Imphal, India: travel guide
Manipur's valley capital, with a floating-island lake and a women-run market
Valley city of Manipur — the floating Loktak Lake with its phumdis, Kangla Fort, the women-run Ima Keithel market, and the sacred Shree Govindajee temple.
About Imphal
Imphal is the capital of Manipur, lying on a broad valley floor ringed by hills in India's northeast. The culture here has its own strong identity, visible in dance, cuisine and market life.
The Ima Keithel, or Mothers' Market, is run entirely by women and is among the most characterful markets in the region. Kangla Fort holds the former royal grounds, and the Shree Govindajee temple is a focus of Vaishnava worship. Further out, Loktak Lake is covered in floating mats of vegetation called phumdis, and Keibul Lamjao National Park shelters the rare sangai deer on them.
Things to do in Imphal suit slow, culture-focused travellers. The best time to visit Imphal is between October and March, when skies are clear and temperatures mild.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Nearest airport
- IMF
Last updated
Top places to visit in Imphal
Shree Govindajee Temple
temple · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
A historic twin-domed Vaishnavite temple beside the old palace, the principal centre of Manipuri Vaishnavism and the famed Ras Lila dance traditions.
Imphal War Cemetery
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
A serene, immaculately kept cemetery honouring Commonwealth soldiers who died in the 1944 Imphal-Kohima campaign, with rows of bronze plaques on green lawns.
Manipur State Museum
Museum · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A museum of Manipuri heritage — tribal costumes, royal artefacts, the polo (sagol kangjei) legacy, manuscripts and natural history.
Loktak Lake
Nature · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The largest freshwater lake in Northeast India, famed for its floating phumdis (heterogeneous masses of vegetation), fishing huts and a mesmerising patchwork of green rings.
Kangla Fort
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The ancient walled capital of the Manipuri kings on the Imphal river — temples, ceremonial halls, the Kangla Sha dragons and moats, the spiritual heart of Manipur.
Ima Keithel (Mothers' Market)
Market · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A unique centuries-old market run entirely by thousands of women, selling textiles, handicrafts, vegetables and fish — a living symbol of Manipuri matriarchy.
Sendra Island
Viewpoint · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A scenic island-hill rising from Loktak with a tourist resort and viewpoint, offering the iconic panorama of the lake's floating phumdi rings.
INA Memorial Moirang
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The site where the Indian National Army first hoisted the tricolour in 1944, with a museum honouring Netaji and the INA's freedom struggle.
Keibul Lamjao National Park
Wildlife · 4.4 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
The world's only floating national park, set on Loktak's phumdis and the last refuge of the endangered sangai (Manipur brow-antlered deer).
Khongampat Orchidarium
Nature · 4.1 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A government orchid sanctuary on the city outskirts conserving over a hundred Manipuri orchid species, glorious when in bloom (April-May).
Things to do
- Loktak Lake Boat Tour Nature · 2 h · from INR 800 per person
- Kangla Fort Heritage Walk Cultural · 2 h · from INR 600 per person
- Keibul Lamjao Sangai Safari Nature · 3 h · from INR 1,000 per person
- Imphal Markets & War History Tour Cultural · 5 h · from INR 1,200 per person
Day trips and tours
- Loktak Lake & Moirang Day 9 h · from INR 2,200
- Imphal Heritage & Markets Day 7 h · from INR 1,800
- Keibul Lamjao Sangai Safari Day 8 h · from INR 2,000
Where to stay in Imphal
- City Center about INR 2,000 per night
Main commercial area with mid-range hotels
Hotels
- Classic Grande Imphal 4-star · INR 5,000 to INR 9,000 per night
- The Classic Hotel 3-star · INR 3,500 to INR 6,500 per night
- Loktak Homestay Moirang 2-star · INR 1,500 to INR 3,200 per night
- Sendra Tourist Home (MTDC) 2-star · INR 2,500 to INR 4,500 per night
- Sangai Continental Hotel 3-star · INR 2,800 to INR 5,000 per night
- Hotel Imphal (MTDC) 3-star · INR 3,000 to INR 5,500 per night
Where to eat
- Luangamba Restaurant Manipuri, Northeastern · about INR 350 per person
- Classic Hotel Restaurant Manipuri, North Indian, Chinese · about INR 400 per person
- Paona Bazaar Food Street Street Food, Tibetan, Chinese · about INR 150 per person
- Sangai Continental North Indian, Chinese, Continental · about INR 400 per person
- The Marrow Cafe Cafe, Continental, Tibetan · about INR 250 per person
- Hotel Imphal Restaurant Manipuri, North Indian, Chinese · about INR 450 per person
- Sendra Park Restaurant Manipuri, North Indian, Chinese · about INR 400 per person
- Nirvana Restaurant North Indian, Chinese, Tandoor · about INR 350 per person
Getting to Imphal
Airport: Imphal (IMF)
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw
- Shared Taxi
- Walking
More in India
Frequently asked questions about Imphal
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Imphal?
- The highest-rated places in our Imphal guide are Loktak Lake, Imphal War Cemetery, Kangla Fort, Ima Keithel (Mothers' Market), Shree Govindajee Temple.
- Where should I stay in Imphal?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Imphal: City Center.
- How do I get around Imphal?
- Ways to get around Imphal covered in our guide: Auto-rickshaw, Shared taxi, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Imphal?
- The nearest airport to Imphal has the code IMF.