The centre of Imphal has the Kangla Palace ruins – the seat of the former Manipur kingdom.
The Kangla Palace, built by King Khagemba of the Ningthouja tribe, was destroyed by the English in the Anglo-Manipur war of 1891. In World War 2, the Japanese invaded Imphal but were defeated by the British.
Imphal has a very high literacy rate of over 90%. The Khuman Lampak Main Stadium is the most prominent stadium in Imphal. It is the home ground of NEROCA FC of the I League. There are two medical colleges in Imphal – Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Science and Regional Institute of Medical Sciences.
Things to do in Imphal
Imphal has breathtakingly beautiful landscapes so many tourists go for trekking. Imphal also has a tradition of holding festivals almost every month. Find out about the latest festival and participate in it. Take a boat ride on the beautiful Loktak Lake. There are many war historians who can tell you tales of the World War 2 battles that took place in Imphal.
Tourist attractions in Imphal
Imphal has tourist attractions like temples, museums and lakes. Popular tourist spots in Imphal are Matai Garden, The Manipur State Museum, Shree Govindajee Temple, Women’s Market, INA Memorial, Sikh Imphal Gurudwara, Three Mother’s Art Gallery and Sri Guru Singh Gurudwara Sahib.
Places to shop in Imphal
Shopping in Imphal is incomplete without visiting the Women’s Market – where all the stores are run by women. In fact, there is no other market of this kind in the world. If you want imported goods, visit the Paona Bazaar. The other two popular markets in Imphal are Tera Bazaar and Nagampal Market.
Best time to visit Imphal
The perfect time to be in Imphal is between October and March. The weather is pleasant and sunny during this time.
Modes of transport
Imphal is well connected by national highways to nearby major cities. For intracity travel, auto-rickshaws are the best option. You also have the option of hiring two-wheelers for a convenient commute.
Weather in Imphal
Imphal has hot summers and cold winters. Summer season starts in April and extends till June. During the monsoon, Imphal experiences heavy rainfall. Winters in Imphal are cold with temperatures ranging between 5°C – 15°C.
Airport in Imphal
Imphal Airport (IMF) lies at a distance of 8 km from the centre of the city. IndiGo operates regular flights between Imphal and other nearby cities such as Kolkata and Guwahati. For flight timings, visit IndiGo’s official website.