Imphal's sights cluster around the city centre and can be covered in a day or two on foot and by auto-rickshaw. The Ima Keithel market is the undisputed highlight, but the WWII cemeteries and the old palace ruins are well worth your time. The Khonghampat Orchidarium, a short drive out of town, is spectacular if you visit during the April-May flowering season.
Shri Govindajee Temple stands next to the former royal palace and is the most important Vaishnavite temple in Manipur. The twin golden domes are visible from across the city, and the early morning raas leela dance performances are mesmerising.
Ima Keithel (Mothers' Market) is Imphal's most famous landmark. Run entirely by women, with over three thousand stallholders, this sprawling market sells fresh produce, fish, handwoven textiles, and household goods. It has operated for over five hundred years and is unlike any market you will find elsewhere in India.
Manipur State Museum near the polo grounds has a solid collection of tribal artefacts, traditional costumes, and portraits of Manipur's former rulers. It provides useful context before heading out to explore the region. Open 10:00 to 16:30, closed Sundays and holidays.
The Old Palace sits in the heart of town, its grounds now partly occupied by paramilitary forces. The ruins of the old fortress wall and palace are still accessible to visitors. Ask at the gate and you will be let in.
War Cemeteries on the outskirts of Imphal commemorate the British and Indian soldiers who died in some of the fiercest fighting of the Second World War. The Battle of Imphal in 1944 was a turning point in the Burma campaign. The cemeteries are beautifully maintained, with stone markers and bronze plaques recording the names of the fallen.
Saheed Minar at Bir Tikendrajit Park in central Imphal honours the Manipuri martyrs who fought against British rule in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891. The park is a pleasant spot to sit and watch daily life go by.
Manipur Zoological Garden at Iroishemba, about six kilometres west of town on the Imphal-Kangchup road, is home to the endangered sangai deer alongside other regional wildlife.
Khonghampat Orchidarium is run by the Forest Department on National Highway 39, about seven kilometres from Imphal. Manipur is home to hundreds of orchid species, and the orchidarium is at its best in April and May when the flowers are in full bloom.