Thoubal Ukhrul District

The district of Thoubal, which occupies the bigger portion of the eastern half of the Manipur Valley, takes the shape of an irregular and triangular with its base facing north. It lies between 23 45' N and 24 45' N latitude and 93 45' E and 94 15' E longitude. It is bounded on the north by Imphal district, on the east by Ukhrul and Chandel districts, on the south by Chandel and Churachandpur districts and on the west by the districts of Imphal and Bishnupur. Tour India with Indian Travel Agent.It has an area of 514 sq.kms. as supplied by the Surveyor General of India. Its average elevation is not very much different from the rest of the Manipur Valley which is about 790 metres on an average above the sea level. Although the district is a part of the valley, the area of the district is not entirely plain. Many rivers flow through the district and many lakes dot its surface. Some of the which are closely inter-twined with many folk tales and stories, of which mention may be made of the fishing and other episodes of the love story of the legendary Khamba-Thoibi. In fact, all important lakes of Manipur, with the exception of Loktak, are in this district. The State of Manipur used to supplement its meager resources from the annual lease of the lakes in the past.

Although little is known about its ancient history, the district has in recent past, seen many bloody and disgraceful battles. Through the district runs an international road that leads to Myanmar (Burma) via Moreh and Tammu and this road is, in the days before the independence of India, the route of many military expeditions and counter-expeditions by the forces of Manipur and Burma, and later on, by that of the British Government. It Is in this district, at Khongjom, that the last battle of the independence of Manipur was fought in April, 1891 by a few and ill-equipped soldiers of Manipur against the might of the British empire where the sun does not set, as the saying goes. Tour India with Indian Travel Agent. It is not just an irony of the fate that Major Paona Brajabashi and others would meet their last days in this battle. The battle symbolizes the honourable deed of an extreme sacrifice for his motherland, knowing fully well that the fight would mean sure defeat.

Hills
The district is dotted by a few hillocks and hills of low heights. Some of them are without, part of Khekman range, Mantak, Kwarok and Thongam Mondum-Punam. Of these, Punam hill has an elevation of 3310 ft. above sea level. Geologically, Khekman range belongs to the Brail Series and Simsang formation. Tour India with Indian Travel Agent. Good vegetation once covered these hills. But constant deforestation have made them barren and unattractive. As the pressure on land increases with a rapid increases in population, there has been a tendency in recent years to use the hills sites for better productive plantation, specially pineapples.

Fair and Festivals
The district is mainly inhabitated by the Meiteis, the majority of whom have professed Hinduism about 500 years ago and the important fair and festivals observed in the district are a mixture of Hindu culture and the age--old traditions and local beliefs. the biggest festival is the Dol Jatra ( Yaosang in local Manipur langauge ). It is observed in the month of March beginning with the full moon day of Phalguna ( Lamda ) for the next five full days. It is a festival of colours and all people, young and old of both sexes, participate in it. During the day time, girls and small children come out in groups and beg money. Boys joined them in fun and merry making. During the night , boys and girls dance together to the accompaniment of music and drums. Tour India with Indian Travel Agent.

Rath Yatra ( Kang ) is another important festival and it is performed in the month of Jyaistha ( Engen ) for seven days starting from the second of that month. On the first and the seventh day raths carrying idols of Jaganath, Balabadra and Subedra are drawn and flowers and bhogs are offered to them. Tour India with Indian Travel Agent.During the night Choideb Palas are organised and songs are sung in praise of the almighty. Other festivals of no less importance are Janma Ashtami, Durga Puja, Ningol Chakouba ( Bhugni Bhuajn ) and Manipuri new year day. Ningol Chakouba is a festival peculiar to the Manipuries. On this day all women, married and unmarried, are invited and fed by their relatives and gifts presented to them after the feast. In between these festivals there are Ras and Lai Haroaba dance. Asvina, Kartika and Vaisakha whereas Lai Haraoba is a festival performed in the old traditional Manipuri style to appease the Umang Lais ( forest gods ).

Muslims constitute the next biggest constituent of the population. Their main festivals are Idul Fitr, Idul Zuha ( Bakrid ), Maharram and Milad-Un-Nabi. On Id days visitors are invited and fed and presentations given to them. Friends and relatives visit each other's houses and greetings are exchanged. Tour India with Indian Travel Agent.Among the tribal mention may be made of the Gang-Ngai festival of the Kabui's, the Kut festival of the Kuki/Thados and the Luita of the Tangkhuls. Christmas is the biggest festival amongst the Christians.

Places of Historical importance and Tourist interest Khongjom
It is situated above 10 kms. to the south of Thoubal, the district headquarters ( 32 kms from Imphal ). It is the place where last war of Manipur's independence was fought between the Manipuri and the British soldiers. It has got a memorial erected on a small hillock, Khongjom is well served by the National highway. An eight-bedded Tourist home has been functioning there since 1988. Tour India with Indian Travel Agent.

Sugnu
Situated 74 kms. from Imphal, the place is an important trading centre on the south of the district. From it a Beautiful view of the Imphal river can be seen. It is on the Imphal - Sugnu State highway. Tour Incredible India with Indian Travel agent.

Waithou
The place is important for its scenic beauty. There is an inspection bunglow on the hill-side over looking the Waithou Lake. The place is noted for its tasteful pineapples. Tour Incredible India with Indian Travel agent. An exotic and delicious variety of local fish known as 'Ngaton' used to be available at this place abundantly till a few years back from now. It is on the National highway about 3 kms. from the district headquarters.

Kakching
It is the sub-divisional headquarters of Kakching sub-division and is a famous trading centre of a variety of vegetables, fishes and rice next to Thoubal, the biggest town in the district. The place is easily approachable from the National highway and is connected to the other State highways. Tour Incredible India with Indian Travel agent.

Thoubal
It is the district headquarter of Thoubal district and also the sub-divisional headquarters of Thoubal sub-division. Situated at a distance of 22 kms. from Imphal, the National highway No. 39 divides the town almost into halves from north to south length-wise. Tour Incredible India with Indian Travel agent. The Thoubal river flows through the centre of the town from east to west. It is the biggest town in the district and is one of the most important trading centre of the district. The town has all the infrastructures of a fast developing urban area.

Pallel
It is a place situated at the border of Thoubal and Chandel districts and is the meeting place of plain areas of Thoubal and the hill areas of Chandel. Indo-Myanmar road from Imphal to Moreh passes through it. With its hills and rivers the place has a beautiful landscape. Typical agricultural Products and nice handicrafts of the hilly people are regularly found in its daily market. Tour Incredible India with Indian Travel agent.