Khongjom

Small Manipur town remembered for the 1891 Battle of Khongjom against British forces.

Khongjom is a small town in Manipur on the old Indo-Burma road, about 35 km south of Imphal. It holds considerable historical significance for Manipur: it was here, in April 1891, that the Battle of Khongjom was fought — the last stand of Manipur's forces against the advancing British army. Major Paona Brajabashi, one of Manipur's celebrated warriors, died here defending the kingdom. A war memorial stands on the hill where the battle took place.

Khongjom Day is observed every year on 23 April to commemorate the battle and the fallen soldiers. The Khongjom Tourist Home offers basic accommodation for visitors.

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Day Trips

Thoubal is the district headquarters, a few kilometres further along the main road. The town has a lively market and sits beside the Thoubal River, and is a practical base if you want to stay close to Khongjom.

Loktak Lake, about 40 km north of Khongjom via Imphal, is the largest freshwater lake in northeastern India and home to the unique floating phumdis — mats of organic matter that support the endangered Sangai (Eld's deer) on Keibul Lamjao National Park, the world's only floating national park. A visit here pairs well with a day trip to Khongjom.

Imphal itself is worth spending time in. Ima Keithel (the Mothers' Market), one of the largest all-women markets in Asia, and the Kangla Fort — the former seat of the Manipuri kingdom — provide context for the history you encounter at the Khongjom war memorial.

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Getting Around

Khongjom itself is small and the war memorial can be reached on foot from the roadside. If you have hired a taxi from Imphal, asking the driver to wait while you visit the site is the most practical option — there is not much else in the immediate vicinity that requires transport.

For onward travel to Thoubal town or back to Imphal, shared vehicles pass regularly along the main road during daylight hours.

Guide

Getting There

Khongjom lies roughly 29 km southeast of Imphal along the old Indo-Burma road. Shared taxis and minibuses towards Thoubal pass through and can drop you at the war memorial turn-off; the journey from Imphal takes around an hour. Private taxis hired in Imphal are more convenient and allow you to set your own pace.

Permits: Manipur requires an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Indian citizens from other states. Foreign nationals need a Restricted Area Permit (RAP), which is issued on arrival at Imphal airport or through Indian embassies abroad. Both permits are straightforward to obtain but must be arranged before entering the state.

Imphal has an airport with direct flights from major Indian cities including Delhi, Kolkata, and Guwahati. There is no direct rail link to Imphal; the nearest railhead is Jiribam, several hours away, or visitors arrive via Dimapur in Nagaland and travel overland.

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Things to Do

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When to Go

The best time to visit Khongjom is between October and March, when the weather is cool and dry. The northeastern monsoon brings heavy rain from June through September, making roads muddy and travel uncomfortable.

The most significant time to visit is around 23 April, when Khongjom Day is observed across Manipur. Cultural programmes, dances, and remembrance ceremonies are held at the war memorial and throughout the state to honour those who died in the 1891 battle. Attending these events gives the site a living resonance that a quiet off-season visit cannot match.