MANIPUR

Manipur is the wondrously beautiful little Shangri-La. Literally meaning "the jeweled land", Manipur is richly endowed with natural beauty and splendour. It has an exotic landscape with gently undulating hills, emerald green valleys, blue lakes and dense forests. The people here are very polite and hospitable. Rich in its culture, tradition, and ethnicity, Manipur is one of most interesting northeastern states of India. The Raasleelas and the classical dance of Manipur hold a very significant position in the cultural map of India. It also offers a variety of other dance including Pung Cholem (Mridanga dance), Mao Naga dance, the Priestess dance of Malbe Jagoi and Thangal Surung dance. Manipur also claims to have invented the game of Polo. The exquisite handicraft and handloom items make for prized souvenirs.

Manipur has a lot to offer to the tourists visiting this state. Apart from the beautiful temples in Imphal, the places of tourist interest include beautiful Loktak Lake, Mao and Ukhrul - the picturesque hill resorts, Taminglong, with its exotic landscape; Chandel, home to amazing tribes; Khonggom and Moirang.

IMPHAL

Surrounded by forested hill, Imphal is relics of an old, historical palace, well-planned temples and ceremonial houses amidst the tall pine and jackfruit trees. Some of the places worth visiting are the Shree Govindajee Temple which is a pilgrimage as well as historic center of the Vaishnavite, Kaina, a sacred place of Hindus and Manipur Zoological Garden which is renowned for the rare Sangai Deer. The Khwairamand Bazaar, a market place run only by women is also worth visiting.