Imphal is the capital of the Indian state of Manipur. Imphal, the tiny capital city of the northeastern state of Manipur, is an ideal location off the beaten track. Imphal in Manipur with the landscape of green-blue hills, lush fields and low clouds is like an exquisite painting.

Imphal is one of the few places in India where nothing seems to have changed. Imphal in Manipur is a tiny valley tucked away in the northeastern state of Manipur. Relics of an old, historical palace, well-planned temples and ceremonial houses in all their splendor amidst the tall pine and jackfruit trees, speak of Imphal's ancient past. Lying at the center of Manipur valley, Imphal is one of the most ancient towns in the Indian subcontinent and has much to provide to a discerning tourist.

In the heart of the town and surrounded by a moat, are ruins of the old Palace of Kangla. Until 2003, the grounds used to be occupied by the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force. Another place of historical interest is the Polo Ground which is the oldest existing polo ground in the world. Near the Polo Ground is the Manipur State Museum, which has a good collection of old artifacts and nice pictures depicting the history of Manipur. 'Ima Keithel' at Khwairamband Bazar is the only market in the world where, as the name suggests, all the stalls are run by women

In 1944 during World War II the Battle of Imphal, along with the simultaneous Battle of Kohima, was the turning point in the Burma Campaign. For the first time in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II the Japanese lost the initiative to the Allies, which they retained until the end of the war.

The state is also famous for the Brow-antlered Deer called the Sangai. This species of the deer is endemic to Manipur and is on the verge of extinction. Last count of Sangai deer revealed only 162 left in the Keibul Lamjao National Park. On 18 June 1997, the Imphal district was split into Imphal East and Imphal West.