Mar 07, 2009 12:13 PM
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The day I started my Imphal city sight seeing from Govindaji Temple, it was drizzling. But then it had been raining for past 2 days. There was rain water from the gate to the main temple . It was as if we were washing our feet to reach the main temple! In Manipur Lord Krishna is the main God. And Manipuris offer Lotus and Water Lilies to the lord. We also bought some water lilies from outside the temple. The morning arti was about to begin. We were so lucky! The arti is a sight to behold. It’s so amazing a feeling. The arti and then the traditional drummers( Manipuri Mridanga) in white together present a wonderful sight. So pious a feeling was that I did not want to take out my camera. Once I thought that should be captured, but then I did not want to let go off the feeling. We watched the arti and the drummers for half an hour and then left. Because we had yet to go to our main destination and have to be back in town before it gets dark.
Loktak Lake:
The largest fresh water lake in North East India Loktak is situated 48 km away from Imphal city. There is tourist lodge atop the hillock called Sendra Island from where one gets a bird’s eye view of the Lake. The lodge is now with Indian Army. One needs to show their ID proof before climbing the hill. The view of Loktak from atop Sendra is a sight to behold. There are small fishermen huts who live “ on” the lake. Yes, there are some kind of grass which float on the lake and one can actually build huts and stay there! On this Loktak lake itself, there is the famous Keibul Lamjao National Park, World’ s only “ Floating National Park “. This park is the habitat of the famous “ Shangai” deer of Manipur.
Moirang:
The place where Netaji’s Azad Hind Fauz hoisted the flag of the Indian National Army on April 14, 1944. The INA museum contains letters, photographs and other mementoes of INA and the second World war. Small museum, but definitely a place to visit.There is a library which has some good collection of books on Netaji and INA.
The Red Hill( Lokpaching):
The Red Hill is a small hillock on the Tiddim road. About 15 km away from Imphal city. A great battle had been fought between the British and the Japanese during World War II
on this hill. On the foothills of the Red Hill a cemetory of Japanese Soldiers is being constructed.
Loukoi Pat:
Lukoi Pat is a small lake on the Tiddim road. There is a park and facilities of boating etc. are there for the tourists and visitors.
Kangla:
Kangla was the centre of Manipur’s power during the reign of earlier rulers. The remains of the old Govindajee Temple inside the Kangla and other relics inside and outside the moat still depicts the story of the rich art and culture of Manipur. The Kangla fort had once been the Head Quarters of Assam Rifles. The same had been handed over to the Govt. of Manipur in 2004. It is THE pride of Manipuri people. It is in front of the same palace, that the Manipuri women had come out stripping their clothes to protest against the rape and killing of Thangjam Manorama.
To be really honest, Kangla fort which I had kept till the end as it was nearer to the hotel, it was a bit disappointing. After having heard so much about the Fort, when we finally went inside we found that it was just another stroll ground! We expected to find some remains of the old palace inside, we walked and walked but found nothing much except for the remains of the Old Govindajee Temple. May be if we had gone inside with with someone who knows the Kangla palace inside out it would have been better. The people whom we met inside were equally disappointing as they didn’t know much about the palace! One good thing about the place is that the much needed renovation work have started. Hopefully one day it will reopen to the World with its new look; glorious as ever.
Shaheed Minar:
The Shaheed minar is situated right in the middle of the park dedicated to Manipuri Hero Bir Tikendrajit. This minar had been constructed in memory of the Meitei and other Tribal martyrs who died fighting with the British in 1891.
Khwairamband Bazar / Ima Market:
It is a site to see for sure. A market bustling with more than 1, 000 “ Ima” or mothers who run the stalls . It has 2 parts on the either sides of the road. On one side, fishes, vegetables, groceries etc are sold and on the other side, Manipuri handlooms and handicrafts etc. can be bought.
One suggestion, please avoid the Ima market if it is raining!
After we had come back from Loktak, it was already 1 pm. We requested the driver to take us to a place where we could have Manipuri authentic food. He took us to a market near the Polo Ground. There were a number of small hotels which offer Manipuri food. Manipuri people have the habit of having their lunch early. Because when we reached there, some of the hotels had already exhausted the food! Anyway, we sat in one Meitei hotel. They served many dishes on a big plate. The food was simple, no spices. But that was one of the best meals we have had for sure! So tasty food. And the kitchen of the hotel looked so beautiful with the mud choolah( fireplace) and big utensils. The best thing which I liked was that there was no pressure cooker inside. The food was cooked by itself “naturally” on fire, not “Pressure cooked”. I noticed that in Manipur even though they donot use any spices, they use chilies a lot. In fact in all the dishes the one of the main ingredient has to be chili.
Apart from the places where I had been to in Imphal; I also wanted to visit the Khonghampat Orchidarium on the Dimapur Imphal highway( NH 39).It is said that the Orchidarium houses over 100 rare varieties of orchids. But one needs to have prior permission from the Department of Forest to visit the same. I did not have time for that. May be next time.
Imphal, a place so beautiful and still so virgin. A place marred by insurgency. As I took my flight back home next day early morning, I sincerely hoped that someday this place will really be the “ Sana Leibak” or “ Golden Land” every Manipuri wants it to be. As for me, I would definitely come back again and again.
