Sangai and Hornbill Festivals Tour

Assist on arrival at Imphal and transfer to hotel.

This afternoon, at your hotel, you will be given a briefing about the things to do and places to be visited in Manipur and Nagaland during your trip. In the evening, visit the main venue of the Sangai Festival to enjoy the colorful cultural presentations performed by the different ethnic communities living in the state. Overnight at Imphal.

Full day tour which will cover important tourist sites in and around Imphal city. This includes the two Second World War cemeteries in Imphal maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), the famous Ima Market – one of the largest markets in Asia run only by women, RCKS Art Gallery and the historic Kangla fort where we can see General Slim’s cottage and also listen to the story of the Anglo-Manipuri War 1891. A traditional Manipuri lunch is also part of this tour. In the afternoon, we will visit the view point at Cheirao Ching (a hill top) to have a bird’s eye view of Imphal and to enjoy the sunset.

Cultural evening at the main venue of the Sangai Festival. Overnight at Imphal.

Note: The Kangla Fort is closed on Mondays.

Want to experience the thrill of crossing over what is perhaps India’s most exciting and under-explored international border or of visiting the place where South Asia meets Southeast Asia? Then this is the tour for you. We take you to the border town of Moreh (110 km from Imphal) and cross over into Tamu in Burma (Myanmar) to see its bustling bazaar, friendly people and main Buddhist monastery. We top it all off with a delicious Burmese meal! As if that wasn’t enough, en route near Tengnoupal you enjoy stunning views from the road at 5,000 feet of the mountains that form the India-Burma border. We can also see the Shenam Saddle where some of the most ferocious fighting of the WWII took place between the British and Japanese soldiers. Drive back to Imphal. Overnight at Imphal.

Note: 1. The visit to Tamu (in Myanmar) will depend on the overall situation in Myanmar during the time of the tour.

2. Crossing the international border into Tamu is only permitted for and on offer to Indian tourists. Foreign nationals can travel up to Moreh only.

        3. The border and the market are closed on Full moon and New moon days of Burma.

The first half of the day involves visiting the venue (s) of Sangai festival around Imphal.  In the afternoon, enjoy the semi-final match of the International Polo tournament held at Mapal Kangjeibung – oldest living polo ground in the world. The pre-match cultural performance is a must-see. Overnight at Imphal.

Check out from your hotel and drive along the Tiddim Road. This tour has as its main destination the breathtakingly beautiful Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India and Manipur’s top tourist destination. We stop en route at the Second World War battlefield of Red Hill where India Peace Memorial and the only Japanese war memorial in India is located. The recently opened Imphal Peace Museum, built by Japan at the base of Red Hill, can also be visited.  This tour also includes a visit to the Indian National Army (INA) Memorial Complex (including the INA War Museum) where men of the INA hoisted the INA flag on the Indian soil. This is the only such memorial complex in the world. Check in at Sendra Resort situated on the lake. In the evening, enjoy the breath taking view of the hundreds of lamps used for fishing on the lake. Overnight at Sendra Resort on the Loktak Lake.

Note: The Imphal Peace Museum and the INA War Museum are closed on Mondays.

Early morning, visit the core area of the Keibul Lamjao National Park, the world’s only floating national park to see the Sangai, the brow antlered deer or the ‘dancing deer’. Before lunch, go for boating at the Loktak Lake to see the fishing activities, floating huts and the migratory birds. This boat ride is a photographer’s and nature lover’s delight. Post lunch, walk around the lake and visit a local museum on one of the islands on the lake. In the evening, visit the highest viewpoint at the Loktak Lake to see get amazing views of sunset. Overnight at Sendra Resort on the Loktak Lake.

Morning after breakfast, set out for Kohima along the Imphal-Kohima Road. This road was in 1944 – and remains today – Manipur’s lifeline and main connection to the outside world. En route will see, besides others, WWII battlefields and a war memorial. Our main aim for today, however, is to experience all the vibrant festivities of the opening ceremony of the Hornbill Festival – the festival of festivals. This festival is held at Kisama ‘heritage village’. Spend the rest of the day at the festival venue visiting the morungs (traditional houses) of all the major tribes in Nagaland, strike a conversation with the people from different Naga tribes, try out their local food and drinks and enjoy the cultural performances. Proceed to your hotel in Kohima in the evening. Overnight at Kohima.

P.S. The drive from Loktak Lake to Kohima may take up to 6 hours.

After breakfast, we will visit the Kohima War Cemetery which is one of the most iconic battlefields of the world. In this cemetery, among others, one can still see the outline of the famous tennis court around which fierce fighting raged in 1944 during the WWII. It is where you will find out why the Battle of Kohima is also known as the ‘Stalingrad of the east’. It was in Kohima that the Japanese invasion of India during the WWII was stopped. We will also visit the famous Kohima Cathedral which is also one of the main highlights of Kohima town. We will also try to visit the Nagaland State Museum, if time permits.

The latter part of the day involves a visit to Khonoma, also known as ‘Asia’s first green village’, and an important home of the Angami tribe. On reaching Khonoma, you will be able to see the Naga age-group houses (Morungs), forts, ceremonial gates and the Angami way of living through an engaging village walk. Overnight at Kohima.

P.S. The drive from Kohima to Khonoma takes about 1 hour.

After breakfast, we will drive to Kisama Heritage Village to enjoy the Hornbill festival again. Upon arrival, we will also visit the Kohima WWII Museum. This is one of the best WWII museums in India. Enjoy the colorful dances and several traditional games performed by members of various tribes.

Later, we will visit the beautiful southern Angami villages of Kigwema and Mima. In Kigwema the house where the Japanese General Sato was staying during the battle of Kohima can still be seen. While walking in the village of Mima, besides getting to know the way of living of the local people, we will also see the unique practice of underground bee keeping. Overnight at Kohima.

Drive from Kohima to Dimapur airport. Fly out from Dimapur airport.

 (Reporting time at domestic airport is two hours prior to the time of departure of flight)

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