Kangla Fort Imphal: The Sacred Heart of Ancient Manipur's Civilisation and History

Kangla Fort Imphal: The Heart and Soul of Ancient Manipur

Kangla, which is in the middle of Imphal, is the sacred capital and the place where Manipur's civilisation began. It used to be a big area with four big mounds in each direction. Nanjest Thongbam, Assistant Professor, Manipur College and Expert, Manipur State Archaeology expressed that originally, Kangla was much bigger, but over centuries, its area shrank to a tightly fortified zone along the western side of the Imphal River. It was marked by four ancient mounds, one at each cardinal points, two Lamdai Pungs, Southern at Kakwa and Eastern at Nongmeipung, Western at Wangthonthonbi Pung and the Northern boundary at Awang Mongbi Ching, a knoll (rounded hill) where the original palace was located. 

Even though Kangla got smaller over time, its rivers, ancient ritual stones, and underground tunnels have always made it unique. The Ningthouja Dynasty began here in 33 A.D. by King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba. Kangla became known as a place of power and holy ceremonies. "Ibudhou Pakhangba" is revered as the supreme ruling deity of Manipur. According to ancient traditions and mythology, Tengbanba Mapu (Guru Sidaba), the creator of the Universe, sought to pass down the administration of the cosmos to one of his three beloved sons: Atiya Sidaba, Sanamahi, and Pakhangba. "The father declared that the son who successfully circled the earth seven times and reached the throne first would become his rightful successor" as the war of wits. 

Thus, Kangla sits at the very heart of Imphal, serving as the cradle of Manipuri civilization. Imagine a mystical place where the myths and history evolves of a polity with shared culture, territory, sovereignty and unity with destiny.

It is worth mentioning that present location the Kangla Fort was developed by King Khagemba (1597–1652) and Garibniwaz (1709–1748) as the capital of Manipur. Kangla has traditionally been the political and religious capital of Manipur. After the Anglo-Manipur war, the British Army occupied Kangla in 1891. In the following years after the British had left Manipur, it was found that the 4 Assam Rifles was established in this location in 1915. Thereafter, various units and headquarters of Assam Rifles stayed here till 2004. Respecting the cultural, religious and political aspirations of the people of Manipur, Kangla was handed over by Assam Rifles to Government of Manipur on 20 November 2004.

General Slim’s cottage located at the northern part of the Kangla was constructed in 1901 and initially was the residence of CO 4 Assam Rifles. During II World War, this was said to be residence of the Field Marshal W J Slim, K.G., G.C.B., B.C., M.G., G.C.V.O., D.S.O., M.C., and Commander Allied Forces. According to  Nanjest Thongbam, Asst. Professor, Geography Department, Manipur College and Expert, Manipur State Archaeology, Kangla, this cottage was constructed in honour of the Field Marshal W J Slim, who reached upto Comilla in Bangladesh in the war theatre. Later it was the residence of IGAR (North) and thereafter it housed GOC Mike Sector. Presently, it houses the Officers Club of HQ Manipur Range (9 Sector). Historically, Slim Cottage stands as an enduring architectural and military landmark and most importantly associated with Field Marshal William Slim—whose brilliant leadership of the Fourteenth Army (the "Forgotten Army") was pivotal in the Burma Campaign during World War II—the building has transitioned through key phases of command administration, serving regional inspectorates and sector headquarters before becoming the Officers Club of HQ Manipur Range. A lot of the history can still be seen today in the form of the Citadel Wall, sacred dragon statues, and old temples. Many people have thought for a very long time that the universe began in Kangla, which makes it a very important spiritual site. Kings who were crowned at Kangla were the only ones who were truly respected as leaders. The Kangla is still a proud symbol of the people of Manipur and a link to their history and culture.

Quick Facts

Coordinates: 24°48′ 29.03′′ N, 93°56′31.92′′ E| Height: 2,415 ft | Area Today: 237.62 acres 

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Caption: Original stone map board inside Kangla showing Inner Moat,
Outer Moat, Nungjeng Pukhri Situated at the heart of Imphal, Kangla
was the sacred  capital. Originally, boundary was 4 cardinal mounds:

Kangla was traditionally bounded by Lamdaipung at Nongmeibung to the east, Wangthonbi at Tera to the west, Awang Mongbi Ching at Chingmeirong to the north, and Southern Lamdaipung at Kakwa to the south. Over time, the area diminished to just one square mile on the western bank of the Imphal River. Despite this, Kangla’s historic essence remains. It once encompassed ancestral homes, burial sites, and sacred shrines. The land was nourished by seven rivulets—Khakhong, Laikhong, Marongkhong, Lilhakhong, Charoikhong, Yambikhong, and Phishukhong—which acted as lifelines for the people and their traditions.

                                                                                  Fig:2

Kangla Western Gate

                                                                                 

                                                                                 Fig:3

                                                                  Kangla Northen Gate

Fig:4

Kangla Southern Gate

In 33 A.D., Ningthouja Dynasty began here with Nongda Lairen Pakhangba, ruling unbroken for nearly 2,000 years! Whoever controlled Kangla ruled Manipur. This ended in 1891 when British took over after Anglo-Manipur War, turning Kangla into military camp. On Nov 20, 2004, Government of India handed Kangla back to people of Manipur through DG Assam Rifles in presence of PM Dr. Manmohan Singh.

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Kangla Sha: Front View

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Kangla Sha: Front View

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                                                              Kangla Sha: Back Side View

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Kangla Sha: Back Side View

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Symbol of Manipur Government, guarding Kangla 

Citadel Wall

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                                                                             Citadel Wall

Shri Brindabanchandra Temple

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                                                                  Shri Brindabanchandra Temple

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Shri Brindabanchandra Temple

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                                                            Shri Brindabanchandra Temple

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 Pakhangba Temple: Sacred History

Ibudhou Pakhangba Temple 

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Ibudhou Pakhangba Temple 

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Ibudhou Pakhangba Temple 

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Utra Sanglen

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Utra Sanglen Outer

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Utra Sanglen Interior

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Utra Sanglen Interior

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Utra Sanglen Interior

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Utra Sanglen Interior

What Made Kangla Special?

Kangla was more than a city—it was a sacred site packed with:

• Royal residences and ancestral homes created in an anthromorpic layout.
• Holy shrines and Royal burial grounds
• Ritual megaliths and mysterious networks of underground tunnels and vaults

Mystical streams exist as network of arteries within the boundary of the old Kangla. Pumsai-khong was bifurcated into three as Kha-khong, Lai-khong and Marong Khong within the existing Kangla. The creation myth of Thon Taret Thon-langmei (Layering of the seven strata’s of Kangla) narrates the origination of seven mystical streams from Kangla. It is believed that Taoroinai, a form of divine Atiya manifested as iconic coiled serpent and the mount of lord Pakhangba navigates through these seven waterways as his routes. These seven streams were Kumsu Khong, Phisu Khong, Pongpi Khong, Tumu Khong, Taopi Khong, Nongtam Khong and Charoi Khong. Marong Khong creates sacred Nungjeng at the navel of Kangla having outmost importance for its water used for the investiture of the Kings. Laikhong beyond the present boundary of Kangla, originates nine glades beyond the present boundary of the Kangla palace.

Samadhi of Maharaja Budhachandra

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Samadhi of Maharaja Budhachandra

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Samadhi of Maharaja Budhachandra

 Fig:26

Samadhi of Maharaja Budhachandra

OUTER MOAT VIEW, AND INNER MOAT VIEW 

Broad moats that made Kangla nearly impregnable8. Nungjeng Pukhri Macha - Most Sacred Pond

The Moats - Protection of Kangla

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Outer Moat: West-South

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Outer Moat: North

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Inner Moat-Manung Thangapat South

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Inner Moat-Manung Thangapat Northen Direction

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Inner Moat: Manung Thangapat Toward Western-South

Fig:32

Joining Points of Two Inner Moat

NUNGJENG PUKHRI ACHOUBA & NUNGJEN PUKHRI MACHA & LILY CLOSEUP

Fig:33

Nungjen Pukhri Achouba

                                                                                  Fig:34

Nungjen Pukhri Macha

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Nungjen Pukhri Macha

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Nungjen Pukhri Macha

Water from this pond was used for King's coronation (Erat Thouni). King took holy bath here before becoming king.

                                                                 

                                                                      MUSEUM IN KANGLA

                                                                                   Fig:37

Museum


Fig:38

Museum

 PILLARED TEMPLE 

Fig:39

Ibudhou Pakhanba Shanglen or Temple


GENERAL SLIM'D COTTAGE IN KANGLA

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General Slim's Cottage

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General Slim's Cottage

Surviving Treasures

Surviving treasures you can still see include:

• The Citadel Wall
• Sacred Kanglasha Dragons
• The coronation hole at Uttra
• Shri Shri Govindaji Temple
• Bir Tikendrajit Temple
• General Slim’s Cottage

For Manipuris, Kangla is not just stones and rivers — it's the beating heart of legends: Seen as cosmic centre of universe, believed to be spot where god Aseeba/Taoroinai rests beneath earth, making place holy. Royal coronations had to take place right above this sacred spot for legitimacy.

(I thank and appreciate Oja Nanjest Thongbam, Asstistant Professor, Department of Geography, Manipur College, and also an Expert for the Manipur State Archaeology, Kangla, for checking and verifying my information, pictures and data)