MANIPUR is a beautiful state surrounded by ranges of hills on all sides and the title 'Switzerland of India' was given to it by the late P.M. of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
The name Manipur itself is not more than 300 years old and the state used to be known as Kangleipak before then.
Manipur is one of the seven states of North-East India, collectively known as the 'Seven Sisters' with an area covering 22327 sq. Km comprising of nine districts and Imphal as its capital.It is bound by upper Burma on the east, Nagaland on the north, Assam on the west , Mizoram on the south and the south-west , and the Chin hills of Myanmar (Burma) on the south-east. The people dwelling in Manipur are mostly of Tibeto-Burman race, and are fish-eaters as fish is the main delicacy of everyday meal in every house of Manipur. The language Manipuri, widely spoken in Manipur, is of Sino-Tibetan origin. The state lies at latitude of 23°83’N - 25°68’N and longitude of 93°03’E - 94°78’E
Manipur became a part of Indian union on the 15th of October 1949 following a merger agreement signed by the then King of Manipur and the then Governor General of India. Besides the Meeteis [the majority group in the state],there are 29 other tribes settled in Manipur of which the Nagas and Kukis are the main ones. Manipur came under British rule as a princely state in 1891. British rule ended the independent status of the Kingdom which was the last kingdom to be incorporated into British India.
The culture of Manipuris as of any other people, finds statement through religious rites and festivals. There are thirteen festivals in the twelve calendar months. And Manipuri festivals mean songs and dances and sometimes, sport - POLO [sagol kangjei] is the remarkable feature of it.
In the 18th century during the reign of king Pamheiba Garibaniwaz [the first hindu king in the state], under a dharma guru called Santidas Gosai, Vaishnavism was introduced in the then kingdom and flourished from then on in Manipur. Manipuri society became a hinduism based society and lost the intrinsic identity of the past culture of the people. Bengali has had a noticeable influence on Manipur mainly through Gauriya Vaishnavism. Though Manipur had her own language,script, literature and culture in ancient times, these have now undergone tremendous changes with most surviving as an amalgam of Manipuri and Hindu cultures and some almost beyond recognition.
The Manipuris performed all the rites and festivals connected with Vaishnavism. The most important of them is YAOSANG [Holi, Doljatra] and others include hindu festivals like Durga Puja, Diwali etc. There are some festivals connected with the old faith like CHAKOUBA, CHEIRAOBA [New Year for the Meeteis] and LAI HARAOBA.
During the reign of Maharaja Bhagyachandra, RAS LILA, the most popular of all Manipuri dances was born. Ras Lila plays out the devine love between Lord Krishna and Radha and the various stages of Lord Krishna's life in delicate gestures and movements. Because of its intricate qualities, RABINDRANATH TAGORE introduced Manipuri dance in SANTINIKETAN.
POLO is the national game of Manipur. According to myths of the land, the game used to be played by the Gods. In the beginning of the 17th century, it was played in the present Polo Ground in the centre of Imphal. The game was introduced in India by the military from Manipur and taken to England later by the TENTH HUSSARS.
Manipur is rich in agricultural products like pineapple, bamboo, mulberry and rice, the largest product in the state.
Manipur has the only floating national park. It is called KEIBUL LAMJAO NATIONAL PARK and spreads over an area of 40 sq. Km on the fringes of LOKTAK LAKE, 53 Km south of Imphal. This park is famous for being the last natural habitat of SANGAI, the brow-antlered and dancing deer of Manipur and one of the rarest species in the world.
Manipur is also the abode of SHIROY LILY, the paradise flower that is found nowhere else in the world. It is particularly grown in one hill district of Manipur called UKHRUL and is of great touristic value. There are lots of tourist centres namely Moirang, Keibul Lamjao, Phubala, Sendra, Kaina, Waithou, Khongjom, Moreh, Ukhrul, Mao, Churachandpur, etc.
Manipur is a small state but a real beauty of nature surrounded by hills, with beautiful meandering rivers, a beautiful lake and forests with different species of flora and fauna. However, it can also be compared with one of a dead paradise because nothing is developed in the state specially transport. It was included in the Indian railway map with the opening of a railhead at Jiribam in May 1990. But it still has not connected the towns along the foothills of the state.
Manipur
