The Imphal West District falls in the Category of Manipur valley region. It is a tiny plain at the centre of Manipur surrounded by Plains of other districts. Imphal City, the State Capital is the nodal functional centre of this District. It is surrounded by Senapati District on the north, on the east by Imphal East and Thoubal districts, on the south by Thoubal and Bishnupur Districts, and on the west by Senapati and Bishnupur Districts.

Climate

The district enjoys confortable temperature throughout the year; not very hot in summer and not very cold in winter. Over all the climatic condition of the district is salubriouces and monsoon tropical. The whole district is under the influence of the monsoons characterised by hot and humid rainy seasons during the summer, and cool and dry seasons during the winter. Temperature ranges from minimum of 0o C to maximum of 36oC. the average annual rainfall based on the meteorological data published for the years 1991-99 is 1259.5 mm. The district gets rainfall from the South-West monsoon.

Flora and Fauna

The district is endowed with a rich variety of vegetation. The prevailing climatic conditions are favourable for growing a wide range of herbs, shrubs, and also flowering and non-flowering trees. In addition, a variety of medicinal plants are also grown in the district. Few important varieties of non-fruit bearing trees, fruit bearing trees, etc of worth mentioning are Bamboos, Pepals, Kaubila, Eucalyptus, Amla, Parkai roxburgil (Yongchak), Arundo donax (yendhou), Carica papaya (papaya), Citrus grandia (Pamelo), Mangifera indica (Mango), Prunus domestics (plum), Prumus persica (peach), Pyrus selerotine (pear), Psidium guavaya (guava), Famarin dus indica (Tamarind). The abundant existence of wild animals in the district is only of past story. Due to the heavy pressure on land and cleaning of forest land in the valley, the existenceof varieties of animals, birds, fauna are on fast decreasing trend. Fox, deer, wild pig, jungle cat, monkeys and leopards were the important animals once habited in the district. Of which, monkeys are said to be the only animal available in the district (in the premises of Hanuman Thakur mandir at Mahabali). A large variety of birds are found in the district. The common birds available in the district are sparrow, swallow, owl, myna, pigeon, nightingale, king fisher, wood pecker, heren, kite, etc.

Soil

The valley area of imphal West district is fertile land and is mainly made up of alluvial soil of recent origin. The valley was once full of swamps and marshy lands, the important ones being Lamphelpat, Takyelpat, Sangaipat, Kakwapat, Poiroupat (pat means lake). The soil are mainly made up of shallow black, brown and alluvial soils which have been technically classified as Udalfs-Ochrepts and Orchrepts-Aquepts-Fluvents.

Rivers

Main rivers draining Imphal west plain are Imphal river, Nambul river and their tributaries. The Nambul river is made up of a number of small streams on its upper course. The course of the river is short and its outlet falls on Loktak Lake. This river passes through Imphal Municipality area dividing its area into almost two equal halves. This river serves as the main dischargeing drainage of Imphal Bazar area and its surroundings. During rainy season, swift flowing of water directed to it from its tributaries can't be contained in it. As a result, breaking of its river bunds causing waterlogging in the low lying area is of regular feature.

Industry

When compare with other districts on Manipur, Imphal West district is progressed in industries Handloom and handicrafts and other traditional cottage and small scale industries, however constitute the bulk of the industrial units. Important products which are manufactured both for local needs and export are bed sheet, pillow cover, shawl, scarf, mosquito net, curtain, phanek (loincloth for women), chadar, etc. of various designs and colours. Blacksmithy, Jewellery, cane and bamboo works, etc. are other important cottage industries. In the small scale sector, there are industries like carpentry and wooden furniture, saw mill, rice and flour mill, iron and steel works, repairing of cycles and automobiles, tailoring and embroidery, tyre retreating and vulcanising, etc. Among the large and medium industries are spinning Mill at Loitang Khunou and the Industrial Estate at Takyel for assemble of low cost bi-cycles and TV sets etc.

The People

The people of the district are mostly Manipuris excepting small numbers of non-manipuris living in the District. Manipuri (Meiteilon) is the main language. There are different kinds of cultural institutions for Manipuri dances viz. Jawaharlal Nehru Dance Accademy, Manipuri Jagoi Marup, etc., one Art College one State Museum, one State Central Library, one State Archives, and some Organised Martial Arts Intitutions.

All villages of the district are electrified. Intalled capacity (State owned) is 6.88 MW, Electricity Generated (State owned) is 0.40 MWH. There are 5(five) numbers of Diesel Power House in the District upto the year 1999-2000.

Shopping

Imphal Khuwai Bazar is the most important market for this district. Some important markets in the greater Imphal area are Naoremthong Bazar, tera Bazar, Kwakeithel Bazar, and singjamei Bazar. It has 2 Municipalities viz. Imphal (part) and Nambol (part), 8 Notified Area Committees viz. Lamsang, Lilong (Imphal West), Lilong (Thoubal part), Mayang Imphal, Samurou (part), Sekmai Bazar, Thongkhong Laxmi Bazar and Wangoi and 2 Census Town viz. Bijoy Govinda and Lamjaotongba.

How to reach

By Air

Indian Airlines connect Imphal, the capital of Manipur, with major cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati and Silchar. NEPC Airlines has daily flights to Imphal from Guwahati, and Indian Airlines 6 days in a week from Kolkata to Imphal.

By Train

Dimapur town of Nagaland, 215 kms from Imphal, is the nearest railhead. Another railhead is Jiribam, a small town in Manipur 225 kms from Imphal.

By Road

Imphal is connected by road with Guwahati (Assam) through National Highway No. 39 and Silchar (Assam) through National Highway No. 53.

Entry Formalities

All foreigners intending to visit Manipur can avail of permits from Indian Missions abroad, FRRO offices in Mumbai, Kolkata and New Delhi, the Immigration Office in Madras and the Home Commissioner, Government of Manipur, Imphal. Areas that can be visited include Imphal City, Loktak Lake, INA Memorial (Moirang) , Sendra, Waithou Lake, Keibul Lamjao National Park, and the Khongjom War Memorial.

Domestic tourists intending to visit Manipur by road via Dimapur / Kohima require Inner Line Permits to pass through Nagaland. These are issued by the Liaison officers of the Government of Nagaland at New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong and the Sub-divisional Officer (Civil), Dimapur. The Deputy Commissioner, Imphal West can also issue permits to tourists travelling by road from Imphal to Kohima and Dimapur in Nagaland.

Places of Interest

Shree Shree Govindajee Temple

A historic Vaishnavite center, adjoining the Royal palace of Manipur's former Maharajas, the Govindajee temple is a simple yet beautiful structure. Twin domes, a pave courtyard, and a large raise congregation hall form a perfect backdrop for priest who descend the steps, to accept offerings from devotees in the courtyard. The shrines of Krishna and Balaram and Jagannath flank the two sides of the presiding deity.

Women's market or Ima keithel

A unique all women's market, having 3000 "Imas" or mothers who run the stalls, it is split two sections on either side of road. Vegetables, fruits, fish and household groceries are sold on one side and exquisite handlooms and household tools on the other. Not far away is a street where beautiful wicker works and basketry are sold.

War Cemeteries

Commemorating the memories of British and Indian soldiers who died during the Second World War, these cemeteries are managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Serene and well maintained, the graves carry little stone markers and bronze plaques recording the sacrifice of those gallant soldiers.

Manipur Zoological Gardens

6 kms to west of Imphal city, at the foot of the pine growing hillocks at Iroisemba on the Imphal-Kanchup Road are the Zoological Gardens. Not to be missed is an opportunity to see the graceful brow antlered deer (Sangai) one of the rarest species in the world, in sylvan surroundings.

Manipur State Museum

Museum, an important institution for preservation of relics of human civilization and glorious past of any society, is the mirror through which to see the materials and cultural heritage of the society and civilization. The Manipur State Museum was inaugurated by the late Prime Minister of India, Smt. Indira Gandhi on 23rd September, 1969. During 32nd years, this Museum has become a full fledged multipurpose museum comprising of various Galleries like - Ethnology, Archeology, Natural History, Painting, Jallan, Children's Gallery and an open air gallery for housing the 78 ft long boat called Hiyang Hiren (Royal boat). Apart from the normal functions of Museum, the Manipur State Museum took up various activities like Museum awareness programmes, Conservation of Biological specimens, cultural appreciation course, Science fairs, thematic exhibition, mobile exhibition etc. Now a days, Manipur State Museum has taken up numerous sponsor programmes through National and International Museums. It is open from 10 am to 4.30 pm and closed on Monday and public holidays.

Special Attraction

'Samban-Lei Sekpil' the tallest Topiary in the World Green and awesomely tall, a shrub growing 61 feet (18.59 m.), it is amazing. When Moirangthem Okendra Kumbi of Manipur returned home after getting his degree of B.Sc. Agri. (Hons.) from Meerut University, in 1983, he found a small plant on a mustard oil tin planted by his sister. The plant was a kind of shrub Manipuris use to grow as fencing to their gardens, so they called it Samban-Lei (Samban means fencing and Lei means flower), its Hindi name is Nilakantha (Sky flower) and Botanical Name is Duranta repens Linn. He started an experiment with the plant to grow it upright and cutting its branches in round forming the shape of umbrellas and discs. Experts told him it wouldn't grow past 20 feet, but he never gave up. While it was growing, Moirangthem would display it at local exhibitions. Once it became too big to move, however, he decided to plant it permanently. In 1991, the then governor of Manipur saw it and recommended him for a position in the State Horticulture Department as Assistant Horticultural Officer. This topiary duranta is given the name "Samban-Lei Sekpil" by its owner Moirangthem as the Samban-Lei is forming the shape of a Sekpil. The word Sekpil is derived from ancient Manipuri word for a decorative bamboo post with rounded structured cloths forming canopy in many stages. These sekpil at present also called as "Shattra" is generally used in worship and festivals of Manipuris. He climb the supporting ladder at least two times in a day to check the shape of his record plant, till now he had spent more than Rupees sixteen lakhs on maintenance. His untired efford earned a place in the Indian Records of Topiary Art, the Limca Book of Records, and the Guinness Book of World Records.