Imphal
Imphal is the capital of this beautiful land. Its blue-green hills, its flora & fauna, winding rivers are clear signals inviting the tourist to come and spend time. The Polo Ground dominates the landscape of the town; according to local legend, the Manipuri game of Sagol Kangjei is the original form of modern-day polo. Manipur's proud heritage is encapsulated in a building that goes by the somewhat prosaic name of the State Museum. This museum displays Manipur's works of art, archaeology, natural history, and textiles. There is also a gallery containing a collection of portraits of former rulers of Manipur. And for those interested in vintage arms and weaponry, this museum has a section that displays some of the armoury of the British Raj.

LoktakLake
About 45 km away from Imphal is Loktak Lake and Sendra Island, which is part of the land's ecosystem. From the vantage point of a Tourist Home on Sendra Island, one can see the vastness of a mini-sea that surrounds the island; and, at the same time get to know how the fishermen and their families live. These people live in neat but small hurs along the shores of the island. They cast their nets on the lake, rear fish farms and use the fishing nets as floating walls. They also harvest water chestnurs (known as heikak). Also interesting for the visitor is the fisher-people's practice of building houses on islands of floating weed that drift around the lake.

Moirang
Subhas Chandra Bose's intrepid warriors first unfurled the Indian flag in 1944, ensuring Moirang - barely 45 km from Imphal - a permanent spot in history. The INA Museum preserves the moment for posterity, displaying a collection of letters, photographs, articles, various records and other items of interest.

The hot seat of Manipuri folk culture and craft, Moirang is also the location of an ancient temple of the pre-Hindu deity, Lord Thangjing. During the Lai Haraoba festival held in April/May, men and women in colourful traditional garb present dances in honour of the Lord. It is in Moirang too that the graceful Khamba- Thoibi dance originated, traditionally celebrated in April I May. The ritual dance festival of Lai Haraoba is held annually.

Keibul Lamjao National Park
On the fringes of Loktak lake is the Keibul Lamjao National Park.This National Park's habitat consists of the endangered dancing deer, the Sangai, or brow-antlered deer, of Manipur. But this Park's real claim to fame is that it is the only floating National Park' in the world.

Khonghampat Orchidarium

Lovers of orchids can find no less than 120 species of orchids, barely 12 km from Imphal. All these are located in the Khonghampat Orchidarium. Zoological Garden
Barely 5 km from Imphal on the Imphal-Kangchup road is a Zoological Garden at Iroishemba. It is here that one can find one of the rarest species of deer - the brow antlered deer or Sangai in Manipuri.

ImaMarket
Handloom and handicraft products are sold by women at this unique market in Imphal - it's the only market in the country owned and run exclusively by women. Must-buys at the market include colourful cotton wraps.

People
The people of Manipur include the Meitei, Naga, Meitei Pan gal, Bamon and other communities. The Meiteis, Bamons or the Brahmins, and Pangals mainly live in the valley. There are a number of different tribes who also live in Manipur, most of whom are hill tribes - such as Tangkul, Mao, Kom, Purum, Ralte, Serna, Salte, Vaiphei, Monsang, Lamgang, and Zhou. Meitei-lon (the Meitei language, or Manipuri) is a common language generally used for purposes of communication.

However, several of these tribes have their own language, tradition and culture. These people have lived together in harmony for centuries. Their folklore, myths and legends, dances, local games, martial arts, handloom products and handicrafts invariably have links with nature.

History
Manipur's history, like that of her neighbouring states, goes back to the ages: the ancient Meitei history centres around stories of the forefathers of the people. This land and its people have a varied and proud history.

Manipur came under British rule after the Manipuris were defeated in the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891, after which the state was ruled as a Princely State by its own Maharaja who, no doubt, was guided by policies as laid down by the British Raj.

During the years preceding Independence, Maharaja Buddhachandra Singh (1941-55) along with his Maharani Ishori Devi - one of the princesses in Nepal - ruled Manipur. It was during the reign of Buddhachandra that this state faced the horrors of the Second World War. Manipur was bombarded by the Japanese, and several parts of the then kingdom were destroyed and the King's Palace in Imphal was also hit. In the war, the British-led Allied Force defeated the invading Japanese and it came to an end in Manipur in 1945.

When the British left India after her Independence on
15th August, 1947, they handed Manipur back to Maharaja Buddhachandra and status-quo was restored to the Princely State.
It was only on 15th October, 1949 that Manipur merged with the Indian Union and by 21st January, 1972, Manipur attained full statehood in the Indian Union with its own Legislative Assembly and Members of the Parliament in New Delhi.

War Memorials to the soldiers who died in the Second World War have been erected in Imphal and Kohima where the fighting was at its fiercest. Even now, visitors pay homage at these memorials. These War Memorials have a plaque that has an inspiring message for visitors: ."When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today". Another War Memorial is a towering one called Shaheed Minar, which has been erected at the Bir Tikendrajit Park, on the eastern part of the world's oldest polo ground in Imphal in memory of those martyrs who were hanged by the British on 13th August, 1891 on charges of waging war against the British Queen.