Manipur

The word Manipur literally means a 'jeweled town', an apt description of the small and pretty state, one of the eight northeastern states of India. Situated in the northeastern part of India, Manipur is bordered on its north by Nagaland; on its east lies Myanmar. The southern part is bordered by the state of Mizoram, while the green valleys of Assam are its western limit. It covers an area of 22,350 km2, which houses close to 2.5 million citizens. Its capital city is Imphal.

Manipur has a low-lying basin in its centre, surrounded by a tall range of mountains that, at times, touch 2,000 m. Imphal was the Waterloo of the Japanese in WW II.
Entry into this state is more tightly governed and foreigners entering Manipur (including foreign citizens born in Manipur) must possess a Restricted Area Permit issued by a Foreigners' Regional Registration Office in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Guwahati and offices of the other six northeastern states of India, barring Arunachal Pradesh. Permits are valid for 10 days only. Visitors may travel in groups of four only on tours arranged by authorised travel agents. Moreover, they may come to Imphal only by air and are not permitted to travel outside the capital. The same limitations are imposed on Indians, who, however, may enter the state by road. An Union Territory from 1956, Manipur became a full-fledged state of India in 1972. A separatist movement has fomented in Manipur since then, at times violent, in order to achieve their goal, i.e. a sovereign Manipur. Hence special permission must also be obtained for those who wish to enter Manipur, as it is a "sensitive area".

What to See:
Some of the places you can take in are the Shree Govindajee Temple, (a pilgrimage as well as historic center of the Vaishnavite), Kaina (a sacred place of Hindus), Khwairamand Bazaar (a market place run by women), Manipur Zoological Garden (renowned for the rare sangai deer), apart from the beautiful Loktak Lake and Sendra Island. Besides, Langthabal (historic sites), Moirang, Moreh, Phubala, Singda, Khongjom, Sahid Mandir, Khonghampat Orchidarium, Keibul Lamjao National Park, Sekta Archeological Living Museum, the Manipur State Museum and the War Cemeteries are worth visiting.

Religion and Language:
The official languages of Manipur are Manipuri and English. 29 different dialects are spoken in Manipur by tribals. 47% of the population is Hindu, Christians 34% and 8% are Muslims. The remainder is split over a strange mix of religions, like Sanamahism and Gaudiya Vaishnavism.