IMPHAL

capital of Manipur state and administrative headquarters of Manipur Central district, northeastern India, lying in the Manipur River Valley, at an altitude of 2,500 ft (760 m). Imphal was the seat of the kings of Manipur before the region fell under British rule. In 1944 it was the site of a significant tactical victory for the Anglo-Indian forces over the Japanese on the Burmese front of World War II. The town is a major trade centre, noted for its weaving, brassware, bronzeware, and other cottage industries. Imphal College, Imphal Training Centre, Dhana Manjari College, and a technical school are located there. Imphal is connected with the North-Eastern Railway at Dimapur, Assam, and with Burma by hard-surface roads. It has an airfield with regular service to Calcutta (400 mi west-southwest) and Gauhati. The population is mainly Manipuri. Pop. (1981) 156,622.