Nillai Tea Garden

A visit to the beautiful state of Manipur gives tourists an opportunity to explore lush green tea estates and try aromatic flavours of black and green teas grown in the region. Situated on Hallui Hills, Nillai Tea Garden is one such tea estate that attracts visitors in large numbers for its rich variety of tea and its special green tea. Tourists can take a guided tour of the tea estate and learn about the process that goes behind making tea. The guide from the tea estate will show you how hand-plucked tea leaves are sun dried and then naturally processed by locals. The speciality of the green tea at the Nillai Tea Garden is that its authentic flavour can be tasted only after it is boiled twice. Surrounded by verdant hillocks and dotted with patches of greenery, the mist-covered tea garden is an absolute delight for nature-lovers and people who have a special corner for tea in their hearts.

Nillai Tea Garden

Manipur Zoological Gardens

Often described as the jewel box of Manipur, the beautiful Manipur Zoological Gardens sprawl over an area of around 8 hectare and are one of the most popular attractions of the state. Home to as many as 400 species of animals and birds, the gardens are famed for inhabiting the graceful antlered deer called sangai, which is one of the world's rarest species. Surrounded by verdant forests and majestic hillocks, the park is blessed with a rich biodiversity and attracts nature and wildlife lovers with its diverse flora and fauna. Visitors can come across around 55 bird species at the park while the animal section of the park houses 420 species, the sangai being its highlight. The Manipur Zoological Gardens can be visited on all days of the week barring Mondays from 10 am to 4.30 pm.

Manipur Zoological Gardens

Loktak Lake

The largest freshwater lake in Northeast India, the pristine Loktak Lake is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Manipur. Known for its floating circular swamps, which are called phumdis in the local tongue, the lake invites tourists from far and wide for its ethereal beauty. These swamps look almost like islands and are a mass of soil, organic matter and vegetation. The lake houses the only floating national park in the world, the Keibul Lamjao National Park, which is the last refuge of the endangered brow-antlered deer or sangai, Manipur's state animal. In addition, the lake shelters about 230 species of aquatic plants, 100 types of birds and 400 species of fauna like barking deer, sambar and Indian python. Loktak is a visual treat for birdwatchers, who can find species like black kite, East Himalayan pied kingfisher, northern hill myna, lesser eastern jungle crow, Burmese pied myna and lesser skylark.

 

Loktak Lake

Khoupum Valley

Home to the Rongmei tribe of Manipur, Khoupum Valley is the second-largest in the state and attracts tourists with its picturesque beauty and rich cultural heritage. Bordered by verdant hills and dotted with paddy fields, Khoupam Valley offers a great opportunity to unwind in the lap of nature away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities. The most popular attraction in the valley is the scenic Khouduang Waterfall, which is a famous picnic spot. Tourists can also visit the pristine Khoupam Lake, lying at the heart of the valley. Other places worth visiting in the valley include the Khudkai Cave and the Khoupam Dam. Khoupam Valley lies at a distance of 81 km from Imphal and makes for an amazing one day excursion.

Khoupum Valley

Khangkhui Lime Caves

Famously known as Khangkui Mangsor, the Khangkhui Lime Cave is a natural limestone cave that attracts tourists, archaeologists and researchers from far and wide. The cave is famous for its large sedimentary limestone formations. While some of the limestone hangs from the ceiling of the cave, some grows from the ground and it is quite fascinating to these natural formations make interesting patterns. The cave houses two large chambers and five tunnels. Finding one's way out through the dark cave makes for a thrilling experience. The cave once served as a shelter for the locals during the Second World War. Several artefacts dating back to the Palaeolithic age have been discovered during archaeological excavations carried out in and around the cave. The ancient cave is a prime tourist attraction of Manipur's Ukhrul district and lies at a distance of 95 km from Imphal.

Khangkhui Lime Caves