Bishnupur

Bishnupur is a district in the state of Manipur, in the north eastern reaches of India. Originally called Lumangdong, its history dates back to the times of the Pong and Meiti rulers of north eastern India (1467 AD). The district got the name Bishnupur from Lord Vishnu, one of the holy trinity of the Hindus when Manu Brahmins migrated to Manipur under the patronage of the local king. There is a brick Vishnu Temple at Bishnupur which was built in that era. It is a protected historical monument as certified by the Archaeological Survey of India.

There are several attractions in this district. Among them, the foremost is the Kelbul Lamjao National Park, which is located a mere 53 kilometers from the state capital of Imphal. It is the only floating National Park in the entire world and a natural habitat of the Manipuri Dancing Deer called Sangai. A variety of water fowls, hog deer and otters also populate this park.

Spread over an area of 312 kilometers, the Loktak Lake is a huge freshwater lake in this region and very popular with the tourists. There is an island called Sendra Island from where people can get a panoramic view of this lake.

Moirang, a town in Bishnupur, just 45 kilometers from Imphal, is a place of great historical significance. It was here that the Indian National Army first unfurled the flag of India on 14 April, 1944. It has a museum dedicated to the INA. Phulbala Resort and Loukoipat Ecological Park are other tourist attractions of Bishnupur.