1 Manipur India’s Gateway to South East AsiaDepartment of Tourism Government of Manipur

2 BACK STORY: KINGDOM TO STATEManipur is one of 4 Historic Feudal Kingdoms of NER It was established in 1st century C.E. The Central Valley was the Kingdom of the Meiteis 1891: It becomes a Protected State of and a Kingdom in British India 1949: Merges into India and becomes a state in 1971.

3 AT-A-GLANCE Approx sq.km or about the size of Israel, with pop of 2.7 million 10% central valley at 800m with Meitei population; 90% hills upto 2020m with 34 Tribes 400 km border with Myanmar; 500 km border with Nagaland, Assam, Mizoram Pleasant year round sub-tropical weather

4 AN EXCITING NEW GLOBAL FRONTIERIndia’s Gateway To South East Asia Manipur is the Gateway for India’s Act East Policy The Asian Highway and India’s runfrom NER through Manipur to SE Asia A New India – Myanmar – Thailand road coonection announced in 2015

5 TOURIST INFLOW Year Domestic Foreign Total 2010-11 116652 431 117083 133224 602 133826 131803 768 132571 143059 2588 145647 134584 2900 137484 Foreign Visitors Do Not Need Special Entry Permit For 2 Years starting January 2016 Best time to visit: September-March

6 AIR CONNECTIVITY DIRECT FLIGHTS Guwahati Kolkata New Delhi Agartala Aizawl Silchar CONNECTING FLIGHTS To major Indian cities Chennai Mumbai Hyderabad Jaipur etc.

7 ROAD CONNECTIVITY HIGHWAYS: Asian Highway 1 & 2NH-2 (Dibrugarh-Kohima-Imphal) NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar) NH-102 (Imphal-Moreh) NH-202 (Mokokchung-Jessami-Imphal) NH -150 (Jessami-Imphal-Aizwal) Bus service to Guwahati, Silchar and Shillong Bus Service to Mandalay to commence soon.

8 RAIL CONNECTIVITY Nearest railhead: Dimapur in Nagaland (130 Kms)Silchar in Assam (250 km) Silchar-Imphal rail link by 2017

9 MANIPUR’S NEW TOURISM Responsible Tourism Appropriate TourismResponsible Tourists Must Respect Host Culture Responsible Hosts Must Know Own Culture Appropriate Tourism Use Distinctive Features Scale to Size and Capacity Specialized Tourism Specialized Themes National and International Partnerships

10 AIMS OF OUR INTERNATIONAL OUTREACHProjecting Manipur to South East Asia and the World as a world class tourist destination. Improvinginbound-outbound tourist traffic between SE Asia and NE India. Celebrate shared cultures Promote trade and economic cooperation between neighbouring regions Showcasing merchandise of Handicrafts, Handloom and Arts Promote people to people contact for Act East Policy Multiplier impact to furthering relations in the region.

11 SPECIAL ATTRACTION: NATUREMeitei Fishing Community, Loktak Lake

12 SPECIAL ATTRACTION: A RICH CULTURAL HERITAGEShamanic Culture

13 Monolith Culture of Maram tribe

14 St. Joseph’s Cathedral

15 SPECIAL ATTRACTION: A CUISINE TO DISCOVERPranalika Feast of 108 Dishes for Royalty

16 Seasonal, Macrobiotic Cuisine

17 SHOPPING FOR HANDICRAFTSSPECIAL ATTRACTION: SHOPPING FOR HANDICRAFTS Black Nungba Pottery

18 Hand and Waist Loom Textiles

19 Nupi Keithel, the all-women market at Sana Keithel

20 SPECIAL ATTRACTION: THE ART OF DANCEDrummers of Sankirtana, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage art form

21 Dhol Cholom drummers

22 SPECIAL ATTRACTION: FOLK DANCESCheraw dance

23 SANGAI TOURISM FESTIVAL2016 SANGAI TOURISM FESTIVAL An international attraction organized by the Department of Tourism Government of Manipur Ten days, from November 21_30 every year Named after Manipur’s state animal, the sangai, the brow antlered deer found only in Manipur A showcase for Manipur’s rich tradition and culture

24 ATTRACTION: SPORTS TOURISM Manipur, the Sports Hub of NERTraditional Sports and the Birthplace of Polo Incubator of India’s Sports Talent National and International Soccer Players Olympics and Asian Games Medalists

25 Traditional Wrestling

26 Trekking Expeditions Dzuko Valley Laimaton Hill Shiruii Peak Khangkhui Cave Tharon Cave Rock Climbing Para Gliding

27 Traditional Boat races in the Valley of Manipur

28 Water Sports Kayaking Wind Surfing Canoeing Kayaking in Manipur

29 SPECIAL ATTRACTION: POLOThe annual Sangai Tourism Festival celebrates the Birthplace of Modern Polo

30 SANGAI 2016 The 10th Manipur International Polo Tournament at Mapal Kangjeibung, the world’s oldest polo field on Manipuri Ponies, the original polo pony.

31 Women’s Polo in Manipur1st Manipur Statehood Day Women’s Polo Tournament 2016 from January at Mapal Kangjeibung with Team USPA Women as special guests India-USA Women’s Polo Exhibition Game at Rambagh Polo Ground Jaipur on 24th January 2016

32 SPECIAL ATTRACTION: WW2Imphal War Cemetery Slim’s Cottage, Kangla Fort SPECIAL EVENTS on WW2: Raghu Karnad’s Farthest Field

33 NEW CONNECTIVITY, NEW VISITORSHIGHWAYS: India Myanmar Thailand road link; Late 2015 Bus Service to Mandalay to commence RAIL: Silchar-Imphal rail link by 2017 AIR: Mandalay-Imphal Golden Myanmar Flight during Sangai Tourism Festival,2013 (above) Air Asia comes to Imphal, 2015

34 THANK YOU