Imphal

Imphal, Manipur's capital, sits in a fertile valley ringed by hills, its Ima Keithel ('Mothers' Market') among the most distinctive markets in India — run entirely by women vendors, a tradition with roots stretching back centuries and reflecting Manipuri women's significant economic and social role. The city's mix of Meitei cultural institutions, colonial-era and Second World War history, and its position as gateway to the wider Manipuri hills gives it a genuinely layered character.

Beyond Ima Keithel, Kangla Fort and the Manipur State Museum anchor much of the city's heritage tourism, while the surrounding valley's rice paddies and the nearby Loktak Lake give Imphal a green, agricultural backdrop distinct from most other Indian state capitals of comparable size.

Imphal has served as the political and cultural centre of the Manipuri kingdom for centuries, and its role in the Second World War as a critical battleground during the 1944 Battle of Imphal — which halted the Japanese advance into India — added a significant modern historical layer to the city's older Meitei heritage.

Imphal has its own airport with regular connections to Kolkata, Delhi and Guwahati.