Imphal to Ukhrul

1. Manipur House to Naoremthong Bridge 

2. Naoremthong Bridge till Ima Market (Rs 20 per head) 

3. Ima Market till ISBT Bus stand ( Rs 20 per head) 

4.  Catch tempo/ Winger from ISBT bus stand till Ukhrul  (Rs 400 per head) . Starts 6:00am till noon. 

Homestays in Ukhrul 

Imphal Moreh Tour

1.  Manipur House to Naoremthong Bridge 

2.  From Naoremthong Bridge till Ima Market (Rs 20 per head , 2021  price)

3.  Ima Market till Moreh Parking( Moirangkhom) auto ( Rs 20 - 30 per head) 

4. Moreh Parking (Moirangkhom) till Moreh by Van  (Rs 700- 1000 per head) 

5.  Visit Tamu, temples inside Moreh, shop @ Namphalong etc ) 

6. Come back to guest house directly or get an auto from Ima Market to Naoremthong Bridge. 

Day 3 - Andro Khongjom Tour

1. Walk from Manipur House to Naoremthong Bridge 

2. Naoremthong to Ima Market by shared auto ( Rs 20 per head as of 2021)

3. Ima Market to Andro Parking or Palace Compound (Rs 20 per head). 

4. Stop by Shree Govindajee Temple before moving towards Andro (in case if you want to pray)

5. Catch Auto towards Andro ( Rs 50 to Rs 100 per head) 

Site seeing in Andro:

• Panam Ningthou Meibibirol, a shrine housing the sacred fire which is burning from more than 1200 years.
• Mutua Museum (ONLY OPEN on Sunday)
• Take rest and lunch at Santhei Natural Park, Andro
  
  LAST AUTO FROM ANDRO TO IMPHAL IS 2:30 pm 

Visit Khongjom War Memorial if you have time (if you have car). 

Come back to Imphal.   (Ima Market till Naoremthong Bridge) 

Day 2 - Moirang Loktak Lake Tour

1.  Manipur House to Naoremthong bridge by walking.

2. Take shared Auto: Naoremthong Bridge till Ima Market (Rs 20 per head - 2022 price)  

New update: If you are alone, take Uber Moto Ride till wherever you want. 

3.  Catch Winger from Ima Market to Moirang - Rs 100 per head. Alternatively take a bus, so to get down at Japan War Memorial/Imphal Peace Museum (Closed on Monday). 

4. Site seeings @ Moirang 

• INA Museum - (Closed on Monday and Saturday)
• INA Headquarter 
• Sendra Resort View Point or Chaoba Ching View Point in Thanga 
• Boating @ Sendra or Thanga/Kairang Island.
• Keibul Lamjao National Park (Short boating) (Closed on Monday)
• Moirang Khunou Ethnic Park. 

Day 1 - Imphal City Tour

Day 1 - Imphal City tour 

1.  Walk from Manipur House to Naoremthong Bridge 

2.  Naoremthong Bridge to Ima Market - Rs 20/head on shared auto (2022 prices). 

New update: If you are alone, take Uber Moto Ride till wherever you want. 

3. Visit 

• Ima Market 
• Bir Tikendrajit Park
• Kangla Fort - ( Closed on Monday) 
• State Museum - ( Closed on Monday)
• War Cemetery
• RKCS Art Gallery. 

4. Lunch @ Laxmi Kitchen or Imoinu Hotel 

5. Additional sites to explore:

    

• Shree Govindaji Temple (Take auto from Ima Market to Palace Compound) 
• State Orchidarium (Take Auto from Ima Market to Koreingei) 
• Manipur Zoological Garden  (Take Auto from Naoremthong Bridge till Zoological Garden) 
• Sadu Chiru Waterfall 

From Ima Market come to Naoremthong Bridge 

Walk till Manipur House. 

What humans are and what we want?

 People and their nature:

1. Laziness: Given a choice between an easier way and a harder way, we will always choose the easier option because the sooner we get the job done the sooner we can enjoy.

2. Greedy: Given a choice between more or less, we strive to maximize what we get.

3. Ambition: All human actions are motivated by a desire for improvement in our condition. Even a person who jumps off a building to commit suicide believes that he would be better off by putting an end to his life than by being alive

4. Self-Interest:  Each person thinks, feels, acts and experiences happiness or sorrow, by and for himself/herself. 

5.  Ignorance: We all are ignorant. 

6. Vanity: Human beings have ego.  We think highly of ourselves. 

What People wants? 

1. Security: Security of life and health. Physical security, economic security, emotional security etc. Lack of security makes us angry, fearful and defensive.

2.  Comfort: After security, human wants comfort. 

3. Leisure: We want to relax and take time off work. 

4.  Love: Each of us needs to be loved to feel fully human, and we strive for love all our lives.

5. Respect: We need to be recognized and respected by others outside our family group. Because we are basically vain, we seek the praise and appreciation of other people

6.  Fulfillment: People wants to know the meaning and purpose of their life. 

The human race is made up of people—you and I— who are basically lazy, greedy, ambitious, selfish, ignorant and vain. All of them are striving for the same things: security, comfort, leisure, love, respect and fulfillment. 

Some people get it. Some don't. Why? 

Fixing Windows

Everybody wants to win. 

Sometimes, small wins are wins. 

It's been some years that I have not been activating my Windows and MS Office. It works fine and does not hinder my day to day work. 

A week ago, my brother said he wants to buy a new laptop since all our laptops where very slow by his standards. 

In order to not waste money, I ask him not to buy, instead use the ones we have after upgrading or fixing some softwares. That day started my research on how to make our laptops faster. 

The easier way for me would have been to visit a torrent site and use cracks but I wanted a better method. 

After a day or two, I came to know there exist a method called MAS activation and it gave me hope. Did more researched by reading blog posts and forum chats to re-confirm the method. 

Finally, downloaded the activator and activated my Windows  permanently. In order to improve the Windows OS I had to manually update to the latest 21H1 May version also. It feels good now. 

It's been 2 months since the govt has put up a lockdown in my state due to second wave of Covid 19. 

The fixing of Windows feels like the best thing I have done during this two unproductive months.  
 

Annual Community festivals of Manipur

Gaan-Ngai

Time of the year – January

The Gaan- Ngai is a festival of the Kabui Nagas in Manipur. It is also described as a new year festival and marks the end of the year and the beginning of the new year. The Gaan Ngai is a post harvest festival when the granaries are full, the landscape is dry and the whole village is free from all agricultural activities. It’s a time for celebration, festivity, and worship of the God and honouring of the dead.

 

Lui- Ngai – Ni

Time of the year – 15^th Feb every year

A festival of great revelry, it is celebrated by the Tangkhul Naga tribe every year. A festival celebrated during the season of spring signifying the sowing of seeds and the start of the year for the Tangkhul Nagas. During the festival, the gods of crops are invoked to pour their blessings on the seeds sown so that they grow to bear fruits for a copious harvest. The blessing of the almighty is besought through dances, songs and rituals.

 

Yaosang (Dol – Jatra)

Time of the year – March

Yaosang is a festival celebrated in Manipur for five days in spring, starting on the full moon day of the month of Lamda. Yaosang is considered the most important festival for the Meiteis of Manipur. Like Holi, the Hindu Meitei of Manipur play with colours during this festival. The main highlight of the festival is the Thabal Chongba (a folk dance). During the first day of the festival, young boys and girls go from door to door and collect money and spend it on celebrations. This is a part of the tradition during this joyous festival.

Cheiraoba

Time of the year – April

A lunar new year festival known as Meetei Cheiraoba or Sajibu Cheiraoba, it is celebrated by people who follow the Sanamahi religion in Manipur. The day begins with rituals and offerings of fruits, vegetables, rice and other uncooked food items to the Meitei deity Lainingthou Sanamahi. After receiving blessings an even number of dishes are prepared using the offerings. After the dishes for the feast are made, they are offered at two different traditional locations around the hosue: one at the front and the other at the rear of the house.

 

Lai Haraoba –

Time of the year – May/June

An important religious festival celebrated in honour of the sylvan deities known as Umang Lai, the festival represents the worship of traditional deities and ancestors. As a part of the customs, a number of men and women dance in front of the ancient divinities. The Lai Haraoba of God- Thanjing, the ruling deity of Moirang, is the most famous one and attracts huge gatherings. The name Lai Haraoba in Meitei language literally translates to “Festivity of the Gods”.

 

Rath Jatra –

Time of the year – July

A popular festival celebrated by the Meitei community in the state. This holy festival is typically the Manipuri version of the Rath Jatra in Odisha’s Lord Jagannath temple at Puri. Celebrated for  about 10 days, the journey is accompanied by the music of drums, bells, conch, and gongs played by the pilgrims.

Hekhru Hitongba

Time of the year – September

The Heikru Hitongba festival is an annual festival celebrated with a boat race that takes place on the canal of Shri BIjoy Govindajee Temple, IMphal West. Narrow longboats are used for this race which accommodates a large number of rowers. The spirit of the crew members are high and the entire race is full of vigors.

Mera Houchongba –

Time of the Year – October

Strength lies in numbers, and this festival aims to reinforce that. The Mera Houchongba fosters brotherhood and collaboration in the princely state of Manipur. People from various communities inhabiting both the hills and plains, irrespective of caste, creed or colour, bring goods available in their region and assemble at the Kangla.

 

Kut Festival

Time of the year – 1^st November every year

Celebrated by the tribes of Kuki-Chin-Mizo. An autumn festival where all tribal groups of Manipur come together. The Kut festival thanks the deities for providing a good harvest. Observed with much zeal, this festival is an amazing event.

 

Ningol Chakkouba

Time of the year – November

A social festival celebrated to reinforce the bond between a married woman and their paternal family. The Meiteis celebrate this festival every year by welcoming their married daughters along with their children to enjoy a sumptuous feast at home. The name Ningol Chakkouba literally translate to “inviting the daughters for a meal”. It is a much-awaited occasion for family reunions.

Festivals of Manipur

Manipur Sangai Festival 

"The Jeweled Land Awaits You"

Time of the Year: November 

The Sangai festival is the most awaited festival of Manipur. This annual festival is named after the state animal, the Sangai or the brow antlered deer found only in Manipur. Started in the year 2010, the festival aims to showcase Manipur's rich cultural heritage and indigenous tradition which is still undiscovered by many. 

One of the largest festivals celebrated in grandeur the festival captivates people from all over the India and around the world. A grand affair, the festival glorifies the culture, handlooms, handicrafts, indigenous sports, music, adventure sports and cuisine of Manipur. The festival promotes the cultural extravaganza of Manipur through music, dance and various native art forms that are part of the Manipuri tribes and people. Ras Leela, the classical dance form is quite famous and forms an important part along with other folk dance performances. 

An opportunity for artisans and weavers to showcase their creativity and talent through the indegenous forms of handicrafts and handlooms. One can also  have insights about the living-style of various tribes through the themed huts at the heritage parks. 

Locals exhibit their skills in the native sports which includes the famous martial art of Manipur - Thang Ta (a combination of Spear & Sword skills) along with other sports. Sagol Kangjei is the indigenous form of polo that is extensively played here. Apart from these sports, one may also enjoy and indulge in adventure sports like trakking, white water rafting and parasailing at various locations. 

A festival is never complete without the a feast! The local flavours and exotic Manipuri dishes can be relished at the food stalls in the festival grounds. The Manipuri cuisine has its own distinctive flavour because of the natural and indigenous ingredients used in preparing them. 

Shrui Lily Festival 

Time of the year - April/May

Another extravagant festival in honour of the state flower, Shirui Lily. The celebration is during the peak blooming season of the Shirui Lily, a rare and endangered flower that can only be found in Manipur. Shirui Lily grows on top of the Shirui hills in Manipur and cannot be replanted anywhere else in the world. The state flower of Manipur fills the air with its pleasant fragrance during the blooming season. The festival is observed primarily with an aim to spread awareness and conserve the endangered state flower. The festival provides an opportunity for people from various communities and tribes to come together, explore the highest hill-station of Manipur, the picturesque Ukhrul district and get deeper insights about the Tangkhul Naga tribe dwelling here. Climbing the Shirui hills is one of the most interesting treks in Manipur and a chance to see the rare flower, It is an ultimate treat for nature and adventure lovers.

The Shirui festival is a colourful celebration spread over 5 days showcasing numerous traditional and cultural activities. The events during the festival includes music concerts, folk performances, traditional dances, indigenous games and competitions, art and handicraft exhibitions, ethinic food eateries and various adventure activities like camping, biking and a lot more. 

Barak Festival 

Time of the year -  Winter 

Following the trend of glorifying nature, the Barak festival honours the Barak river in Manipur, one of its most important natural water resources. The festival is organized to highlight the district of Senapati, this festival has the beautiful theme of sustaining peace and harmony, celebrating a river that allow this civilization to flourish. 

The festival is a showcase of traditional hospitality, richness of culture, nature's abundance and social-economic affinity of the Barak communities. The festival aims to rejuvenate and revive the cultural heritage and values of the people by bringing them together. The events organised during the festival includes musical nights, folk tales, local cuisine, indigenous dance and music, camping, trekking and lot more.