Imphal
Encyclopedia
Imphal is the capital of the India
n state
of Manipur
.
In the heart of the town and surrounded by a moat, are ruins of the old Palace of Kangla. Kangla Fort used to be the home of the Assam Rifles
, a paramilitary force and on November 2004 it was handed over to state of Manipur by Prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Another place of historical interest is the Polo Ground which is the oldest existing polo
ground in the world. Near the Polo Ground is the Manipur State Museum, which has a collection of old artifacts and pictures depicting the history of Manipur. 'Ima Keithel' at Khwairamband Bazar
is the only market in the world where, as the name suggests, all the stalls are run by women.
In 1944 during World War II
the Battle of Imphal
, along with the simultaneous Battle of Kohima
, was the turning point in the Burma Campaign
. For the first time in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II the Japanese lost the initiative to the Allies, who retained it until the end of the war.
On 18 June 1997, the Imphal district was split into Imphal East and Imphal West.
On 21 October 2008, Imphal was struck by a large scale terror attack allegedly carried out by Manipuri insurgents fighting for a sovereign Manipur.
, located at 24.82°N 93.95°E. It has an average elevation of 786 metres (2578 feet). It is located in the extreme east of India
.
The Imphal Valley is drained by several small rivers originating from the hills surrounding it. These include the Imphal
, Iril
, Sekmai, Thoubal, and Khuga rivers. One of the important place is Wangkhei, where one can see the Temple of Govinda Jee with nature's beauty and also Wangkhei locality is famous for Handloom Products and Hand Made Products.
Imphal has a sub-tropical climate, specifically a humid subtropical climate
, with cool, dry winters, a warm summer and a moderate monsoon season. July is the hottest month with temperatures averaging around 25oC (78oF), while January is the coldest with average lows near 4oC (40oF). The city gets about 1320 mm (52 inches) of rain with June being the wettest month.
This place was considered to be the highest place for any cultural activity during the times of the Maharajas. Located at a place near the Royal palace of past Maharajas, it has two domes and a raise congregation hall to keep the sacred deities in their place, aloof and high.
War Cemeteries
The cemeteries are the seats of remembrance for the British and Indian soldiers who fought and died in the Second World War.
Women's Market or Ima Keithel
Cacophony, bargain of products and a spread of a beautiful and colourful cloth is what you would most notice when you visit this market place. But, this is the charm of the place, if a person wants to know how the trade goes in Manipur, this is the first place to buy. The bazar consist of two main sections -one where the vegetables, fruits and necessary items are sold and the other where the handloom products of the state is sold. The peculiarity of the market is that around 3000 'Imas' or mothers run the stalls.
Manipur Zoological Gardens
The Brow Antlered deer, which is a rare species, can be seen in the Manipur Zoological Gardens. Located at a distance of 6 km from the capital, the zoo is very modest to the core with its surrounding, a large expanse of open grounds.
Manipur State Museum
The museum, which is the representation of the tangible information of history, shows a display of the tribal heritage and the collection of the artifacts of the former Ningthourels of Manipur. Costumes of the common people and warriors, arms and weapons of the varied communities and relics and historical documents can be seen here. The priceless artifacts, documents and cultural heritage of a mentioned civilization can be first accessed through a Museum.
Matai Garden
The garden is situated at Matai,Imphal east district about 5km towards North in NH-39.The garden is also called as Ibudhou Asheiningthou garden taking the name from Ibudhou Asheiningthou(local God of Matai). The garden is known for its myriad Duranta plant, well shaped and decorating the entire garden.
Sambal- Lei-Sekpil garden
The garden is situated in Sagolban, Kwakeithel, Imphal, toward the Tidim road. The place is world famous for Sambal- Lei-Sekpil literally sambal means fence lei means flower and sekpil means topiary. The flower got Guinness Book of Records in 26 November 1999 (at the height of 50 ft. 35 steps). The garden is open to all visitors.
. Daily flights are available from New Delhi
to Imphal via Guwahati
, Assam
, the largest metropolis of the region. Daily flights also connect Imphal with Kolkata
.
newspaper reported that a railway line from Guwahati
via Imphal to Moreh
, the last frontier town less than a km. from the border of Myanmar
would be built.
In December 2008, the Cabinet of India approved the extension of the Jiribam
-Imphal Road line, which previously terminated at Tupul.
, Imphal West had a population of 439,532. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Imphal has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 74%. In Imphal, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Though Manipur being a remote and a relatively smaller state (by area and population), its capital Imphal hosts a large migrant population from Bihar, UP, Punjab, Rajasthan, Kerala, West Bengal, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, etc., who earn their livelihoods serving various professions. As per estimates available about 1,50,000 migrants reside in Imphal alone thereby making the city a multi-racial and multi-ethnic. This makes the ratio of migrants to Imphalites roughly 1:2.
Of late, we can hear voices raised from certain quarters against a disproportionate and uncontrolled influx of migrants from the rest of India and even illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and neighbouring Nepal, despite certain permit systems in place.
Imphal West is the primary business hub of Manipur and major business areas in and around Imphal are densely populated. Imphal West's population as per 2011 census is projected to be approximately 5,50,000.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
.
In the heart of the town and surrounded by a moat, are ruins of the old Palace of Kangla. Kangla Fort used to be the home of the Assam Rifles
Assam Rifles
The Assam Rifles are one of the Paramilitary forces of India. The unit can trace its lineage back to a paramilitary police force that was formed under the British in 1835 called Cachar Levy. Since then the Assam Rifles have undergone a number of name changes before the name Assam Rifles was finally...
, a paramilitary force and on November 2004 it was handed over to state of Manipur by Prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Another place of historical interest is the Polo Ground which is the oldest existing polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
ground in the world. Near the Polo Ground is the Manipur State Museum, which has a collection of old artifacts and pictures depicting the history of Manipur. 'Ima Keithel' at Khwairamband Bazar
Khwairamband Bazar
Khwairaman Bazar is the main market of Imphal, capital of the state of Manipur in India. The main feature of this market is that all its shops are owned and operated by women....
is the only market in the world where, as the name suggests, all the stalls are run by women.
In 1944 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the Battle of Imphal
Battle of Imphal
The Battle of Imphal took place in the region around the city of Imphal, the capital of the state of Manipur in North-East India from March until July 1944. Japanese armies attempted to destroy the Allied forces at Imphal and invade India, but were driven back into Burma with heavy losses...
, along with the simultaneous Battle of Kohima
Battle of Kohima
The Battle of Kohima was the turning point of the Japanese U Go offensive into India in 1944 in the Second World War. The battle was fought from 4 April to 22 June 1944 around the town of Kohima in northeast India. It is often referred to as the "Stalingrad of the East".The battle took place in...
, was the turning point in the Burma Campaign
Burma Campaign
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, and the Indian National Army. British Commonwealth land forces were drawn primarily from...
. For the first time in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II the Japanese lost the initiative to the Allies, who retained it until the end of the war.
On 18 June 1997, the Imphal district was split into Imphal East and Imphal West.
On 21 October 2008, Imphal was struck by a large scale terror attack allegedly carried out by Manipuri insurgents fighting for a sovereign Manipur.
Geography and climate
Imphal is the capital of ManipurManipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
, located at 24.82°N 93.95°E. It has an average elevation of 786 metres (2578 feet). It is located in the extreme east of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
The Imphal Valley is drained by several small rivers originating from the hills surrounding it. These include the Imphal
Imphal River
The Imphal River is a major river of Manipur state, northeastern India. It is a tributary of the Manipur River, joining it in Thoubal district.It flows past Loktak Lake and the city of Imphal and joins the Lilong River, some 10 kilometres to the south....
, Iril
Iril River
The Iril River is a river that runs through the eastern suburbs of the city of Imphal in the state of Manipur, India.The name Iril derived from two words Ee and Rei/Ree...
, Sekmai, Thoubal, and Khuga rivers. One of the important place is Wangkhei, where one can see the Temple of Govinda Jee with nature's beauty and also Wangkhei locality is famous for Handloom Products and Hand Made Products.
Imphal has a sub-tropical climate, specifically a humid subtropical climate
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
, with cool, dry winters, a warm summer and a moderate monsoon season. July is the hottest month with temperatures averaging around 25oC (78oF), while January is the coldest with average lows near 4oC (40oF). The city gets about 1320 mm (52 inches) of rain with June being the wettest month.
Main tourist attractions of Imphal
Shree Govindajee TempleThis place was considered to be the highest place for any cultural activity during the times of the Maharajas. Located at a place near the Royal palace of past Maharajas, it has two domes and a raise congregation hall to keep the sacred deities in their place, aloof and high.
War Cemeteries
The cemeteries are the seats of remembrance for the British and Indian soldiers who fought and died in the Second World War.
Cacophony, bargain of products and a spread of a beautiful and colourful cloth is what you would most notice when you visit this market place. But, this is the charm of the place, if a person wants to know how the trade goes in Manipur, this is the first place to buy. The bazar consist of two main sections -one where the vegetables, fruits and necessary items are sold and the other where the handloom products of the state is sold. The peculiarity of the market is that around 3000 'Imas' or mothers run the stalls.
Manipur Zoological Gardens
The Brow Antlered deer, which is a rare species, can be seen in the Manipur Zoological Gardens. Located at a distance of 6 km from the capital, the zoo is very modest to the core with its surrounding, a large expanse of open grounds.
Manipur State Museum
The museum, which is the representation of the tangible information of history, shows a display of the tribal heritage and the collection of the artifacts of the former Ningthourels of Manipur. Costumes of the common people and warriors, arms and weapons of the varied communities and relics and historical documents can be seen here. The priceless artifacts, documents and cultural heritage of a mentioned civilization can be first accessed through a Museum.
Matai Garden
The garden is situated at Matai,Imphal east district about 5km towards North in NH-39.The garden is also called as Ibudhou Asheiningthou garden taking the name from Ibudhou Asheiningthou(local God of Matai). The garden is known for its myriad Duranta plant, well shaped and decorating the entire garden.
Sambal- Lei-Sekpil garden
The garden is situated in Sagolban, Kwakeithel, Imphal, toward the Tidim road. The place is world famous for Sambal- Lei-Sekpil literally sambal means fence lei means flower and sekpil means topiary. The flower got Guinness Book of Records in 26 November 1999 (at the height of 50 ft. 35 steps). The garden is open to all visitors.
Air
The city is served by Imphal AirportImphal Airport
-World War II:Imphal Airport was a major Allied supply base. The Allies could fly men, equipment and supplies into the airstrips at Imphal so although cut off by land, the town was not without a lifeline...
. Daily flights are available from New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
to Imphal via Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
, Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
, the largest metropolis of the region. Daily flights also connect Imphal with Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
.
Railways
In 2007, the EconomistEconomist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
newspaper reported that a railway line from Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
via Imphal to Moreh
Moreh, India
Moreh is a ethnic Kuki inhabited town in Chandel district in the Indian state of Manipur. It is a small town in India on the border with Myanmar, with the town of Tamu being close to the border....
, the last frontier town less than a km. from the border of Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
would be built.
In December 2008, the Cabinet of India approved the extension of the Jiribam
Jiribam
Jiribam is a city and a municipal council in Imphal East district in the Indian state of Manipur.- Demographics : India census, Jiribam had a population of 6426. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Jiribam has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average...
-Imphal Road line, which previously terminated at Tupul.
Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Imphal West had a population of 439,532. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Imphal has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 74%. In Imphal, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Though Manipur being a remote and a relatively smaller state (by area and population), its capital Imphal hosts a large migrant population from Bihar, UP, Punjab, Rajasthan, Kerala, West Bengal, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, etc., who earn their livelihoods serving various professions. As per estimates available about 1,50,000 migrants reside in Imphal alone thereby making the city a multi-racial and multi-ethnic. This makes the ratio of migrants to Imphalites roughly 1:2.
Of late, we can hear voices raised from certain quarters against a disproportionate and uncontrolled influx of migrants from the rest of India and even illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and neighbouring Nepal, despite certain permit systems in place.
Imphal West is the primary business hub of Manipur and major business areas in and around Imphal are densely populated. Imphal West's population as per 2011 census is projected to be approximately 5,50,000.