, native_name_lang = omp , logo = , logo_size = , logo_alt = , logo_caption = , image = , image_size = , image_alt = , image_caption = , map_type = , map_alt = , map_dot_mark = , map_dot_label = , relief = , map_caption = , map_size = , coordinates = , former_names = * omp, Sangkai Empham * omp, Sangkai Impham * omp, Sangkai Yumpham * omp, Shangkai Eempham * omp, Shangkai Empham * omp, Shangkai Impham * omp, Shangkai Yumpham , alternate_names = * mni, Shanggai Yumpham * mni, Shangai Yumpham * mni, Sangai Yumpham , etymology = see here , status = partially demolished , cancelled = , topped_out = , building_type = , architectural_style =

Meitei architecture Meitei architecture or Manipuri architecture is the architecture produced by the Meitei speaking people, whose culture flourished in the Kangleipak kingdom and its neighbouring kingdoms from the middle of the fifteenth century BC. The Meitei arc ...

, classification = , location = inside the

Kangla Fort The Kangla Palace ( mni, /kəŋ.la/), popularly as well as officially known as the Kangla Fort, is an old Fortification, fortified palace at Imphal in the Manipur state of India. It was formerly situated on both sides (western and eastern) of ...

, address = , location_city =

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 f ...

, location_country =

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 Brit ...

(historical), India (present) , grid_name = , grid_position = , altitude = , current_tenants = , namesake = see here , groundbreaking_date = , start_date = 1611 A.D. , stop_date = , topped_out_date = , completion_date = , opened_date = , inauguration_date = , relocated_date = , renovation_date = , closing_date = , demolition_date = * 1st demolition – during the Chahi Taret Khuntakpa () (1819-1826) * 2nd demolition – during the Anglo Manipur War on 27 April 1891 , cost = , ren_cost = , client =

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 ...

, owner =

Government of Manipur The Government of Manipur ( mni, Manipur Leingak; /mə.ni.pur lə́i.ŋak/), also known as the State Government of Manipur, or locally as State Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of Manipur and its 16 districts. ...

, governing_body = Kangla Fort Board , affiliation = , height = 14 to 20 feet high , architectural = , tip = , antenna_spire = , roof = , top_floor = , observatory = , diameter = , circumference = , weight = , structural_system = , material = Burned bricks , size = 600 x 600 feet , architect = , architecture_firm = , developer = , engineer = , structural_engineer = , services_engineer = , civil_engineer = , other_designers = , quantity_surveyor = , main_contractor = , awards = , designations = , known_for = being ancient

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 ...

(

citadel A citadel is the core fortified area of a town or city. It may be a castle, fortress, or fortified center. The term is a diminutive of "city", meaning "little city", because it is a smaller part of the city of which it is the defensive core. I ...

) , ren_architect = , ren_firm = , ren_engineer = , ren_str_engineer = , ren_serv_engineer = , ren_civ_engineer = , ren_oth_designers = , ren_qty_surveyor = , ren_contractor = , ren_awards = , parking = no , public_transit = , website = , embed = , embedded = , references = , footnotes = The Sanggai Yumpham ( omp, Sangkai Eempham) was a

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'' ...

(

) of the Meitei royalties inside the

. It is presently preserved as an archaeological site as well as one of the tourist attractions in the

Kangla The Kangla Palace ( mni, /kəŋ.la/), popularly as well as officially known as the Kangla Fort, is an old fortified palace at Imphal in the Manipur state of India. It was formerly situated on both sides (western and eastern) of the bank of t ...

Etymology

Meitei language Meitei (), also known as Manipuri (, ), is a Tibeto-Burman language of north-eastern India. It is spoken by around 1.8 million people, predominantly in the state of Manipur, but also by smaller communities in the rest of the country and in p ...

, "sanggāi" ( mni, ꯁꯡꯒꯥꯏ, /səŋ.gai/) means

residence A residence is a place (normally a building) used as a home or dwelling, where people reside. Residence may more specifically refer to: * Domicile (law), a legal term for residence * Habitual residence, a civil law term dealing with the status ...

or home, used in formal context. The Meitei term "yumpham" ( mni, ꯌꯨꯝꯐꯝ, /yúm.pʰəm/) literally means ''"the place where a house is built"''. Morphologically, "yum‑pham" can be divided into two root words, ''"yum"'' ( mni, ꯌꯨꯝ, /yúm/) and ''"pham"'' ( mni, ꯐꯝ, /pʰəm/), meaning ''" house"'' and ''"place"'' respectively.

History

The construction of the Citadel of the

started in the year 1611 A.D. during the era of Meitei king

Khagemba King Khagemba (Conqueror of the Chinese; 1597–1654), was a monarch from the Kingdom of Kangleipak. He also introduced a new form of polo and new apparel styles. Under his regime he focused on a new form of Manipur and built many markets in ...

( omp, Khākī Ngampa). This fact is recorded in the Cheitharol Kumbaba ( omp, Cheithalol Kumpapa), the Royal chronicle of the Meitei royalties of

Kangleipak Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a States and territories of India, 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 ...

(). The

was destroyed and abandoned multiple times during Burmese invasion, especially during the Chahi Taret Khuntakpa () (1819-1826). Later, the citadel was re-constructed during the reign of Meitei king

Chandrakirti Singh Maharaja Chandrakirti Singh (1850 – May 1886) was a Meitei monarch and the Maharaja of Manipur Kingdom. He was the son of Maharaja Gambhir Singh. Biography He was born in Imphal, and resided there till the end of his Regime in 1886. Before ...

in 1873. As a result of the Anglo Manipur War of 1891, on 27 April 1891, General Maxwell annexed the

and the citadel was demolished simultaneously.

Features

The citadel is situated inside the enclosed area of the inner brick wall. Its area is around 600 x 600 feet. Its walls are 14 to 20 feet high. There are 4 guarding posts (pillars) in the 4 corners of 4 directions. The southern passageway door leads to the Govindajee Temple of the

. It is constructed by using well-burnt bricks. It houses many holy sites, including the coronation site of

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 illu ...

. It has three main entrance gates. Two entrance gates are on the western side and one entrance gate is on the southern side. The entrance gate situated on the left end of the western face lies directly opposite to the Royal Coronation Hall. The entrance gate situated at the right end of the same wall lies facing the Court Room (Darbar Hall). The southern entrance gate is well connected with a passageway leading to the Shree Govindajee Temple of the

. It is surrounded by five walls of the

. The innermost wall is the only one that is standing still today. There is one octagonal

watchtower A watchtower or watch tower is a type of fortification used in many parts of the world. It differs from a regular tower in that its primary use is military and from a turret in that it is usually a freestanding structure. Its main purpose is to ...

at every corner of the wall, serving as

sentry Sentry or The Sentry may refer to: Comics *Sentry (Kree) *Sentry (Curtis Elkins) * Sentry (Robert Reynolds) *Senator Ward (comics) or Sentry Vehicles *Sentry (AUV), an autonomous underwater vehicle used to measure deep-ocean data *E-3 Sentry AWAC ...

posts. Its entire perimeter has military installations (

emplacement Emplacement may refer to: * A place where something is located * Fortification ** Artillery battery ** Casemate, fortified gun emplacement ** Redoubt, enclosed defense emplacement * The geological process of pluton emplacement See also * * * P ...

s) of around 500 defender soldiers. There was an old bridge built over 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 o ...

from the passageway between the Sanggai Yumpham and the Govindajee Temple inside the

. Later, it got deteriorated in 1891. During the 28th meeting of the Kangla Fort Board, on 15 December 2018,

Nongthombam Biren Singh Nongthombam Biren Singh ( Meitei pronunciation: /nōng-thōm-bam bī-ren sīng/; born 1 January 1961) is an Indian politician, former footballer and journalist, who is currently serving as the Chief Minister of Manipur for the second term si ...

, the

Chief Minister of Manipur The chief minister of Manipur is the chief executive of the Indian state of Manipur. As per the Constitution of India, the governor is a state's ''de jure'' head, but ''de facto'' executive authority rests with the chief minister. Following ele ...

, took a decision that a new bridge will be constructed similar to the features of the old bridge.

Notes

References

External links

* * * * {{coord missing, Manipur Royal residences in India Tourist attractions in Manipur Buildings and structures in Imphal