Aura of India: Manipur Travel by District: Imphal, Loktak, Ukhrul and Permits

Floating phumdi islands on Loktak Lake in Manipur

Photo: Haoreima, CC BY 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

Loktak Lake in Manipur, early in the morning, among the floating islands.

Manipur is a bowl: a flat green valley in the middle, and blue hills rising on every side.

The valley and the hills

Manipur, on India's border with Myanmar, has sixteen districts. A handful of them, including Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching, share the central valley, where most people live and where the Meitei community's temples, markets and polo grounds are. The rest, such as Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong, Churachandpur and Chandel, cover the surrounding hills, home to Naga and Kuki-Zo communities, each with their own languages and villages.

Imphal and its market

Imphal, the capital, is a low city of wide roads and old trees. At its centre, Ima Keithel, the Mothers' Market, is run entirely by women, who sell fish, vegetables, cloth and spices from raised stalls. Nearby, the Kangla Fort was the seat of Manipur's kings. Manipur is also the home of modern polo, played here for centuries, and of Ras Lila, a slow and graceful dance about Krishna.

Loktak and the hills

South of Imphal, in Bishnupur district, Loktak Lake is dotted with phumdis, floating islands of grass and soil. Keibul Lamjao, the world's only floating national park, lies on the lake and protects the sangai, a rare brow-antlered deer. In Ukhrul, the Shirui lily flowers on one mountain slope in May and June and nowhere else. In the far south-east, Moreh is the border town on the road to Myanmar.

Before you go

Indian visitors from outside Manipur need an Inner Line Permit, applied for online, and foreign visitors need a Protected Area Permit, which the Ministry of Home Affairs reimposed in December 2024. Since 2023, parts of Manipur have seen serious unrest; check official travel advisories before planning a trip, and follow local guidance on where it is safe to go. Imphal has an airport with flights from Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati. The best months are October to March.

A short valley route

Most visits stay in the valley. Day one: Imphal, with Ima Keithel and Kangla Fort. Day two: south to Moirang and Loktak Lake, with Keibul Lamjao, home of the sangai deer, on the lake. Day three: the temples of Imphal, described in Manipur's temples, and an evening of Ras Lila if a performance is on.

The hill districts, such as Ukhrul for the Shirui lily in May and June, need more time and local advice. Check conditions on the road you plan to take before you set out, every day.

The sixteen districts

Manipur has had sixteen districts since December 2016, when seven new ones were created. The valley districts are Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching. Jiribam lies on its own in the far west, on the Assam border.

The hill districts are Ukhrul, Kamjong, Senapati, Kangpokpi, Tamenglong, Noney, Churachandpur, Pherzawl, Chandel and Tengnoupal. Each has its own communities, languages and festivals; the Manipur guide has more.

Districts at a glance

Imphal West and Imphal East: the capital, Ima Keithel and Kangla Fort.
Bishnupur: Loktak Lake and Keibul Lamjao National Park.
Thoubal and Kakching: valley farmland and small towns.
Ukhrul: Shirui peak and its lily.
Senapati: hill villages on the road north to Nagaland.
Tengnoupal: Moreh, on the Myanmar border.

On Loktak, the islands drift, and the fishermen's huts drift with them.

Plan your visit

Best season	October to March, dry and cool. The Shirui lily flowers in May and June. The monsoon, June to September, brings heavy rain.
How to reach	Fly to Imphal from Delhi, Kolkata or Guwahati. By road, the ILP entry points are Mao Gate on the Nagaland side and Jiribam on the Assam side.
Getting around	Taxis and autorickshaws in Imphal; a hired car with a local driver for Loktak and beyond. Travel to the hills depends on current conditions.
Where to stay	Imphal: the central areas around Thangal Bazar and Paona Bazar, near Ima Keithel. Moirang for Loktak.
How long to spend	Three to four days for Imphal and Loktak.
Permits	Indian visitors: Inner Line Permit; the Temporary Permit costs ₹100 for 30 days, as of October 2026, online at manipurilponline.mn.gov.in or at kiosks at Imphal airport, Mao Gate and Jiribam. Foreign visitors: Protected Area Permit through the e-FRRO portal, and registration within 24 hours of arrival.
Safety	Parts of the state have seen serious unrest since May 2023. Check official advisories, and your own government's travel advice, before you book.

Open Imphal, Manipur in Google Maps

Questions people ask

Do I need an Inner Line Permit for Manipur?

Yes, if you are an Indian citizen from outside the state. The Temporary Permit costs ₹100 and is valid for 30 days. Apply online, or get one in minutes at the kiosks at Imphal airport, Mao Gate and Jiribam.

Can foreigners visit Manipur?

Only with a Protected Area Permit. The Ministry of Home Affairs brought the permit back for Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland in December 2024. Applications go through the e-FRRO portal, and visitors must register with the Foreigners Registration Officer within 24 hours.

Is it safe to travel to Manipur now?

Conditions change. Check official advisories and local news before you travel, and follow the guidance of local authorities on where to go.

What is special about Loktak Lake?

It is covered in phumdis, floating islands of grass and soil, and Keibul Lamjao, the world's only floating national park, lies on it.

Pages

Manipur Travel by District: Imphal, Loktak, Ukhrul and Permits