Thoubal Attractions - Tourist Places To Visit In Thoubal

The Thoubal district is known for its many lakes and rivers with part of the famous Loktak Lake falling in the district. The Waithou Lake makes Waithou an interesting visit in the Thoubal District. The Waithou Lake magnifies the scenic beauty of the place.

The lake lies in the northern part of the district and has been formed by the drained water getting collected that comes from the Waithou hill and the many paddy fields on the west and east. It is located 16 km from Imphal on the Imphal-Myanmar road and only about 3 km from Thoubal district headquarters.

Earlier the Waithou Lake was the breeding ground for the endangered fish species called ‘Ngaton’. However, after the Cheksabi barrage was constructed in the 1970s over the lake, the Ngaton vanished completely from the lake. In the land around the lake, pineapples grow and are quite famous.

Khonjam is one of the most famous destinations in Thoubal district. It was in Khonjam that the last battle of independence was fought by the Manipuris against the British. The battle took place in April 1891 after the Manipuris had killed the British Chief Commissioner and other members of his party.

Though the Manipuris were no match to the British in terms of manpower or weapons, they fought with all their might. The battle, which was led by Major General Paona Brajabashi, symbolizes the fierce willpower of the Manipuris even though they lost the battle.

Khonjam is located 10 km from Thoubal and 32 km from Imphal. A small war memorial has been erected on the hillock to commemorate the war heroes. Every year, the 23rd April has been declared as a state holiday in Manipur in remembrance of the battle. Khonjam is connected by the National Highway, and it also has a tourist home.

Sugnu is an important trading centre of the Thoubal district. It is well connected with the capital of Manipur through the Sugnu–Imphal State Highway. Sugnu is 74 km from Imphal. Apart from being an important trading centre, Sugnu is also a beautiful town with the Imphal river flowing past it.

The river adds to the beauty of the place, enhancing the greenness of the surrounding. The small hillocks that are a characteristic of Thoubal district make Sugnu enchantingly beautiful. Sugnu is also one of the 10 Vidhan Sabha constituencies of the Thoubal district, the other nine being Lilong, Wangkhem, Thoubal, Heirok, Khangabok, Wangjing Tentha, Kakching, Wabagai and Hiyanglam.

Sugnu lies to the south of the Thoubal district and has a population of about 4,500 as per the 2001 census. Sugnu has all the primary basic amenities such as a health care centre and primary school.

The biggest town of Thoubal district after its district headquarters, Kakching is an important trade centre. Located just 70 km from the Myanmar border and 44 km from Imphal, Kakching is one of the tourist attractions in the Thoubal district. Kakching is also one of the two sub-divisions of Thoubal district, the other one being Waikhong.

Variety of vegetables, fish and rice grow in the Kakching sub-division thus making it an important trading centre. It is well connected to the other parts of the state via the state highways. The National Highway is also at an approachable distance from Kakching.

Apart from being an agricultural hub of Thoubal district, Kakching is also famous for its temples such as the Shri Krishnachandra Mandir, Viswanath Mandir and Narasingha Mandir. During the Second World War, Kakching also had an airfield called Pallet Airfield covering an area of 100 acres.  

Pallel is an important stopover town on route to Moreh, the commercial hub of Manipur. Falling on the border between Thoubal and Chandel, the National Highway 39 passes through the town. Pallel is 46 km from Imphal. It is also the gateway to the Trans-Asian Super Highway.

Pallel is the meeting place between the Chandel Hills and the Thoubal plains. The effect of this mix is that it exemplifies the beauty of the town. While on route to Moreh, Pallel is a treat to the eyes. Many tourists prefer exploring the area around the town only because of its natural beauty.

Agriculture is the main source of livelihood in Pallel though handicraft items are also sold by the hill tribes here. People from different communities have been known to live in harmony in Pallel for generations. Some of the prominent tribes here are Mariangs, Kukis, Meiteis and Lamkangs.

There are several rivers and lakes in Thoubal. The most important rivers traversing through the district are Imphal and Thoubal. These two rivers serve as the lifeline to the many villages and towns of the district and also add to the natural beauty of the place. Among the lakes, the most prominent ones are Ikop Lake, Lousi Lake, Pumlen Lake and the Waithou Lake.

Ikop Lake is a popular tourist destination mainly because of the abundant nature around the lake. The cool breeze on the high altitude makes a visit worthwhile. Lousi Lake is spread over an 18 sq km area and is popular among geologists.

The lake boasts of a tender ecosystem. The water from the Lousi Lake is used for drinking by the locals. The Pumlen Lake, also called the Pumlen Pat, is a freshwater lake in Thoubal. The main attraction here is the Phumdis or the floating decomposed plants.

Khangabok is one of the important tourist destinations of Manipur. It is the largest village of the state falling under the jurisdiction of Thoubal district. The Meiteis are the primary ethic group populating the village, and the language spoken here is Meiteilon or Manipuri.

The name Khangabok is derived from the tree Khangra which covered the present-day village area. As people started settling in the area, the trees were cut down, and the place got the name Khangrapokpi meaning where Khangra is grown. The modern derivation of Khangrapokpi is Khangabok.

There are a few places to see in the village such as the Ikop Lake which is also called Ikop Pat. The lake has an important place in the life of the villagers as they have been fishing and using the water for irrigation from here since a long time. The Lamlong Bazaar is also worth a visit.