Nestling within a lush green corner of North East India, is the amazingly beautiful little shangri-la called Manipur. Literally meaning ' a jewelled land ' , this little state of India is a veritable paradise, where Nature can be espied in all her magnificence.

Legend has it, that Manipur was the result of the delight the gods derived from dancing. The Manipuri dance form, characterised by graceful and exquisite movements and hand gestures ranks among one of the great Indian classical art forms. The Lai-Haraoba, a traditional stylised dance is a ritual dance for appeasing the gods and goddesses. The Lai-Haraoba festival is celebrated between April and May, post-harvest season. The Raas songs and dances depict the leelas (sports) of Lord Krishna as a child with the Gopis (milkmaids) of Brindavan. Manipuris have since ages been recognised as ace warriors and still practice the arts of wrestling, sword fighting and martial arts. Sogol Kangjei (Manipuri Polo), is the principal sport of the state.

Manipur promises to be a great tourist destination. An oval - shaped valley surrounded by blue-green hills, this land rich in art and tradition, has inspired descriptions such as the 'Switzerland of the East', with its cascading falls, tripping rivers, exotic blooms, and limpid lakes. 

The people and the tribes of Manipur include the Meities, Naga and other communities, which have lived in complete harmony for centuries. These are the people whose folklore, myths, dances, martial arts, and exotic handicrafts are invested with the mystique of nature, and an indefatigable "joie de vivre".

Air: Indian Airlines connect Imphal, the capital of Manipur, with major cities like New Delhi, Calcutta, Guwahati and Silchar. NEPC Airlines has daily flights to Imphal from Guwahati.

Rail: Dimapur, 215 kms from Imphal, is the nearest railhead. Another railhead is Jiribaum, a small town 225 kms from Imphal.

Road: Imphal is connected by road with Guwahati (Assam) through National Highway No. 39 and Silchar (Assam) through National Highway No. 53.

All foreigners intending to visit Manipur can avail of permits from Indian Missions abroad, FRRO offices in Mumbai, Calcutta and New Delhi, the Immigration Office in Madras and the Home Commissioner, Government of Manipur, Imphal. Areas that can be visited include Imphal City, Loktak Lake, INA Memorial (Moirang) , Sendra, Waithou Lake, Keibul Lamjao National Park, and the Khongjom War Memorial.

Domestic tourists intending to visit Manipur by road via Dimapur / Kohima require Inner Line Permits to pass through Nagaland. These are issued by the Liaison officers of the Government of Nagaland at New Delhi, Calcutta, Guwahati, Shillong and the Sub-divisional Officer (Civil), Dimapur. The Deputy Commissioner, Imphal can also issue permits to tourists travelling by road from Imphal to Kohima and Dimapur in Nagaland.

Regular conducted tours organized by Manipur Tourism cover Shree Govindajee Temple, Vishnu Temple, Phubala Tourist Home, INA Memorial at Moirang, Keibul Lamjao National Park and Sendra Tourist Home (Loktak Lake). Departure : At 0800 hrs every Sunday from Hotel Imphal.

For bookings, guide services and other information contact :

Tourist Officer, Directorate of Tourism,
Hotel Imphal Complex, Government of Manipur,
Imphal 
Tel : 220802, 222705, 222451, 224635, 224603
Fax : 0385-224354