The land of the floating islands.
From the unique Loktak Lake to the history of Imphal and the hills of Ukhrul, Manipur is one of India's most overlooked and rewarding destinations.
"The floating phumdi islands of Loktak Lake at sunrise, a lone fisherman's hut among them."
Manipur is the quiet jewel of the Northeast. Home to the only floating lake in the world, a proud classical dance tradition, and a landscape of hills and water that very few travellers have ever seen. Manipur's signature is Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the Northeast and the only place on earth with its phumdis, floating islands of matted vegetation, including a national park that genuinely floats. Watching the sun rise over them, with fishermen moving between the islands, is one of those rare travel moments that feels truly singular. The state carries deep history too. Imphal was a pivotal theatre in the Second World War, and the classical Manipuri dance is one of India's great art forms, born here. It sees few outside visitors, which means the welcome is warm and the experiences feel genuinely your own. We travel the parts of the state that are open and ready for visitors, and advise honestly on timing.
What you will see
Take a slow, thorough walkthrough of these local treasures, curated and managed wholly by homegrown guides.
"The bustling all-women's market of Ima Keithel in Imphal, stalls and traders."
Imphal
The capital and the cultural core. The historic Kangla Fort, the remarkable all-women's market of Ima Keithel, the Shri Govindajee temple, and the moving war cemetery. A city that rewards a slow, curious walk.
Loktak Lake and Moirang
The heart of any Manipur trip. Loktak with its floating islands and Sendra Island viewpoint, and nearby Moirang with the INA memorial, a key site in India's independence story. Staying overnight by the lake is the way to do it.
Ukhrul and the hills
The hill country to the east, home to the rare Shirui Lily that blooms nowhere else, alongside caves and ridge walks. Greener, cooler, and gloriously remote.
The wider state
Bishnupur with its old Vishnu temple and ecological park, the wildlife of Yangoupokpi-Lokchao, and the waterfalls and caves around Tamenglong reward travellers who want to go further.
🌸 Signature experiences
- ✓Watch sunrise over the floating islands of Loktak Lake
- ✓Explore the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal
- ✓Visit Ima Keithel, the great all-women's market
- ✓Seek the rare Shirui Lily in the Ukhrul hills
- ✓Stand at the INA memorial at Moirang
🗺️ Ways to travel here
- ➔All-[#State] grand tour — Imphal, Loktak, and the hills, the complete state.
- ➔Loktak Lake eco-tour — the floating islands and the wetland ecosystem, paced slow.
- ➔Heritage tour — the history of Imphal and the independence story.
- ➔Manipuri dance and culture tour — the classical arts at their source.
- ➔Adventure and educational tours — the hills, the ecology, and study-focused trips.
Independent-minded travellers, culture and history lovers, and anyone who likes to discover a place before the crowds do. We will always give you current, honest guidance on timing.
“We almost skipped Manipur, and I am so glad we did not. Sunrise over Loktak, with the floating islands catching the light, was the single most beautiful morning of our entire trip.”