Honest, dated notes on Imphal — changes to the safety picture, the site, and the things worth knowing.
We try to keep this page honest and useful — short dated notes when something on the ground shifts, when the safety picture changes, when a venue re-opens or re-closes, or when we correct something on the site.
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Latest updates
· Safety · by editorial
Advisory picture — valley circuit workable, hill districts restricted
As of mid-August 2026 the Imphal valley circuit (Imphal city, the Loktak Lake basin and Moirang) remains workable for visitors following standard daytime-travel practices. Current operational notes:
Several hill districts continue to have movement restrictions or active tensions — confirm before planning trips outside the valley.
Section 144 / area-wise local curfews remain a possibility but most Imphal-bound travel via the airport and the valley highways is being reported cleanly by recent visitors.
Trusted local drivers remain the single most practical safeguard.
The full safety advice has been refreshed to reflect this. Subscribe below to get the next change.
· Permits
Permit process — small changes to documentation
For Indian citizens from other states, the ILP process is unchanged. The Assam Rifles public-facing counters at Imphal Airport and Deputy Commissioner's office are operating normally. For foreign nationals, Protected Area Permit (PAP) processing via the Ministry of Home Affairs / embassy channels continues.
If you applied in the last 30 days and have a question, the permits page has the official sources.
· Festivals
Sangai Festival 2026 dates confirmed
The Manipur government has confirmed Sangai Festival 2026 for 21–30 November 2026, headquartered in Imphal with remote days at Loktak and Moirang. Ten days of dance, sports, craft fair and food festival. Plan now — hotels fill quickly. See the festivals page for the full year calendar.
· Site
New culture and food pages added
We've published two deeper guides: one on culture & experiences (Raas Leela, polo, handloom, festivals), and a fully rewritten manipuri food guide (Eromba, Singju, Kangsoi, bamboo shoots, Chak-hao black rice desserts). Let us know what we missed via the contact link in the footer.
· Practical
Imphal airport — wider connectivity from Delhi
Air connectivity to Imphal (IMF) has expanded again this season with additional direct flights on the Delhi–Imphal and Kolkata–Imphal routes. Net work — prices — have been a touch more affordable than 2025. See getting there for what to expect.
· Site
Itineraries refreshed for the Yaoshang season
Yaoshang (March 2026) overlapped with our 2-day, 3-day and 4–5 day plans. We've refreshed the itinerary page with one extra-cultural stop each — for Yaoshang bookings and to avoid the busiest market nights.
Gallery — On-the-ground snapshots
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