The Kangla Palace ( mni, /kəŋ.la/), popularly as well as officially known as the Kangla Fort, is an old

fortified A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...

palace A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome which ...

Imphal Imphal ( Meitei pronunciation: /im.pʰal/; English pronunciation: ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (also known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the fo ...

in the

Manipur Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanm ...

state of India. It was formerly situated on both sides (western and eastern) of the bank of the

Imphal River The Imphal River ( mni, Imphal Turel), also known as the Turel Achouba, is a major river in Manipur state, northeastern India which originates in Kangpokpi district to the north of Kangpokpi district headquarters Kangpokpi. It is a tributary of ...

, now remaining only on the western side in ruined conditions. Kangla means "the prominent part of the dry land" in old

Meetei The Meitei people, also known as the Manipuri people,P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." is ...

. It was the traditional seat of the past

rulers of Manipur. Guide map of the Kangla fort of Imphal

Kangla (

) was the ancient capital of pre-modern

. The Kangla is a revered spot for the people of

, reminding them of the days of their independence. It is a sacred place to the

Meiteis The Meitei people, also known as the Manipuri people,P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." is ...

Places

}) , The grand royal entrance gate to the Kangla from the western side , - , , Kanglasha ( mni, , , Dragons of the Kangla) , A pair of sculptures dedicated to the lion god Nongshaba. , - , , Kangla Museum ( mni, ) , A museum that showcases the lifestyle of Meitei rulers of the

Ningthouja dynasty The Ningthouja dynasty, also known as Mangang dynasty, comprises the descendants of the kings of Manipur. Ningthouja literally means progeny of King (''Ningthou'' means king and ''cha'' or ''macha'' means progeny in which ''ja'' is a corrupted ...

as well as the ancient Meitei artistic and cultural heritage and maps of

Kangleipak Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanm ...

() , - , , Kangla Uttra Shanglen ( mni, , , Royal Office Building of the Kangla) , A religious office building of

Sanamahism () , native_name_lang = mni , image = The Symbol of Sanamahi.svg , imagewidth = , alt = , caption = The Symbol of Sanamahism (Source: Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya) , ...

(traditional

Meitei religion () , native_name_lang = mni , image = The Symbol of Sanamahi.svg , imagewidth = , alt = , caption = The Symbol of Sanamahism (Source: Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya) , ...

), built in the traditional Meitei architectural style. The most significant and the holiest element is the ''chirong'' (literally, "horns"), which is the V-shaped design adorned on the roof of the building. , - , Southern gateway to the citadel of the Kangla fort in Imphal

Southern gateway to the citadel of the Kangla fort in Imphal

Sanggai Yumpham , native_name_lang = omp , logo = , logo_size = , logo_alt = , logo_caption = , image = , image_size = , image_alt = , image_caption = , map ...

( mni, , , Royal residence) , A fortified

royal residence A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome whic ...

inside the Kangla. , - , ,

Inner Polo Ground , native_name_lang = omp , nickname = eng, Inner Pologround , logo_image = , logo_size = , logo_alt = , logo_caption = , image = , image_size ...

( mni, , manung kangjeibung) , Ningthouja dynasty polo field located to the south west of the citadel inside the Kangla , - , Manung Thangapat - the Inner Moat of the Kangla Fort in Imphal

Manung Thangapat - the Inner Moat of the Kangla Fort in Imphal

, Manūng Thāngapāt ( mni, , , inner moat) , Manung Thangapat is the Inner Moat of the Kangla Fort, encircling and protecting the Sanggai Yumpham as a second line of defense. , - ,

Statue of Meidingu Nara Singh , image = Statue of Maharaja Nara Singh in front of the Western Entrance to the Kangla fort in Imphal.jpg , image_size = , caption = Statue of Meidingu Nara Singh (1844-1850 A.D.) in front of the Kangla Sanathong, the Western ...

( mni, , meidingu narasinghgi mitam) , The grand bronze sculpture of King

Nara Singh Nara Singh (1792 – 11 April 1850) also known as Chingthanglen Pamheiba and Meetingu Lairen Nonglen Sendreng Manik Khomba, was a ruler of the Kingdom of Manipur. He ruled first as regent from 1834 to 1844 and then as king for a period of s ...

riding on a Manipuri pony. , - , The Manglen of Maharaja Bodhchandra inside the Kangla Fort in Imphal

, The

tomb A tomb ( grc-gre, τύμβος ''tumbos'') is a :wikt:repository, repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes. Placing a corpse into a tomb can be ...

of King Bodhchandra ( mni, , ningthou bodhchandragi manglen) , The site where the mortal remains of Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh (Manglen of Ningthou Bodhchandra or Samadhi of Maharaja Bodhchandra) , the last ruler of sovereign state of

Manipur Kingdom The Manipur Kingdom was an ancient independent kingdom at the India–Burma frontier that was in subsidiary alliance with British India from 1824, and became a princely state in 1891. It bordered Assam Province in the west and Briti ...

, was consigned to flames in 9 December 1955. , - , , Chīngkhei Īkon ( mni, , , Northeastern pond) or Chingkhei Pukhri. , A sacred pond in the northeastern corner of the Sanggai Yumpham. , - , , Kangla Boatyard ( mni, , hijagāng) , The boatyard houses traditional Meitei royal boats (''hiyang hiren'') and commoners' boats (''tanna hee''). , - , Southeastern view of the Pakhangba Temple inside the Kangla fort in Imphal

Southeastern view of the Pakhangba Temple inside the Kangla fort in Imphal

Pakhangba Temple, Kangla The Pakhangba Temple, also known as the Pakhangba Laishang ( mni, , , Temple of God Pakhangba), is a Meitei temple dedicated to the God Pakhangba of Sanamahism, the traditional Meitei religion, located beside the Nungseng Eekon, to the left s ...

( mni, , iputhou pakhangba laishang, Temple of Lord

Pakhangba Pakhangba ( mni, , omp, ) is a primordial deity, often represented in the form of a dragon, in Meitei mythology and religion. He is depicted in the heraldry of Manipur kingdom, which originated in ''paphal'' ( mni, ), the mythical illust ...

) , A temple dedicated to the god Pakhangba of Sanamahism. , - ,

, Archaeological Museum, Kangla ( mni, ) , A museum housing

Stone Age The Stone Age was a broad prehistoric period during which stone was widely used to make tools with an edge, a point, or a percussion surface. The period lasted for roughly 3.4 million years, and ended between 4,000 BC and 2,000 BC, with t ...

tools and historical stone inscriptions, coins and other artefacts of the Ningthouja dynasty. , - , , Site for Meitei Heritage Park , A Heritage Park dedicated to the Meitei people, the largest ethnicity of

. It is also known as Meitei Heritage Park.

Notes

References

External links

{{Wikivoyage, Kangla
The ancient capital of Manipur : E-Pao.Net Kangla Fort Beautiful Photos - KanglaOnline.com
Palaces in Manipur Royal residences in India Tourist attractions in Manipur Former capital cities in India Buildings and structures in Imphal

Places

See also

Notes

References

External links