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Imphal

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Imphal is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur.

Imphal view
Imphal view

It sits in the Imphal Valley in eastern India. Nine ranges of hills surround this valley. The name Imphal comes from two words. "Yum" means house and "Phal" means plenty or beautiful. In the old language, "yum" was sometimes spelled "im." People still say "yum-phal" every now and then.

Imphal, Manipur (55)
Imphal, Manipur (55)

The city has a humid subtropical climate. This means the weather is mostly moderate. Winters are cool and dry. The monsoon season can be a bit hot. In January, the average low is near 7°C. On very clear nights, it can drop to 1°C. Sometimes it even drops below freezing. You might see frost on winter mornings. June and July are the wettest months.

City convention center
City convention center

Imphal has a very long history of kings. The Ningthouja dynasty ruled the region for a long time. King Khagemba and his son Khunjaoba built the Kangla Palace. This palace was the royal seat of the Kingdom of Manipur. It sits on the banks of the Imphal River. The palace is surrounded by a moat. Later, the British destroyed the palace during a war.

Soldiers of the two wings of the 14th Army link-up at Milestone 109 during the Battle of Imphal-Kohima
Soldiers of the two wings of the 14th Army link-up at Milestone 109 during the Battle of Imphal-Kohima

World War II was a big event for the city. Between March and July 1944, the Battle of Imphal took place. Japanese forces tried to invade India through Imphal. However, they were defeated and had to retreat. This battle showed how important the city's position was. Today, people visit the Imphal War Cemetery. They also visit the India Peace Memorial at the Red Hills.

Imphal airport
Imphal airport

Many people live and work in this busy hub. It is a place for many different trades. People make beautiful weaving and brass-ware there. Imphal is home to the Ima Keithel. This is the largest all-women run market in Asia. Around 5,000 to 6,000 women work there. Most people in the city speak the Manipuri language. The city also has many big schools and universities.

Manipur University main gate
Manipur University main gate
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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Soldiers of the two wings of the 14th Army link-up at Milestone 109 during the Battle of Imphal-Kohima.jpg
Soldiers of the two wings of the 14th...
File:Imphal view.jpg
Imphal view.jpg
File:City convention center.jpg
City convention center.jpg
File:Imphal airport.jpg
Imphal airport.jpg
File:Imphal, Manipur (55).jpeg
Imphal, Manipur (55).jpeg
File:Manipur University main gate.jpg
Manipur University main gate.jpg
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