Ima Keithel (Women market) & Sri Gobind Ji Temple.

The Womens Market (Ima Keithel):

''Ima Keithel '' the womens market probably  is the only market fully running by womens in the world and it is near about 500 year old.

This is not only a business hub but also a platform to share the ideas of individual about  world's socioeconomic & political movement and  made it unique symbol of gender justice. More than 4000 women  doing their business and controlling the hole system strongly and nicely which  itself is an example specially in today's generation and is real proud for our country.

From 16th century females were only the work forces in this area as there was a forced labour engagement system  called ''Lallup-Kaba"by which men from meitei religion were being engaged forcefully far away from their village to do farming or for cultivation of crops and even for fight also as required by the king.So naturally women had no option other than taking the hole responsibility of their family and to run it from the farming to the shopping as well as doing business like selling the hand craft items - Fanek a popular female were which is one of the traditional home made product by meitei people.

Manipur people has a lot of war experience  from the centuries and made them strong and brave to do fight for their freedom.

From the day one manipuri women (Ima) raised their voices against injustice.In the British period there was lot of political movement took place against British raj. "Nupi Lan" one of the famous movement. British government  tried to take control on this area forcefully for Many times but they faced a strong protest from various women's groups of Manipur which are originally leaded by Ima keithel women's team.

                                            Nupi Lan
The first "Nupi Lan" which broke out in 1904 was against the British order to send Manipuri men to Kabow Valley to fetch timber for re-building the their Police Agent’s bungalow after it was ravaged by fire.The first Nupi Lan was stirred up by the heirs-apparent of the erstwhile ruling family who did not like the selection of Chura Chand Singh as the King of Manipur.

This happened not only in British raj but also in 2003, our government decided to shift the market and rebuild the same,and for some other issue was also there like implementation of AFSPA etc which created a huge protest from women's group.

Sharmila Chanu & Meri Kom also from this strong women group of Manipur.



Sri Govinda ji Temple:

Maharaja Nara Singh dedicated this temple to Sri Govinda ji.This is the largest Hindu,Baishnava temple situated in Imphal and next to the Kangla fort,It very simple with two gold plated Dom with huge court yard fully cover with paver tiles.
Initially the temple was controlled by the king afterword is goes to the priest community and local respected people.

This temple is surrounded by a beautiful garden and lawn.              In the RasLeela festival there are a magnificent program organized by the temple authority where traditional Manipuri dance is the main attraction.

This temple got damaged due to earthquake 1868 and rebuild it with its original design by Maharaja Chandrakirti.The duration of Anglo-Manipur War the idol was Shifted to Kongma and Maharaja Churchand Singh reconstructed it in the present location in the year of 1908.

                                   Anglo Manipuri War

Keibul Lamjao National Park, ISKCON Temple Manipur

Keibul Lamjao National Park

This is located near Bishnupur district -Manipur.It is only the floated national park in the world and also for the dancing deer called "Sangai". This park is declared as sanctuary in the year of 1966 and declared as national park in the year of 1977.Sangai is the state animal of Manipur.This park is located at the south-east side of loktak lake,this also a phumdi (a solid form of biomass and organic garbage). Two third of the total park made of phumdi.This park reduced from its actual area under pressure of local villager in 1988.
During monsoon the hills around this park helps the mammals and animals of this swamp as a shelter.

In dry season phumdis are down to the lake bed,and in monsoon it submerged with water and after some few day it separating from ground and start floating.

Apart from sangai there are some other species found in this park like-Jungle Cat,Golden Cat,Wild Bore,Sambar deer,Flying fox,Python,Many types of cobra,Asian Rat snake etc.

Due to construction Ithai barrage it is necessary to maintain high water level through out the year that's why natural growth of phumdis are getting hampered,its thickness are decreasing day by day which is effecting the survival of jungle species.

Manipur Tourism Department arranges for day tours to the Loktak Lake and the Keibul Lamjao Park.Colorful water plants can be seen during boating through the water way passes through this park.Phumdis is not a firm ground, this area is swamp only so additional care to be taken during tour.


ISKCON Temple of Manipur

 The ISKCON Temple in Imphal, located close to the bank of the Imphal River, it is a great temple of Lord Krishna.It has been made of thick cement coated bricks so that it's appearance look like marble finished .

Lots of paintings are made at the ceiling  which are representing the life of Lord Krishna since his childhood.

The birth day of Lord Krishna, Janmashtmi is celebrated in the temple as huge. The entire temple is decorated with flowers, illuminated in the night on that duration, thousands of people gathered to offer their prayers.It is great filling to be there on that occasion.

Points of Interest in Manipur.

There are many beautiful spots available in Manipur to visit, some of  the famous places I would like to mention here.
The following are may attract you.

1).  Kangla Fort
2).  Loktak lake
3).  Keibul Lamjao National park
4).  ISKCON Temple
5).  Shri Govindaji Temple
6).  Manipur Zoological garden
7).  Womens Market.( Ima Keithel )
8).  INA Museum.
9).  Singda Dam
10).Ukhrul-Tea estate
11). Red Hill
12). Shahid Minar
13). Tharon cave
14). War cemetery-Imphal

These are as follows.

Kangla Fort

In Meitei language Kangla means "dry land ",Manipur also formerly known as Kangleipak.It is situated by the bank of Imphal river. It is very popular historical and political place in Manipur as well as for India also from the beginning.The kingdom of Manipur was grown and establish in this place only.In the past Kangla was the Meitei  ruler's traditional seat.


The fort made by King Khagemba in 1632 AD with only a brick wall at the western entry of kangla fort.after that his son developed it to the complete fort.It is a belief that the brick making art given by the Chinese prisoners who were capture by King Khagemba during Chinese invasion at the eastern frontier of Manipur.

                                                                  Kangla Fort in Imphal.

                                                                                                  

 During world war-II Kangla Fort damaged badly and now almost ruined are there,but also it is the only the witness of Traditional history of this part of our country. 

There are two huge brick made statue named "Kangla Sha" in front of "Uttara" (The coronation hall of the Manipuri kings ),it is believed that Kings performance was depended upon the results of the coronation ceremony. It also believed that whenever the King is in distress, the King performed a sacred ritual, without  eating & drinking, then kangla-Sha blessed and protect the King.

                                                                      "Kangla Sha"

                                                             "Uttara"-The Coronation Place"

Kangla Sha' were damaged by the British ruler after they occupied the fort in 1891. This fort  is also remembered historically as four British officers were beheaded by the Manipuri soldiers.

Loktak lake

It is situated near moirang 35 km away from Imphal (capital of Manipur) it is the largest fresh water lake in north east India.There are several floating islands of different geometrical shapes & sizes.Imphal and Barak these two rivers are the main water sources of this lake.Around14 nos hill of various sizes are hieght are there surrounding of this lake or within it. 

                                                                       Loktak Lake

                                                                   

The main attraction of this lake is the floating islands.These are made of vegetation,soil,and other organic matter at various stages of decomposition and with different geometrical shapes.The islands are know as " Phumdi" in local language.Some of these are free floated and some are floated by root.

                                                                  Phumdi-The floated islands
This is also a main source of  livelihood for the rural fisherman,farmers .Approximately 100000 peoples life straightly depending upon this lake.

                                                                   Boating at Loktak

                                                                Fishing in Loktak lake

                                                           Villager huts on Phumdi -Loktak
 "Keibul Lamjao" is one of the biggest phumdi and is only the  floated national park in the world.
This lake has been considered as a main storage of water for the hydro power generation for power supply to all the north-eastern state of India.

                                                               Ithai Dam on Loktak Lake


 

North-East Beauty of India

Hi,There

This is dream rider,
I am having a passion to match the dreams with  my real life features.Traveling is my passion and I usually managed the time for it from my busy routine.

I made many trips to various part of my country and also shown my personal interest to know the history and religious culture of those particular place.

Being a blogger I wish to share all those memories with all and that will be a great pleasure for me.
I would like to describe my knowledge and fillings in simple language and in my own way.

So starting from North east India.


Manipur 

Following are the major information to know:

1.This is situated at north-east part of India,altitude is approx 800 mt from sea level and has a natural protection against cold wave in winter from Himalaya at north and the storm from bay of Bengal as it mostly barricaded with the forests and hills from all the sides.

2.In ancient history this province was know as ''Gandharva desha''a land of art-music and dance.
In Mahavarata  Arjun fall in love with Chitrangada in this land.

3.Manipur been used as a famous business corridor between India and south-east Asia and China also.

4. This land experienced the great world war-II directly.In 1944,14th April the first Indian flag hoisted
    by INA.  was a headquarter of Azad Hind Fauz during second world war in Moirang 45 km away from
    the capital Imphal.

5.As the time passes different people with their various culture and thoughts made Manipur to adopt Indo-Burmise mix culture.

6.In hilly part of this land Kuki,Naga and some other small tribal groups are the major inhabitants,in the plain area of this valley Meitei, Muslims, Baishnavs, Bramhins, Christians etc are usually leaves.


7.Meitei and English are the main languages in this state.Hindu people are the major part of Meitei.
Baishnabs  are another major religions in Manipur valley.


Capital Name :  Imphal

Air port           :  Imphal International Airport.(connecting all the major cities to north east India and
                            South-East Asia also.)      

Railway          :  Direct rail routes are not there for Imphal.Dimapur station is 215 km away.
                           There are no direct Train or Flight route available in between NewDelhi to  
                           Imphal.
                           Abadh-Assam Exp,Bramhaputra Exp and DBRT Rajdhani are there on daily  
                           basis but only up to Dimapur-Assam.(Nagaland border).
                           From Dimapur to Imphal driveway distance is 215 km,and aerial distance is 125 
                           km.The Fastest and also cheapest way is to take Hwh-Duranto Exp from Delhi 
                           to Kolkata,after that take flight for Imphal from DumDum air port (Kolkata).
Driveway        :  NH-27,AH-1 and AH-2 are there.From Siliguri(west bengal) to Imphal total drive  
                           way distance is 960 km including inter state toll plaza.Total time will take 23 hrs.The    
                           road passes through the forest and hills.