering Manipurby dancing. It gives Manipur a unique identity. The evergreen scenic beauty, the rich cultures attract the touriststo visit this place. The divine dance f orm of Manipur is one of the reasons why it is so attracting to thetravellers. This t iny state of Manipur is the land of myths and mystery and serenity of this place isoverwhelming.

Reasons why you should keep Manipur in your list :

This serene destination summons tourists with it ’s breathtaking beauty, serene lakes, silent hills, ref reshingwaterf alls, beautif ul orchids and a rich history. As the tourism in Manipur is growing day by day, the Manipurgovernment is improving the the f acilit ies and inf rastructure of Manipur. Manipur Tourism is also planning topromote Loktak Tourist/Wildlif e Circuit and Ethnic/Adventure Circuit. These travel circuits are going to drawtourists towards the unique Loktak lake and of f er a mix of ethnic tourism and adventure sports in the hillydistricts of Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong inhabited by various Naga tribes. Manipur tourism can alsoprovide you with inf ormations like places to visit, accomodation booking servic, places to eat and events andalso a wide range of local maps and Manipur Tourism Guide books.

Places to see in Manipur:

Loktak lake and sendra island

Loktak lake is the largest f reshwater lake in North India well known f or it ’s f loating vegetation called ‘phumdi’.48 km. f rom Imphal, A huge and beautif ul stretch of water, this lake is like a miniature inland sea. From theTourist Bungalow, set atop Sendra Island, visitors can get a bird’s eye view of the lake and the lif e on it, thef isherman and their f amilies who live in neat huts on its shores and who make f ull use of their wateryenvironment.

Kaina Hillock

29 kilometres away f rom Imphal. A beautif ul hillock, about 921 meters above sea level, Kaina is a sacred placeof Hindus. According to legend, Shri Govindajee appeared to His devotee Bheigyachandra, Maharaja ofManipur, in a dream and asked him to build a temple enshrined with His image carved out of a jackf ruit treewhich was then growing at Kaina. Beautif ul hill shrubs and charming natural surroundings give the place asaintly solemnity.

Shree Shree Govindajee Temple

This temple is adjacent to the palace of the f ormer rulers of Manipur. It is a historic centre f or Vaisnavites. It isa simple and beautif ul structure with gold domes, a paved courtyard and a large, raised assembly hall. Thepresiding deity in the centre is bordered by idols of Radha Govinda, Balaram and Krishna on one side andJagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra on the other.

Manipur Zoological Garden

About 6 kilometres away f rom Imphal in the Zoological Garden at Iroishemba on the Imphal Kangchup Road.Gracef ul brow-antlered deer, “Sangai” one of the rarest species in the world, can be seen here in sylvansurroundings. A trip to this garden, at the f oot of the pine-growing hillocks in the westernmost corner ofLamphelpat is really enjoyable.

Khonghampat Orchidarium

The Orchid Yard of the Forest Department, on National Highway No 39, about 7 km. f rom Imphal is anotherplace of interest. More than 110 varieties of Orchids, including several rare species, are grown here. Peakseason is April-May.

Apart f rom these places, don’t miss a visit to the war cemeteries, Langthabal (old historical place), Moirang (anancient and ethnic village), Moreh (on Indo-Burma road, dif f erent architecture), Singda, Phulbala, Khongjom(historically important), Sahid Minar, Andro (another ancient villege), Keibul Lamjao National Park, Sekta(archaeological living museum), Manipur State Museum (open f rom 10.00 am to 4.30 pm. Sunday and holidaysclosed) and Khwairamband bazaar where you can get colourf ul handloom shawls, phaneks, khudeis, bedsheetsetc. The most interesting thing about this market is its run by women. Not f ar f rom here, is a street wherebeautif ul cane baskets and f urniture are sold. Other smaller markets are Singjamei, Kongba, Lamlong,Kwakeithel, Heirangkhoithong, Terakeithel, Naoremthong etc.

Best Time To Visit Manipur:

The ideal t ime to visit Manipur is during the months of October to May when the weather is pleasant andsunny.

How To Reach Manipur:

By Air: Imphal, the capital of Manipur has an airport, which serves various domestic airlines.

By Rail: Manipur has no railway network. The nearest railway stations to Manipur are at Guwahati, Silchar andDimapur that are connected by important trains to and f rom the rest of the country.

By Road: Manipur is well connected with all- important cit ies of the country by an extensive network of Nationaland State Highways. Manipur State Transport Corporation operates regular scheduled buses f rom Imphal tothe other cit ies in the region.

If you think the inf ormation above isn’t helping enough, just contact us. We are happy to help. Happy Journey!