The Manipur State Museum was inaugurated in 1969 by the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, and is one of the major tourist attractions in the state of Manipur. The museum is located near the Imphal polo ground and displays a fine collection of articles related to the tribal culture of Manipur along with portraits of former rulers.

Overview of Manipur State Museum
Among the most important museums in the state, the Manipur State Museum offers great insight into the history and lives of the people of Manipur and its fascinating tribal heritage. The museum has galleries that houses materials of natural history, ethnology and archaeology. The collections in the museum include Manipuri costumes, arms and ammunitions, historical documents, traditional agricultural equipment and relics.

One of the most striking features of the place is the ‘Hiyang Hiren’, which is a royal boat about 78 ft long, situated in an open gallery. In addition to these, there are also sculptures of the local forest Gods, the motif of the Phakangba, which is a person who could transform himself into a dragon. This dragon form of Phakangba is considered as the ancestor of all Vaishnavites. The museum also conducts regular exhibitions, cultural appreciation courses and awareness programmes for visitors.

Visiting Information on Manipur State Museum
The nearest railway station is at Dimapur at a distance of 208 km from the museum and the Imphal Airport is the closest at a distance of about 7 km from the Manipur State Museum.

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