Top 8 Places To Visit In Manipur

Manipur, the land popularly referred to as the ‘Switzerland of India’ is the right tourist destination for nature lovers. Located in North East India amidst breathtaking blue hills, Manipur is amazingly soul-captivating. The name in itself means ‘A jeweled land’ and it is just right that the state was described the ‘Jewel of India’ by Late Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India. The state is rich in every sense, be it in the beauty of nature or the culture of the land. Here are the top 8 tourist destinations in Manipur.

1.Imphal

Imphal, the capital of Manipur, is a scenic city. It is located at the center of the beautiful Manipur valley and is surrounded by plains and hills. Dense forests and sprawling grasslands make the place a heaven on earth. It reflects the rich tradition of the state. Here are the leading tourist destinations in Imphal.

2.Ukhrul

Ukhrul is a town in the state of Manipur. It is located in the Ukhrul district and is the headquarters of the district. The town has a population of about 10,000 people according to the 2011 Census.Ukhrul was formerly known as Ukhraw, U-Khrao or Ukhrua. It was also called “Ukhro” by its inhabitants which means “high place” in English. The name was changed to Ukhrul during British rule in India when they wanted to use Romanized spelling for all names of places and towns throughout India.The Ukhrul district is a hill district of Manipur. It is the second largest district in the state. The people of Ukhrul are predominantly Tangkhuls who speak Tangkhulic language and are followers of Theravada Buddhism.Ukhrul has a rich cultural heritage with many mesmerizing sights to explore, such as the Khawnglung Palace, which was once the royal palace of Manipur’s last king, Bhagyachandra. The palace is located at an altitude of 2,800 metres above sea level and overlooks a beautiful valley below.

3.Bishnupur

Bishnupur was a town in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent, now located in Bangladesh.Bishnupur is situated on the banks of the river Atrai. It was an important center for Tantric Buddhism from the 16th to 18th centuries.Bishnupur is a town and a municipality in the district of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India. It is situated 25 km north of Kolkata, on the eastern banks of the Hooghly River.It was earlier known as Vishnupur or Vishnupura (meaning “city of victory”). It was also called Bishweshwar Prasad. The name Bishnupur is derived from the Bengali word “Bishnu” (meaning “God Vishnu”) and “pur” meaning city or town.

4.Thoubal

Thoubal is a town and a municipality situated in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is located in the North-East Indian state of Manipur.Thoubal is one of the most developed townships in Manipur. It has a population of about 50,000 people who are mainly engaged in agriculture and small-scale businesses.

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5.Chandel

Chandel is the gateway to Myanmar. The geographical significance, however, does not end there. The land is rich in flora and fauna being home to a wide range of species. Rare species of animals and plants are found here that attract tourists in great numbers. Here are some of the tourist destinations in Chandel.

6.Senapati

In a region where people are predominantly Hindu, Senapati is the only Muslim-majority district in Manipur. The district was carved out of Ukhrul district in 2008 and is named after the last King of Manipur, Maharaja Sir Senapati Khan Bahadur.It is situated on the border with Myanmar. The majority of the population speaks Meitei language, which is also known as Manipuri.The word Senapati is derived from the Sanskrit word “sena” which means army and “patni” which means commander. The literal meaning of the word is ‘commander of an army’.Senapati is a Hindu title, most often translated into English as “general”. It was first used by King Anawrahta of Burma in 1044, and was used as a military rank in India by the Mughal emperor Akbar.

7.Tamenglong

Tamenglong is a district of Manipur, India. The word Tamenglong is derived from the word ‘Tame’ which means ‘to be soothed.’Tamenglong is located in the north-eastern part of Manipur and shares its border with Myanmar in the north, Ukhrul district in the south-east, Senapati district in the south and Thoubal district in the west. The total area of Tamenglong is 1052 sq. km with a population of about 1,056,000 people. The capital city of Tamenglong is Tamei which has a population of about 70,000 people.Tamenglong was created as a separate district on 15 January 2007 by carving out Ukhrul District from Senapati District and Thoubal District from Imphal East District under Manipur Reorganisation Act 2000 which was enforced on 21 January 2001 by President K R Narayanan

8.Churachandpur

Churachandpur is a city in the state of Manipur, India. It is the headquarters of the Churachandpur district. The city is situated on the bank of the Imphal River and has an average elevation of 609 metres (2,008 feet).The city has a population of about 101,000 as per 2011 census. The major ethnic groups residing in this region are Meiteis and Nagas.Churachandpur is a district in India. It is situated in the North Eastern part of the state of Manipur.Churachandpur is a district in India. It is situated in the North Eastern part of the state of Manipur. Churachandpur has one town and nine villages. The total population of this district is about 15,000 people (2001 census). The main occupation for most people living here is agriculture, with paddy being the main crop produced here.

Conclusion: Places to Visit in Manipur

Manipur makes you want to come back. For the majority lot who are ‘nature-deprived’ in their homeland, Manipur is naturally a dream destination. Even if you are from a land that is ‘nature rich’, you will still find Manipur has more to offer. I would be glad to have more information on the state to make my next visit more complete.