Shri Govindaji temple and Loktak Lake, Manipur (Seven Sister States 3)
On our journey of the Seven Sister States of India, the third destination is Manipur. This is the land where the sport of Polo originated. The terrain of Maipur is divided into two vividly different regions – one of high hills and deep valleys and the other of plain lands that are flat.
Let us look at a few destinations that are worth visiting on a trip to this state.
Shri Govindaji temple – This temple is located in the premises of the Royal palace at Imphal, the capital of Manipur state. It is one of the largest Vaishnavite temples in the state. This temple was first built in 1846, however it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1868. Later, it was rebuilt under the reign of the then king Maharaja Chandrakirti.
History – Lord Krishna or Govinda (incarnation of Shree Vishnu) was the main deity of the royal family of Manipur. In this temple Shri Krishna is seen with his consort Radha and Lord jagannath who is another swaroop of Lord Vishnu. The Main idols are flanked by Balaram and Subhadra idols on their side.
Architecture – The entire temple is built to look like a palace. It is elegant, yet huge and built on a raised platform. The outer premise consists of well maintain gardens and a pond. The main sanctum can be accessed from the North, South and eastern sides of the temple. The entire structure is made of bricks and shows Nagra architecture influence.
There are two domes that are gold plated. These domes have the Kalasa and the temple flags. The main mandapam or the innermost chamber houses the idols of the deities.
Festivals and Prayers – On Buddha Pournima day, Krishna Raas Leela is performed at the temple.
The best time to visit the temple is during the festival of Holi (March). This festival is called Doljatra or Yaosong (locally). During this time, the idols are taken out for a procession and dance programmes are held all night long.
The Pujas offered in this temple are very ritualistic meaning they strictly follow the Vedic code. Pujas are done every morning and evening. There is also a dress code enforced and Men and Women have separate queues to offer their worship.
How to reach:
Airways -The nearest airport Imphal, the capital of Manipur, is well connected with major cities like New Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati.
Railways– The nearest railway station is Dimapur, 215 kms from Imphal.
Roadways – Imphal is connected by road with cities in Assam like Guwahati via National Highway 39 and Silchar via National Highway 53.
Loktak Lake – This lake is the only floating lake of the world and one of the largest freshwater lakes in India. The scenic beauty of this lake is breathtaking. However, the lake is not only a place for idle boat rides or picnics. It is a place where local people earn their living.The water from this lake provides hydroenergy and also provides irrigation and sustenance of flora and fauna. A visit to Manipur is incomplete without visiting the Loktak lake.
places to visit can be found on the Manipur tourism original website –
http://tourismmanipur.nic.in/imphal_east.html
Location: Kangla, Imphal, Manipur, India
