Imphal west

While Imphal East is the spiritual and ancient seat of power, Imphal West is the historical heartbeat of commerce, modern administration, and the heroic defense of Manipur during the 20th century. It was officially carved out as its own district in 1997.

Imphal West district is an administrative revenue district of Manipur, situated in the heart of the central Imphal Valley. It functions as the primary administrative, commercial, educational, and cultural core of the state, housing the major state government infrastructure and historic landmarks of Imphal city.

Key Overview
​District Headquarters: Lamphelpat (located in western Imphal).
​Geography: Occupies an area of approximately 519 sq km, bordered by Kangpokpi to the north, Senapati to the west, Thoubal and Bishnupur to the south, and Imphal East across the Imphal River.
​Urban & Economic Hub: Acts as the primary commercial hub of Manipur, driving trade, finance, education, and transport operations across the state.
​Major Historical & Cultural Landmarks
​Kangla Fort: The ancient seat of power for the Meitei rulers of Manipur until 1891. Located along the banks of the Imphal River, the sprawling complex contains sacred Meitei shrines, the historic coronation hall, ancient moats, and the iconic Kangla Sha statues.
​Ima Keithel (Mother's Market): A famous 500-year-old commercial market operated entirely by over 4,000 women traders. It is one of the largest all-women markets in Asia, divided into major complexes selling traditional textiles, handicrafts, local spices, and daily produce.
​Manipur State Museum: Located near the Polo Ground, displaying a rich collection of royal artifacts, traditional Manipuri costumes, tribal weaponry, ancient coins, and a historic 78-foot royal boat (Hiyang Hiren).
​Shaheed Minar & Bir Tikendrajit Park: A memorial pillar situated in central Imphal honoring the Meitei martyrs who fought against the British forces in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891.
​Imphal War Cemetery: Maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, this peaceful memorial site contains the graves of over 1,600 Commonwealth soldiers who died during the Battle of Imphal in World War II.
​Premier Educational & Research Institutions
​Central Agricultural University (CAU): Headquartered at Iroisemba.
​National Institute of Technology (NIT) Manipur: Situated at Lamphelpat.
​Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS): One of North-East India's premier medical teaching hospitals.
​Manipur University Campus Area: Located near the southern boundary at Canchipur, rich in historic archaeological sites (Langthabal).
​Connectivity & Transport
​Air: Houses Bir Tikendrajit International Airport (IMF), located in Tulihal (~8 km south of central Imphal), providing direct air connections to Kolkata, Guwahati, New Delhi, and Agartala.
​Road Links: Traversed by major national highways, including NH 2 (connecting north to Dimapur and south to Churachandpur) and NH 37 (connecting west to Silchar).
​Inner Line Permit (ILP): Domestic visitors entering Manipur from outside the state require an Inner Line Permit (ILP), obtainable online or at the airport arrival counters.