Imphal is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. Ruins of the Palace of Kangla, the royal seat of the erstwhile Kingdom of Manipur, are in the city centre, surrounded by a moat. Imphal (Major part) comes under Imphal West district and Imphal (Minor part) comes under the Imphal East district. The total population of Imphal city is 2,77,196.
The highest employment in Imphal West district is in Textile based, Repairing and servicing, Wood based, Rubber and Plastic industries. Whereas the highest employment in Imphal East district is in the Agro based, Textile based, Mineral based and Engineering industries. Imphal West district has 40% of the workforce employed in the Agricultural Sector, 49% in the Industrial Sector and the remaining 11% are Household workers. Whereas, Imphal East district has 40% of the workforce employed in the Agricultural Sector, 48% in the Industrial Sector and the remaining 12% are Household workers.
Imphal West district was created in 1997 out of the erstwhile Imphal district by transferring all the villages and towns of Imphal West I and Imphal West II sub-divisions. The district has two Community Development Blocks, namely, Imphal West I C.D.Block and Imphal West II C.D.Block. The sub-divisions are further divided into ten circles. Lamshang sub-division has 3 circles (Sekmai, Lamshang and Salam), Patsoi sub-division has 2 circles (Konthoujam and Patsoi), Lamphelpat sub-division has one circle (Lamphel Central) and Wangoi sub-division has 4 circles (Wangoi, Mayang Imphal, Hiyangthang and Lilong).
The history of Imphal East forms an inseparable part of the history of Manipur. Imphal including part of the Imphal East, is not only the present capital city of Manipur, it also happened to be the capital of long lineage of kings and rulers. Situated in the mist of hills, this fertile valley always attracted a number of immigrants and invaders and in their ventures for control and supremacy, there arose many wars, conflicts and rebellions between the invaders and the defenders and among the progeny of the rulers.
The Imphal West district shows three prominent units i.e. a tiny plain topography, hilly areas in the extreme north, central parts and marshy land in the southern parts of the district. The valley area of Imphal West district is fertile land and is mainly made up of alluvial soil of recent origin. The soil are mainly made up of shallow black, brown and alluvial soils which have been technically classified as Udalfs-Ochrepts and Orchrepts-Aquepts-Fluvents. Main rivers draining Imphal West plain are Imphal River, Nambul River and their tributaries.
The Imphal East district has a rich and varied vegetation and the climatic conditions are suitable for various flora and a wide variety of medicinal plants are grown. And the lakes and marshy lands of the valley are a favourite habitat of a variety of migratory birds. The district by and large is plain in nature and rice is the principle crop grown.
