📍 Market📍 Cultural📍 Heritage

Ima Keithel (Mother's Market)

Imphal, Manipur, India

4.7 (0)

Overview

The world's largest all-women-run market — 5,000+ 'Imas' selling textiles, fish, herbs and handicrafts across three great halls, a 500-year institution.

Why visit: A living monument to Manipuri women's power — unmatched anywhere on earth.

History: Rooted in the Lallup-kaba era when men served away and women ran commerce; it became the nerve-centre of Meitei economy and protest movements alike.

Things to do

›Phanek & shawl shopping
›Dried-fish & herb stalls
›Handloom halls
›Street snacks

ShoppingFood WalkPhotography

Location & MapDirections

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Travel Information

Best time

Oct–Mar

Entry fee

Free

Est. budget

₹300–1,000

Duration

2–3 hrs

Nearby attractions

Within

0.2 km

📍 Museum

4.2

Manipur State Museum

Imphal, Manipur

The state's principal museum near the Polo Ground — tribal costumes, royal relics, arms, and a 54-ft royal boat 'Hiyang Hiren'.

Oct–Mar1–2 hrsExplore

0.3 km

💎 Hidden Gem📍 Heritage

4.4

Imphal Polo Ground (Mapal Kangjeibung)

Imphal, Manipur

The oldest polo ground on earth — the living birthplace of modern polo, where Meitei 'Sagol Kangjei' has been played for centuries.

Nov (Sangai Festival polo)1 hrExplore

0.7 km

📍 Memorial

4.2

Shaheed Minar & Bir Tikendrajit Park

Imphal, Manipur

The towering martyrs' column honouring Bir Tikendrajit and the heroes of the 1891 Anglo-Manipur War, set in a leafy central park.

Oct–Mar; Patriots' Day (13 Aug)1 hrExplore

0.9 km

📍 Fort

4.7

Kangla Fort

Imphal, Manipur

The ancient seat of Manipur's kings on the Imphal river — a sacred walled citadel of temples, relics and the iconic Kangla-Sha dragon-lions.

Oct–Mar2–3 hrsExplore

1.6 km

📍 Temple

4.5

Shree Govindajee Temple

Imphal, Manipur

The twin-domed royal Vaishnavite temple beside the palace, the spiritual heart of Meitei Hinduism with Radha-Govinda at its centre.

Oct–Mar; Janmashtami1 hrExplore

1.7 km

📍 Memorial

4.5

Imphal War Cemetery

Imphal, Manipur

A serene Commonwealth cemetery honouring 1,600 soldiers who fell in the 1944 Battle of Imphal — one of WWII's decisive turning points.

Oct–Mar1 hrExplore

1.7 km

💎 Hidden Gem📍 Heritage

3.9

Sagolband Heritage Polo Villages & Pony Sanctuary

Imphal, Manipur

The pony-keeping quarters of old Imphal and the Lamphelpat pony sanctuary protecting the sacred, dwindling Manipuri polo pony.

Oct–MarHalf dayExplore

1.9 km

📍 Festival

4.6

Sangai Festival Grounds (Hapta Kangjeibung)

Imphal, Manipur

Manipur's grandest showcase each November — ten days of Ras Leela, Thang-Ta martial arts, tribal dances, indigenous sports and food courts.

21–30 Nov2–3 daysExplore

3 km

📍 Zoo

4.0

Manipur Zoological Garden (Iroisemba)

Imphal, Manipur

The state zoo at Iroisemba, best known for breeding the endangered sangai — Manipur's dancing brow-antlered deer.

Oct–Mar2 hrsExplore

3.5 km

💎 Hidden Gem🌄 Viewpoint

4.0

Cheirao-ching (Cheiraoching) Hillock

Imphal, Manipur

A sacred hillock above Imphal where the Meitei new year 'Cheiraoba' climb is made each spring for blessings and valley views.

Cheiraoba (Apr); Oct–Mar1–2 hrsExplore

4.7 km

📍 Park

3.9

Matai Garden Waterpark

Imphal, Manipur

A popular family leisure garden and water park on Imphal's edge with pools, slides and landscaped picnic lawns.

Oct–MayHalf dayExplore

5.6 km

🌄 Viewpoint

4.3

Marjing Polo Statue Complex

Heingang, Manipur

The world's tallest polo statue — a 120-ft rider on a Manipuri pony crowning Marjing hill, honouring the deity of polo and the sport's birthplace.

Oct–Mar1–2 hrsExplore