Eight kilometers from Imphal, at the foot of the pine-covered hillocks, you will find a wealth of rare birds, animals and reptiles at the Manipur Zoological Gardens. In the zoo's sylvan surroundings, you will even get a glimpse of one of the rarest species of deer in the world, the graceful brow-antlered thamin deer.
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Khonghampat Orchidarium
Then there is the Khonghampat Orchidarium that has more than
a hundred rare varieties of orchids. The best time to visit
the orchidarium is in the months of April and May when the
orchids are in full bloom.
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Shri
Govindajee Temple
The core of Imphal's traditions, however, lies in its
various temples. The most important of these is the Shri
Govindajee Temple, a historic center for Vaishnavites. A
simple, twin-domed structure, it adjoins the magnificent
palace of the former rulers of Manipur. Constructed in the
early 18th century under the Rajarishi Bhagyachandra regime,
the temple comes alive during festivals when thousands of
people come to offer prayers.
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Khwairamband Bazaar
One of the main features of Imphal is the Khwairamband
Bazaar. What makes this market different is that it is run
by women. Split into two sections on either side of the
road, it has tribal women clad in colorful, traditional
attire, selling everything from hand-woven shawls, skirts,
vessels, mugs and mats to fish, lotus, oranges and
orange-flavored honey. And if you wander in the quaint by
lanes around the market, you will get a glimpse of Manipur's
customs and traditions.
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Manipur
State Museum
The Manipur State Museum is another place that is worth a
visit. The museum has a rich collection of Manipuri
costumes, war implements, historical documents and relics,
and gives you a sample of the state's complex history.
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Shahid
Minar
Right in the heart of the city is the tall Shahid Minar at
the Bir Tirkendrajit Park that was built in memory of
Manipur's martyrs who sacrificed their lives for India's
independence.
