Kangla fort

The Kangla (Meitei: /kəŋ.la/[1]), officially known as the Kangla Fort,[2] is an old fortified palace at Imphal in the Manipur state of India.[3][4][5] It was formerly situated on both sides (western and eastern) of the bank of the Imphal River, now remaining only on the western side in ruined conditions. Kangla means "the prominent part of the dry land" in old Meetei.[6] It was the traditional seat of the past Meetei rulers of Manipur.[7][8]

Guide map of the Kangla displayed to the public

Kangla
(Meitei: ꯀꯪꯂꯥ, romanized: kəŋ.la)
From top, left to right: the sacred images of God Pakhangba and his consort, the Kangla Sanathong, the holy Hiyang Hirens inside the Hijagang, the Pakhangba Temple, Kangla, the statue of Meidingu Nara Singh, the Sanggai Yumpham and the dual statues of Kangla Sha dragon, the emblem of Manipur
Alternative name
  • Kangla Fort
  • Kangla Palace
LocationImphal West district
RegionKangleipak (Manipuri for 'Manipur')
Coordinates24.808°N 93.940°E / 24.808; 93.940
Typecapital city (historical)
Part of
History
PeriodsClassical Antiquity
CulturesMeitei culture
Associated with
EventsAnglo Manipur War
Site notes
Conditionprotected
Ownership Government of Manipur
ManagementKangla Fort Board
Public accessyes
Architecture
Architectural stylesMeitei architecture
Kingdom of Manipur
Part of History of Manipur
Kings of Manipur
Loiyumba 1074-1112
Senbi Kiyamba 1467-1508
Koirengba 1508-1512
Khagemba 1597-1652
Pitambar Charairongba 1697–1709
Pamheiba 1720–1751
Gaurisiam 1752–1754
Chitsai 1754–1756
Ching-Thang Khomba 1769–1798
Rohinchandra 1798–1801
Maduchandra Singh 1801–1806
Chourjit Singh 1806–1812
Marjit Singh 1812–1819
Gambhir Singh 1825–1834
Raja Nara Singh 1844–1850
Debindro Singh 1850–1850
Chandrakirti Singh 1850–1886
Surachandra Singh 1886–1890
Kulachandra Singh 1890–1891
Churachandra Singh 1891–1941
Bodhchandra Singh 1941–1949
Manipur monarchy data

Kangla (Imphal) was the ancient capital of pre-modern Manipur.[9] The Kangla is a revered spot for the people of Manipur, reminding them of the days of their independence. It is a sacred place to the Meiteis.[10]

The Kangla is being proposed to be declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for which there are discussions ongoing in the Indian Parliament.[11][12]

History

"One of the outstanding figures in the history of architecture in ancient Manipur was Naophangba (428-518 CE), who aside [sic] the foundation stone of the Kangla, the "Namthak Sarongpung", the holiest place of the Manipuries."

—L.Kunjeswori Devi., p. 108[13]

The Kangla was the seat of administration of the Meitei rulers of the Ningthouja dynasty (33 CE to 1891 CE).[14]

Places
Image(s) Name Description(s)
 Western Kangla Gate (Meitei: ꯀꯪꯂꯥ ꯁꯅꯊꯣꯡ, romanized: kangla santhong, lit. 'Golden Door of the Kangla') The grand royal entrance gate to the Kangla from the western side
 Kanglasha (Meitei: ꯀꯪꯂꯥꯁꯥ, lit. 'Dragons of the Kangla') A pair of sculptures dedicated to the lion god Nongshaba.
 Kangla Museum (Meitei: ꯀꯪꯂꯥ ꯃꯤꯎꯖꯤꯌꯝ) A museum that showcases the lifestyle of Meitei rulers of the Ningthouja dynasty as well as the ancient Meitei artistic and cultural heritage and maps of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur')
 Kangla Uttra Shanglen (Meitei: ꯀꯪꯂꯥ ꯎꯠꯇ꯭ꯔꯥ ꯁꯪꯂꯦꯟ, lit. 'Royal Office Building of the Kangla') A religious office building of Sanamahism (traditional Meitei religion), built in the traditional Meitei architectural style. The most significant and the holiest element is the chirong (literally, "horns"), which is the V-shaped design adorned on the roof of the building.
 Sanggai Yumpham (Meitei: ꯁꯪꯒꯥꯏ ꯌꯨꯝꯐꯝ, lit. 'Royal residence') A fortified royal residence inside the Kangla.
 Inner Polo Ground (Meitei: ꯃꯅꯨꯡ ꯀꯥꯡꯖꯩꯕꯨꯡ, romanized: manung kangjeibung) Ningthouja dynasty polo field located to the south west of the citadel inside the Kangla
 Manūng Thāngapāt (Meitei: ꯃꯅꯨꯡ ꯊꯥꯡꯒꯄꯥꯠ, lit. 'inner moat') Manung Thangapat is the Inner Moat of the Kangla Fort, encircling and protecting the Sanggai Yumpham as a second line of defense.
 Statue of Meidingu Nara Singh (Meitei: ꯃꯩꯗꯤꯡꯉꯨ ꯅꯔꯁꯤꯡꯍꯒꯤ ꯃꯤꯇꯝ, romanized: meidingu narasinghgi mitam) The grand bronze sculpture of King Nara Singh riding on a Manipuri pony.
 The tomb of King Bodhchandra (Meitei: ꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ ꯕꯣꯙꯆꯟꯗ꯭ꯔꯒꯤ ꯃꯪꯂꯦꯟ, romanized: ningthou bodhchandragi manglen) The site where the mortal remains of Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh (Manglen of Ningthou Bodhchandra or Samadhi of Maharaja Bodhchandra) , the last ruler of sovereign state of Manipur Kingdom, was consigned to flames in 9 December 1955.
 Chīngkhei Īkon (Meitei: ꯆꯤꯡꯈꯩ ꯏꯀꯣꯟ, lit. 'Northeastern pond') or Chingkhei Pukhri. A sacred pond in the northeastern corner of the Sanggai Yumpham.
 Kangla Boatyard (Meitei: ꯍꯤꯖꯒꯥꯡ, romanized: hijagāng) The boatyard houses traditional Meitei royal boats (hiyang hiren) and commoners' boats (tanna hee).
 Pakhangba Temple, Kangla (Meitei: ꯏꯄꯨꯊꯧ ꯄꯥꯈꯪꯄ ꯂꯥꯏꯁꯪ, romanized: iputhou pakhangba laishang, lit. 'Temple of Lord Pakhangba') A temple dedicated to the god Pakhangba of Sanamahism.
 Archaeological Museum, Kangla (Meitei: ꯑꯥꯔꯀ꯭ꯌꯣꯂꯣꯖꯤꯀꯦꯜ ꯃꯤꯎꯖꯤꯌꯝ) A museum housing Stone Age tools and historical stone inscriptions, coins and other artefacts of the Ningthouja dynasty.
 Site for Meitei Heritage Park A Heritage Park dedicated to the Meitei people, the largest ethnicity of Manipur. It is also known as Meitei Heritage Park.

See also

Notes

    References
    1. Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary.Kangla". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
    2. Deshpande, Abhijeet (19 December 2017). Backpacking North East India: A Curious Journey. Notion Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-1-946556-80-6.
    3. Sajnani, Manohar (2001). Encyclopaedia of Tourism Resources in India. p. 226. ISBN 978-81-7835-017-2.
    4. James, Rajesh; Venkatesan, Sathyaraj (1 July 2021). India Retold: Dialogues with Independent Documentary Filmmakers in India. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 232. ISBN 978-1-5013-5269-0.
    5. Prakash, Col Ved (2007). Encyclopaedia of North-East India. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 1600. ISBN 978-81-269-0706-9.
    6. Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. p. 415. ISBN 978-81-7099-853-2.
    7. Chandra, N. D. R.; Das, Nigamananda (2007). Ecology, Myth, and Mystery: Contemporary Poetry in English from Northeast India. Sarup & Sons. p. 82. ISBN 978-81-7625-742-8.
    8. Binodini (17 March 2015). The Maharaja's Household: A Daughter's Memories of Her Father. Zubaan. p. 203. ISBN 978-93-84757-19-9.
    9. Chandra, N. D. R.; Das, Nigamananda (2007). Ecology, Myth, and Mystery: Contemporary Poetry in English from Northeast India. Sarup & Sons. p. 82. ISBN 978-81-7625-742-8.
    10. Dhar, Pannalal (1998). Ethnic Unrest in India and Her Neighbours: Also Includes Europe, West Asia, the Balkans and Africa. Deep & Deep Publications. p. 115. ISBN 978-81-7100-818-6.
    11. "Manipur titular king moves Parliament to declare Kangla Fort as World Heritage Site". The Times of India. 5 February 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
    12. "Kangla as a World Heritage Site". Imphal Free Press. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
    13. Sana, Raj Kumar Somorjit (2010). The Chronology of Meetei Monarchs: From 1666 CE to 1850 CE. Waikhom Ananda Meetei. p. 28. ISBN 978-81-8465-210-9.
    14. Michaud, Jean; Swain, Margaret Byrne; Barkataki-Ruscheweyh, Meenaxi (14 October 2016). Historical Dictionary of the Peoples of the Southeast Asian Massif. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 245. ISBN 978-1-4422-7279-8.
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