Manipur Tourism
Manipur is a state in northeastern India making its capital in the city of Imphal. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland in the north, Mizoram in the south and Manipur in the west; it also borders the country of Myanmar to the east.
The word Manipur literally means a 'jeweled town', a name that rightly justifies the small and picturesque land. The people here are very polite and hospitable. Rich in its culture, tradition, and ethnicity, Manipur is one of the seven northeastern states of India. The Raasleelas and the classical dance of Manipur hold a very significant position in the cultural map of India. With sites like the Loktak Lake and the Khonghampat Orchidarium, Manipur is also famous for its natural beauty.
Nestled on a plateau far above the sea level, Manipur is the wondrously beautiful little Shangri-La. Literally meaning a jewelled land, legendary belief has it that Manipur was discovered as a result of the delight the Gods took in dancing. Today Manipur’s mythological concept of creation is revealed in her famous folk- dances. The richness of nature has inspired descriptions such as the Switzerland of the East with its tripping rivers, carpet of flowers, exotic blooms and lazy lakes. It’s also a mosaic of traditions and distinctive cultural patterns.
Manipur always used to be independent of its neighboring tribal areas. Though often invaded by Burma, the state usually enjoyed long and stable governments for a good time. Manipur became a part of British India following the Yandaboo treaty with the East India Company in 1826. This treaty was an agreement at the end of the Indo-Burmese war that established the sovereignty of the British government. During the World War II, the Japanese forces marched to Manipur. It was given the status of a full-fledged state in 1972.