Manipur

Manipur has a rich culture that shines in every aspect. It includes martial arts, dance, theater and sculpture. Manipur factually means "A jeweled land." Manipur is located in the northeastern part of India. The capital of this state is Imphal. Manipur is surrounded by Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders the country of Myanmar to the east. The border of Manipur is quite sensitive. Foreigners who want to enter Manipur must possess a Restricted Area Permit, which can be obtained from the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office in the "metros" (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata) or certain other state government offices. The prime ethnic groups of this state are the Meiteis, who live in the state's valley region. Their language, Meiteilon (also known as Manipuri), is also the lingua franca in the state, and was recognized as one of India's national languages in 1992. The Kukis and Nagas reside in the hills of the state. The Kukis too have their own monarchy like the Chahsat, Aisan, Jampi, etc. and were close to the Meitei kings in the plain. Leaders of the manipur Naga consider that one day they will unite and can dominate the other Naga.

Manipur became involved in the disputes between Thailand and Burma, and Manipur took advantage of a Burmese incursion of Thailand to raid deep into its western frontier. In 1891, Manipur came under British rule as a significant state. During the Second World War, Manipur faced severe battles between the Japanese and Allied forces. The Japanese were beaten back before they could enter Imphal, and this was the turning points of the battle. After the War, the Manipur Constitution Act, 1947, established a democratic form of government with the Maharaja as the Executive Head and an elected legislature. In 1949, King Prabodhchandra was summoned to Shillong, capital of the Indian province of Assam. He signed a Treaty of Accession, merging the kingdom into India. The legislative assembly was dissolved on the integration of the state with the republic of India in October 1949. Manipur was a union territory from 1956 and later became a developed state in 1972. Maharaja Bhagyachandra, king of Manipur from 1759–98, is a renowned personality in Manipur. He was the originator of the Ras Lila dance. He is also credited with spreading Vaishnavism in Manipur after his grandfather Pamheiba Rajah made Hinduism the official religion and for creating a unified Manipur.

Climate- The climate of Manipur is largely influenced by the geography of this hilly region. Manipur is situated at an elevation of 790 meters above the sea level; the state of It is jammed between hills from all sides. The maximum temperature recorded in the summer months of Manipur is 32 degree Celsius. In winter the mercury often falls to sub zero temperature making it chilly in the wintertime. Snowfall sometimes occurs in some hilly regions due to the Western Disturbance. The coldest month in Manipur is January and July experiences the maximum summer temperature. The perfect time to visit Manipur is from the months of October till February, when the weather remains bright and sunny without the scorch of the sun. The hilly state is wet in rains from the months of May and continues till the middle of October.

Major languages of Manipur are Manipuri, English and Hindi. Meiteilon, the official language of Manipur, has a long history.. English Language is widely spreading as a common language of communication here. There are 29 different dialects spoken in Manipur.