Col GKS Reddy Coins: MY BUCKET LIST - VISIT NORTH EAST INDIA

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY

C/O COL GKS REDDY
Secunderabad - 500 015

Visit to Manipur State ( D + 6 to D + 8)

Manipur (Kangleipak) (Pron: /məɳɪpʊr/) pronunciation (help·info) maṇipur) is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Its people include the Meetei, Pangal, Naga, and Kuki, who speak different languages of branches of the Tibeto-Burman family. The state is bounded by Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south, and Assam to the west; Burma lies to the east. It covers an area of 22,327 square kilometres (8,621 sq mi).

The Meetei, who live primarily in the state's valley region, form the primary ethnic group (60% of the total population). Their language, Meeteilon(also known as Manipuri), is the lingua franca in the state.

D + 6 (16 Mar 2013)

Started by Taxi for Mau at 0800h, reached Mau a small town astride Kohima Imphal Road by 1130h, after a very brief halt at Zakhama, which falls enroute. Reached Senapati by about 1230h, where I was received by personnel of a local TA Battalion. Thereafter proceeded to Imphal and Reached Lemakong Cantt by 1400h and checked into Guest Room of TA Battalion. Attended dinner at TA Bn Officers Mess on invitation by the CO, who happened to be one of my Company commanders (Photds 95 to 98).

With Bishwajit Singh my Driver for the Manipur Tour at Entry Gate to Senapati Dist

During Dinner at Territorial Army Officers Mess

With Territorial Army Officers in their Mess

Signing the VIP Visitors Book after Dinner Function

D + 7 (17 Mar 2013)

(a) After early breakfast, started for Imphal City by 0700h, to meet Maj Rajkumar Tarun (Retd), a local, who served with me earlier and taken release from the Army. He was to accompany me during my entire tour of Manipur. Met Maj Rajkumar at his home in Keishamthong locality of Imphal at 0815h and proceeded to meet Col BS Oinam (Retd), my first Company Commander, during my attachment with ARC Shillong in 1975. I met Col & Mrs Oinam for the first time after 1975 and he didn’t seem to have aged in the last 38 years (Photos 99 to 101).

At the Entry Gate to Imphal City with Bishwajit

At Maj Rajkumar Tarun's House - Bishwajit, Sslf, Maj Rajkumar

& Lalreng Anal, my Local Body Guard

With Col & Mrs BS Oinam (Retd), My First Company Commander at ARC Shillong in 1975

(b) After reminiscences and a cup of tea with Col Oinam, we started for our next venue, Japanese War memorial at Maibam in Bishnupur Dist. From there we went to INA War Memorial in the same Dist and thence to Lokthak Lake, the largest Fresh Water lake in the NE touching four Dists of Manipur – Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Churachandpur Dists. (Photos 102 to 107)

JAPANESE WAR MEMORIAL AT MAIBAM LOKPA HILL

Maibam Lokpa Hill is famous for its part in the Indo-Japanese War, 1944. The Japan War Memorial located at Nambol Maibam Lokpa Hill (Khoriphaba Hill) in Bishnupur District of Manipur is a hot destination for foreign tourists. Khoriphaba Hill is very famous for its Lai Haraoba festival during the summer season. During this festival, many local tourists flock to see the nightlong celebrations.

In Front of the Humble Japanese War Memorial at Maibam

A Japanese Gun at the Maibam War Memorial

INDIAN NATIONAL ARMY (INA) WAR MEMORIAL, MOIRANG – MANIPUR

The INA War Memorial is located in Moirang in Bishnupur District of Manipur. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hoisted the Indian National flag at this spot for the very first time on April 14, 1944. Moirang became the headquarters of the INA and occupies a place in the historical annals of India's freedom movement. The site is quite popular with Japanese and English visitors who visit to pay tribute to their forefathers whose lives perished in Manipur during World War II.

At the Entrance of INA War Museum at Moirang, Bishnupur Dist

Statue of Subash Ch Bose at INA Museum (Photography Inside Prohibited)

LOKTAK LAKE

Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater (sweet) lake in northeast India, also called the only Floating lake in the world due to the floating phumdis(heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil, and organic matters at various stages of decomposition) on it, is located near Moirang in Manipur state, India. The lake extends into four districts of Manipur viz Bishnupur, Imphal, Churachandpur & Thoubal Districts. The etymology of Loktak is Lok = "stream" and tak = "the end". The Keibul Lamjao National Park, which is the last natural refuge of the endangered sangai or Manipur brow-antlered deer, covering an area of 40 km2 (15 sq mi), is situated in the southeastern shores of this lake and is the largest of all the phumdis in the lake

On the Shore of Loktak Lake, Bishnupur Dist, Manipur

The Large Expanse of Loktak Lake

(c) We had lunch at a local Manipuri Cuisine Restaurant, thoroughly enjoyed the Manipuri dishes on offer and then started for Churachandpur in Southern Manipur. After a quick drive through Churachandpur, we started for Kangla Fort in Imphal City. Though old Fort is in ruins, lot of new constructions have come up in the Fort complex (Photos 108 to 115).

Entry to South Manipur, Churachandpur Dist

At Lamka in Churachandpur Dist

KANGLA FORT, IMPHAL MANIPUR

Situated right near the bank of the Imphal River and at the heart of Imphal city is 'Kangla', the ancient capital of Manipur till Imphal took over from 1891. During ancient times, 'Kangla' was the royal palace (King Pakhangba 33 A.D.). The monarchy of Manipur was found and enlarged from 'Kangla'. A place of such an important political and religious stature, Kangla soon became an astounding fortress city. The brick walls were constructed in 1632 A.D., after acquiring the skills from Chinese prisoners captured during war. The fort is surrounded by a moat. The place was under the control of Assam Rifles until 2003. However now the fort is open for public viewing and is a marvelous site to behold for the amount of archaeological, religious and historical value.

Main Entry Gate to Kangla Fort, Imphal

Outside Kangla Museum (Photography Inside Museum Prohibited)

Kangla Chu ( The Mythical Kangla Animals Guarding the Fort)

Kangla Fort Wall

At the Royal House of Worship (Royal Mandir Inside the Fort)

Ruins of Kangla Fort

New Kangla Mandir (Vishnu Mandir in Fort Complex, Constructed Recently)

D + 8 (18 Mar 2013)

(a) Planned to Visit Moreh Town on the Indo – Burmese Border. Left Lemakong early in the morning, as Vehicles were Not permitted to leave Moreh for Imphal after 1400h and I was scheduled to catch a Flight to Aizwal (Mizoram) on 19^th Morning. We travelled through Imphal & Toubal Dists and were stopped by the Security forces at Pallel at 0700h, as they did not get the Road clearance. We started for Moreh at 0800h and were again stopped at a place known as Tengnoupal for security check.

(b) Road was closed for vehicular traffic from 0900 to 1100h at Khudeng Tabi in Chandel Dist, just 20 Kms short of Moreh, due to detection of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on the roadside by the Security Forces. Started for Moreh at 1110h and reached by 1135h. Went around Moreh Town, visited Burma Market across the border and started back for Imphal at 1315h. Had lunch with a local Coy Cdr at Khong Khang in Chandel Dist. Started back for Imphal at 1430h and briefly stopped at Khonjom War Memorial located astride Indo – Myanmar Road, 36 Kms short of Imphal. Reached back to Imphal by 1630h and Lemakong by 1700h (Photos 118 to 125)

Entry Gate to Moreh Town

INDO – MYANMAR FRIENDSHIP GATE, MOREH – MANIPUR

A hundred and ten kilometres away from Manipur's capital of Imphal, on the border between India and Myanmar, stands Moreh. The road to the border town cuts through wide, windy fields of the Imphal valley, climbing up into the moist clouds that shroud the hills of Manipur's Chandel district only to descend into the oppressively hot plains of Moreh. Indo-Myanmar Friendship Gate is located here, right on the Indo – Myanmar Border. Residents of Moreh will tell you that the town may be small but it is cosmopolitan, more than even Imphal. Manipuri Meiteis, Kuki tribals, Gorkhas,Tamils, Punjabis and even Burmese nationals with their trademark sarongs and conical cane hats walk the streets with their wares.

Indo - Myanmar Friendship Gate at Moreh

With the Local Coy Cdr during Lunch Break

With a Road Dominating Patrol on Indo - Myanmar Road. Stopped for Security check

& permitted a Photograph, on learning that both of us were Retd Army Officers

KHONGJOM WAR MEMORIAL COMPLEX – MANIPUR

Khongjom Hill is the Place where last war was fought against British India, after which princely state of Manipur(kangleipak) became part of empire of British India. It is situated on the Indo-Myanmar Road, 36Kms away from Imphal. A war memorial laid on the top of this venerable hill adds the historical ambience of the heroic site. Khongjom Day is observed as a State Function every year on April 23. The Khongjom War Memorial Complex has been developed as a mark of paying tribute to the martyrs of Manipur who had made the supreme sacrifice for the sake of motherland in the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891.