A spectacular offbeat tourist destination in India, Manipur is bestowed with lush green meadows, hills, rugged streams, waterfalls and aromatic tea estates. The state is a true gem of the north-east.On your visit to this heavenly place, spend a lot of time interacting with the locals, soak in the good vibes and lose yourself amidst the beauty of the nature. If you’re planning an enthralling trip to this scenic wonder, here are the best tourist attractions in Manipur we recommend to all our travelers.
Best Time to Visit Manipur: The best time to visit Manipur is between October to April. During this time, the weather is pleasant and cosy to make the trip happening. The summer months from April to June is slightly warm. It is hot and humid during the day while and early mornings and late night continue to be pleasant.
18 Tourist Attractions In Manipur
The pride of Northeast India, Manipur is blessed with nature’s bounty and numerous sightseeing options what will surely make your trip memorable. Here we have picked the best tourist attractions in Manipur to help you know about each place.
- Loktak Lake – The Only Floating Lake In The World
- Keibul Lamjao National Park – Explore The Wilderness
- Tharon Cave – For Thrill And Fun
- Kangla Fort – Speaking Of Regal Heritage
- Singda Dam– Scenic And Serene
- INA Memorial Complex – Revisiting History
- Shree Govindajee Temple – The Beautiful White Dome Structure
- Manipur Zoological Garden – Must-Visit For Travellers Of All Kinds
- Manipur State Museum– Discovering Manipur’s Rich Legacy
- Ima Keithel Woman’s Market- Unique All-Woman Bazaar Of Manipur
- Rasmancha – Good Place For Experience Seekers
- Jorebangla Temple – Boasts Of Amazing Architectural Design
- Dal Madol – Built To Fight The Maratha Invasion
- Andro – Home To Unique Form Of Pottery
- Leimaram Waterfall – Pictursque Trio Waterfalls
- Dzukou Valley – Heaven For Nature Lovers
- Shirui Kashung Peak – Home To Rare Birds
- Waithou Lake – A Place For Recreation And Environment
1. Loktak Lake – The Only Floating Lake In The World
Loktak Lake is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Manipur, located 53 kms from Imphal. Considered as one of the famous lakes in India, Loktak boasts of circular floating swamps, which is locally called phumdis. Sendra Island of Manipur is situated amid the lake and spread over 300 square mt, which makes it popular for boating, picnic, and photography. It also supplies water for irrigation and hydel power to nearby areas.
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Charges: Nil
Time required: 1 to 2 hours
Must Read: 13 Enchanting Places To Visit In Manipur In 2022 For A Rejuvenating Holiday
2. Keibul Lamjao National Park – Explore The Wilderness
Encircling the Loktak Lake, Keibul Lamjao National Park is best known for floating flora of phumdis and endangered brow-antlered deer or sangai. Offering mesmeric views of the lake, this national park, sprawling over 40 sq. km is one of the most beautiful Manipur tourist attractions. Moreover, Keibul Lamjao National Park is also known to be World’s only floating sanctuary and quite popular amongst nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, and ornithologists.
Besides being home to animals like sambar, wild boar, hog deer and jungle cat, this place boasts of a large number of endangered as well as common bird species like East Himalayan pied kingfisher, spotbill duck, ruddy shell-duck, Burmese pied Myna, and Indian white-breasted waterhen.
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Charges: Nil
Time required: 3 to 4 hours
3. Tharon Cave – For Thrill And Fun
Tharon Cave or The Uluan Cave is among the fascinating tourist attractions in Manipur. Located near Tamenglong, this 650 m long cave tunnel consists of carvings and excavations of Hovnanian Culture of North Vietnam. Featuring 5 exits and 34 joints, this cave is a favorite amongst trekkers and adventure junkies. Manipur State Tourism Department organizes cave expedition program every year, where people enjoy the thrill of walking through the dim tunnels.
Opening hours: NA
Charges: Nil
Time required: 1 to 2 hours
Suggested Read: 13 Popular Manipur Festivals That Show The Cultural Diversity Of The Northeast In 2022
4. Kangla Fort – Speaking Of Regal Heritage
Kangla Fort, which is also known as the Palace of Kangla is located close to Imphal River. Kangla Fort was the administrative seat of various Manipur kings from Nongda Lairen Pakhangba to Maharaja Kulachandra. The remains of the fort speak of Manipur’s rich history and heritage. Comprising of temples, citadel and coronation halls, Kangla Fort is a hot favorite tourist site in Manipur among history buffs, photographers, and architectural enthusiasts.
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The fort is closed on Wednesdays.
Charges: INR 2/person
Time required: 1 to 2 hours
5. Singda Dam- Scenic And Serene
Snugly located at about 920 m above sea level, Singda Dam is the highest mud dam in the World and a sight to behold. Overlooking serene Singda Lake, this dam acts as a multi-purpose irrigation project for entire Manipur. The dam is surrounded by lush green paddy fields and hills and is considered as one of the ideal tourist spots in Manipur for picnics, day trips, trekking, and hiking.
Opening hours: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Charges: Nil
Time required: 1 to 2 hours
Suggested Read: 15 Secrets Of North East India Locals Have Been Keeping To Themselves
6. INA Memorial Complex – Revisiting History
Built in the fond memories of Bravehearts of Indian National Army (INA), who sacrificed their lives for the country, the INA Memorial Complex should be on your bucket list while holidaying in Manipur. The complex comprises of a huge bronze statue of Subhas Chandra Bose, a replica of INA War Memorial of Singapore, and stone monument to mark the first unfurling of the Tri-colour flag of Independent India. Moreover, there is a war museum within the complex, displaying photographs and archives of World War II and freedom movement.
Opening hours: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Charges: INR 10 for museum
Time required: 1 to 2 hours
7. Shree Govindajee Temple – The Beautiful White Dome Structure
One of the most famous Manipur tourist places and most famous temples in Manipur, Shree Govindajee Temple is dedicated to Radha, Krishna, Jagannatha, Balarama, and Govinda. The idol of Govindajee is placed in the central chamber, while other Gods are seen in different chambers in all the four sides of the temple. Located near the Royal Palace, this temple has a red-brick structure and Nagara style of architecture and attracts tourists round the year.
Opening hours: 5:00 am to 12 noon and 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Charges: Nil
Time required: 1 to 2 hours
Suggested Read: 101 Places To Visit In India Before You Turn 30 in 2022
8. Manipur Zoological Garden – Must-Visit For Travellers Of All Kinds
Established in 1976, Manipur Zoological Garden is among the popular tourist attractions in Manipur, especially among families and kids. Located in Lamphelpat, near Imphal, this zoo sprawls over 8 hectares and surrounded by lush green mountains. This is the habitat of many common as well as rare animals like Sangai, Wild boar, deer, hog deer, bear and almost 55 species of birds. Visiting this zoo, spotting wildlife, and enjoying the peaceful ambiance is one of the top things to do in Manipur
Opening hours: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The zoo is closed on Sundays.
Charges: INR 4/person
Time required: 3 to 4 hours
9. Manipur State Museum- Discovering Manipur’s Rich Legacy
The State Museum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Manipur. It houses various artifacts, tribal items, ornaments, weapons, textiles, pictures, and sculptures. Established in 1969, Manipur State Museum comprises of many galleries and sections, displaying the heritage of Manipur city. It is also popular for hosting awareness programmes, thematic exhibitions, and cultural appreciation courses. The major attractions of this museum are a 54-feet long royal boat called Hiyag Hiren and a gold-plated human mask with a skull.
Opening hours: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Charges: INR 3/Indians and INR 20/foreigners
Time required: 1 to 2 hours
Suggested Read: 31 Reasons Why You Should Never Visit Northeast India In 2022
10. Ima Keithel Woman’s Market- Unique All-Woman Bazaar Of Manipur
Ima Keithel, locally translating into mother’s market is a beautiful place for shopping in Manipur. This is a 500-year-old vintage market, where almost 5000 women traders sell various products like Manipur textiles, ornaments, grains, cereals, home décor, spices, dried fish, and household items. This is one of the unique markets, not only in India but in the entire Asia, which is managed and run by only women force.
Opening hours: 3:00 am to 7:00 pm
Charges: Nil
Time required: 3 to 4 hours
Suggested Read: 38 Most Colorful Places In India That Will Make Your Heart Skip A Beat In 2022
11. Rasmancha – Good Place For Experience Seekers
Image Credit – Jonoikobangali from Wikipedia
Rasmancha is a less explored tourist attraction in Manipur. Located in the district of Bishnupur, it was a temple earlier where Ras Festival was celebrated. It was also used to stage dances. Rasmancha is believed to be the oldest pyramidal superstructure shaped brick temple. At present, this temple has become one of the top heritage sites in Manipur and is protected under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It is showcased now a days by lightening at night.
Opening hours: NA
Charges: NA
Time required: 1 to 2 hours
Suggested Read: 10 Things To Do In Imphal To Relish Ultimate Solitude Of The Northeast
12. Jorebangla Temple – Boasts Of Amazing Architectural Design
Image Credit – Jonoikobangali from Wikipedia
Jorebangla Temple is another ancient temple in Bishnupur. Also known as Yorubangala, it was built by Malla King, Raghunath Singha Dev in the year 1655. It boasts of a splendid architectural design depicting the conventional thatched huts of the region. The roofs and walls represent the Chala style while the carved designs depicts scenes from battles and the royal lifestyle. Although not a famous tourist place in the outer world, but is a famous tourist attraction in Manipur.
Opening hours: NA
Charges: NA
Time required: 1 to 2 hours
13. Dal Madol – Built To Fight The Maratha Invasion
Image Credit – Pomah from Pixabay
Disclaimer: The image is for representation purposes only.
Dal Madol is another famous historical attraction in Bishnupur which was constructed by the Malla Kings to fight the Maratha invasion. The cannon is about 3.8 m in length and has a barrel of 28.5 cms. It is located near Chinnamasta temple and is one of the popular tourist attractions in Manipur. One of the interesting fact about the cannon is that it is made up of iron materials and still doesn’t catch rust despite the fact that it is kept in an open space the beginning.
Opening hours: NA
Charges: NA
Time required: 1 to 2 hours
Suggested Read: 6 Best Waterfalls In Manipur That Will Make You Take A Splash Of Freshness
14. Andro – Home To Unique Form Of Pottery
Image Credit – Debanish from Wikimedia
A small village in Manipur, Andro is a popular place in Manipur. It is home to unique traditional pottery namely Pudond Makhong, Ngangkha and Walom practiced by married women. Apart from this, it is also famous for handcrafted tribal doll house. It depicts traditional attire of 29 Manipuri tribes. For the best experience, plan a visit to this village from the months of October to February when the climate is pleasant.
15. Leimaram Waterfall – Pictursque Trio Waterfalls
Image Credit – Wang Tensu from Wikimedia
Leimaram Waterfall is one of the famous tourist attractions in Manipur. It has become a wonderful tourist place in recent years because of its scenic beauty and tranquil surroundings. Enjoy the enchanting scenes of not one but three waterfalls and take some really nice pictures. Visiting this waterfall is a wonderful experience and a must visit tourist spot for all those who are visiting Manipur.
Opening hours: 8 AM to 6 PM
Charges: Nil
Time required: 2 to 3 hours
Suggested Read: Top 8 Restaurants In Manipur You Must Visit On Your 2022 Vacation!
16. Dzukou Valley – Heaven For Nature Lovers
Image Credit – Seeta from Wikimedia
Popularly known for its natural environment, Dzukou Valley is located in borders of the state of Manipur and Nagaland. With gorgeous valleys, clear water and lush green forests, it is truly what dreams are made of. It welcomes tourists throughout the year and allures them with its beauty. Catch the beautiful scene of countless seasonal flowers if you happen to visit this place in summer. So, if you are looking to spend some time amidst nature or someone who loves to trek surrounded by enchanting elements of nature, then this is the place to be.
Opening hours: NA
Charges: INR 20 per person for people from surrounding villages, INR 50 for other Indians, and INR 100 for foreigners
Time required: 1 to 2 hours
17. Shirui Kashung Peak – Home To Rare Birds
Image Credit – Mashangva from Wikimedia
Disclaimer: The image is for representation purposes only.
Shirui Kashung Peak is a popular tourist attraction in Ukhrul, a town in the state of Manipur. The peak is famous as the most of the rivers flowing across Ukhrul originates from the slopes. The second reason for its popularity is Shirui lilies grows in this place. Since the Shirui Lilies grows only here, it attracts millions of tourists from around the world. The peak is also home to rare birds like Mrs. Hume’s bar-backed pheasant and Blyth’s Tragopan.
Tips: Make sure to carry good trekking shoes and raincoat
Time required: 1 to 2 hours
Suggested Read: 7 Hotels In Imphal That Are Truly Homes Away From Home
18. Waithou Lake – A Place For Recreation And Environment
Image Credit – Herojit from wikimedia
Located about 16 km from Imphal, Waithou Lake is a perennial lake. Relaxing on the lake side and enjoying the pristine natural beauty of the surrounding is one of the blissful things to do here. The lake remains packed with tourists throughout the year because of the enchanting sight it offers.
Opening hours: NA
Charges: NA
Time required: 1 to 2 hours
Suggested Read: 101 Places To Visit In India Before You Turn 30 in 2022
How To Reach Manipur
Check out the ways to reach Manipur via different modes of transportation.
By Air: Imphal has its own airport. Regular flights operate from Silchar, Kolkata, Delhi, Aizwal, and Bangalore to Imphal.
By Train: Nearest railhead is Daotuhaja, Assam, located 91 km from Imphal.
By Road: Regular buses ply from different parts of Manipur and other neighboring states to Imphal.
Further Read: Seven Sisters Of India: An Introductory Guide For A North-East Tour In 2022
There are many famous tourist attractions in Manipur and places to visit that’ll leave you speechless. It is truly a heaven for nature lovers and a perfect place to visit if you are looking for a relaxing vacation. Plan a trip to Manipur and try to cover all these attractions for a fun-filled vacay.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Tourist Attractions In Manipur
What is Manipur famous for?
Manipur, a state rich in tradition, culture, and ethnicity, is famous for its natural beauty. Among other natural landmarks, the famous Loktak Lake is in Manipur.
Is it safe to travel to Imphal?
Imphal, the capital city of Manipur, is safe for travelers but it is advised for one to not head out late at night or to go to the outskirts of the city.
What is Imphal famous for?
Imphal is one of the ancient cities of India and it is known for its natural beauty. The scenic landscapes here are what the city is noted for. Some of the must visit places in Imphal which makes the city famous are Kangla Palace, Loktak Lake, and more.
Which are the must visit places in Manipur?
Some of the top Manipur attractions are Loktak Lake, Keibul Lamjao National Park, Tharon Cave, and Kangla Fort.
What is the famous food dish of Manipur?
Rice and fish majorly form the staple diet of Manipuris. Chamthong or Kangsho which is a stew prepared from seasonal vegetables is one of the most commonly prepared food dishes here.
Where can I stay in Imphal?
Some of the best accommodation options available in Imphal are Classic Grande, Magen, The Classic, Hotel, and Eco Heritage Villa.
How many days are good for Imphal?
2-3 days are good to explore Imphal and the beauty of the state of Manipur. It is a great state to visit with one’s partner or family.
What is the best time to visit Manipur?
The best time to visit Manipur is during the winter season. The temperature is pleasant to set out and enjoy the scenic beauty of this state then. One can plan a trip from September till April which is the beginning of the summer season here.
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