Manipur Travel Guide: Where to Go, When to Visit, How to Reach

Photo: ch_15march, CC BY 2.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

Manipur is a small state of valley and hills on India's border with Myanmar. Imphal sits in a flat, oval valley ringed by blue ranges, and Loktak Lake lies to its south, covered in floating islands of grass. Travellers come for the lake, for Meitei dance, temples and polo, and for the Naga and Kuki hill country around the valley. Since May 2023, ethnic violence has divided parts of the state, so plan with care and check the current situation before you go.

On Loktak Lake, even the islands float.

Where to go

• Imphal: the capital and the base for most trips. Walk the grounds of Kangla, the old seat of the Meitei kings beside the Imphal river, and visit the Commonwealth war cemeteries that recall the battles of 1944.
• Ima Keithel: Imphal's great market, where every stall is kept by women. Come in the morning for fish, greens, textiles and the talk of the town.
• Loktak Lake and Sendra: the largest freshwater lake in the north-east, 48 km from Imphal. Fishing families live on phumdis, floating mats of grass and soil, and Sendra island gives the best view across the water.
• Keibul Lamjao National Park: the world's only floating national park, on the southern part of Loktak. It is the last natural home of the sangai, Manipur's brow-antlered deer, and water birds gather from November to March.
• Moirang: a lakeside town with the old temple of Lord Thangjing, a pre-Hindu Meitei deity. The flag of the Indian National Army was first raised here on 14 April 1944, and a small museum keeps its letters and badges.
• Ukhrul and the Shirui Hills: the highest hill town in the state, 83 km east of Imphal, in Tangkhul Naga country. The rare Shirui lily blooms on the hilltops in May and June, and the Khangkhui lime caves are close by.
• Dzukou Valley: a high, grassy valley on the border with Nagaland. Most walkers start from the Nagaland side, near Kohima; see Nagaland.

For the state's shrines, read Manipur's temples, from Imphal to Kaina Hill. For how the valley and the hill districts divide, see Manipur, from the valley to the hills.

Main cities

Imphal is the capital and by far the largest town. It holds the airport, the government and most places to stay, and nearly every trip begins and ends here. Beyond Imphal, Manipur's towns are modest district centres, worth a stop mainly for the lake, hill or festival close to each.

• Bishnupur: the district town on the road south from Imphal, on the way to Moirang and Loktak Lake.
• Moirang: the lake town, for Loktak, Keibul Lamjao and the INA museum.
• Thoubal: a valley town south-east of Imphal, on the highway towards the Myanmar border.
• Kakching: a market town in the south of the valley, with a hillside garden the state is developing for visitors.
• Ukhrul: the hill town of the Tangkhul Nagas, and the base for the Shirui Hills and the Shirui Lily Festival.
• Churachandpur: the main town of the southern hills and a centre of Kuki-Zo life and the Kut festival. Movement between the valley and these hills has been restricted since 2023; check before you go.
• Senapati: a hill town in the north, on the highway to Kohima.
• Jiribam: the western gateway on the Assam border, where Manipur's railway begins.

Festivals

• Yaoshang (February or March): five days from the full moon of Phalguna. Young people dance the Thabal Chongba, holding hands in a circle in the moonlight.
• Lai Haraoba (April to June): Meitei villages honour their old deities with ritual dance. The Moirang Lai Haraoba is held in May.
• Shirui Lily Festival (May): Ukhrul celebrates the state flower with music, weaving and village visits.
• Ningol Chakouba (October or November): married daughters return to their parents' homes for a family feast.
• Kut (1 November): the harvest festival of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo peoples.

The state also holds the Sangai Festival from 21 to 30 November in and around Imphal; check whether it goes ahead before you plan around it. Lunar festivals move by a few days each year.

Food to try

• Eromba: boiled vegetables mashed with ngari, fermented fish, and fiery chilli.
• Singju: a sharp salad of shredded vegetables and herbs with roasted gram flour and chilli.
• Kangshoi: a light, clear stew of seasonal vegetables, often with dried fish.
• Nga thongba: a simple fish curry, the everyday dish of the valley.
• Chak-hao kheer: a pudding of Manipur's black rice, which turns deep purple as it cooks.
• Morok metpa: a fierce relish of chilli and fermented fish, served on the side of every meal.

Stories from Manipur

• Temples of Manipur: Shri Govindajee, Kaina and Lai Haraoba
• Manipur Travel by District: Imphal, Loktak, Ukhrul and Permits
• Cities in Manipur: Imphal, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Safety Notes

Plan your visit

Best season	October to April is dry and clear. May and June bring the Shirui lily to Ukhrul. From about June to September the monsoon is heavy, and landslides can cut the roads up to Ukhrul and the other hill districts.
How to reach	Fly to Imphal airport (Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, also called Tulihal), about 8 km from the city centre, with direct flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati and other cities. There is no train to Imphal yet: the nearest main station is Dimapur in Nagaland, about 216 km by road via Kohima. A weekly train from Agartala to Khongsang via Jiribam resumed on trial in July 2026; check before you go. Buses run from Guwahati, Dimapur and Silchar.
Getting around	Taxis and shared vehicles in Imphal. Hire a car with a driver for Loktak, Moirang and Ukhrul. Expect security checkpoints, and buffer zones that limit movement between the valley and some hill districts; roads can close at short notice.
Where to stay	Central Imphal for the city and day trips; Sendra and Moirang for Loktak Lake; homestays in and around Ukhrul for the Shirui Hills.
How long to spend	Four to six days: two in Imphal, one at Loktak and Moirang, and two in Ukhrul if the road is open.
Permits	Indians from other states need a Manipur Inner Line Permit from manipurilponline.mn.gov.in: a temporary permit lasts up to 30 days, a regular one up to 90 days with a local sponsor. Foreigners: the Ministry of Home Affairs brought Manipur back under the Protected Area regime in December 2024, so a Protected Area Permit is required, applied for through e-FRRO (indianfrro.gov.in); within 24 hours of reaching Manipur, register with the Foreigners Registration Officer. Look at both portals before travelling.

Open Manipur, India in Google Maps

Questions people ask

Which permits does Manipur require?

Two kinds. Indians from other states apply online for an Inner Line Permit on the Manipur ILP portal. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit, applied for through e-FRRO, and have 24 hours from reaching Manipur to register with the Foreigners Registration Officer.

Is it safe to visit Manipur now?

Parts of the state have seen ethnic violence since May 2023. Imphal and Loktak Lake receive visitors, but displaced families still live in relief camps, buffer zones restrict movement and highways can close at short notice. Check the latest news and advice from Manipur Tourism before you go, and travel with a local operator.

What is the best time to visit Manipur?

October to April, when the weather is dry and clear. Come in May for the Shirui lily in Ukhrul, and avoid the heaviest monsoon months, June to September, if you plan to drive into the hills.

Is there a train to Imphal?

Not yet. The railway from Jiribam is being built towards Imphal and is due around 2028. For now, fly to Imphal, or take a train to Dimapur in Nagaland and continue by road through Kohima.

How many days do I need for Manipur?

Four to six days covers Imphal, Loktak Lake, Moirang and, if the road is open, Ukhrul.

Written by Muthu, editor of Aura of India. Sources: Manipur Inner Line Permit portal, Government of Manipur, Manipur Tourism: In and around Loktak Lake, Manipur Tourism: How to reach Imphal, Ministry of Home Affairs circular reimposing the Protected Area regime in Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland (December 2024). Last verified: 13 October 2026.

Your turn: Have you watched the fishermen on Loktak's floating islands? Where did you stay near the lake?