Monuments & Archaeological sites in the Kangla Fort Complex

A.    Ruins of the Citadel

Cheitharol Kumbaba, the royal chronicle, records the construction of the Citadel in the year 1611 A.D., that is, during the reign of Maharaj Khagemba (1597-1652 A.D.). Twenty feet high, the citadel is built of well-burnt bricks. A number of sacred places, including the coronation site of Pakhangba, were located within  the enclosure of the citadel. The citadel enclosure had three entrances, two on the western side and one on the southern side. The entrance on the left end of the western face was opposite to the coronation hall and the entrance to the right end of the same wall faced the Darbar Hall. The southern entrance was connected with the passage leading to the Shree Shree Govindaji temple.

B.    Ruins of the Uttra

The Uttra is the ancestral coronation hall of the Manipur kings. The installation ceremonies took place here. The building housing the coronation hall was destroyed in air raids during the second World War. The flight of steps and the ruins of the foundation are the only remains of the Uttra.

C.    Site of the two Kangla Shas (mythical beasts)

Two huge Kangla Shas (mythical beasts) made of brick used to stand in front of the Uttra but just beyond the flight of steps leading to the Uttra, and on either side of the path leading to the Uttra. TC Hudson wrote in his book "The Meitheis" that the dragon (referring to the Shas) was the national emblem of the Meiteis.

    And according to Sir James Johnstone, these dragons were originally erected by the Chinese war captives. The Kangla Shas were blown to pieces by the British after their occupation of the Kangla Fort in 1891. The site is related historically as the place where four British officers were beheaded by infatuated Meitei soldiers after the Britishers' futile attempt to capture Yuvraj Tikendrajit. The action ultimately led to the historic conflict between sovereign Manipur and Imperial Britain in 1891.

D.    Temple of Shree Shree Govindaji

The temple of Shree Shree Govindaji was originally built in 1846 A.D., that is, during the reign of Maharaj Nara Singh (1844-1846 A.D.). It was severely damaged in the great earthquake of 1868 A.D. The idols of Radha-Govinda were partly damaged when parts of the Temple collapsed in the earthquake (Cheitharol Kumbaba, p.375) Maharaj Chandrakirti (1859-86 A.D.) the then ruler of Manipur, reconstructed the temple in its original form. The temple is dedicated to Lord Govinda and His consort Radha.

The structure of the temple highlights a rectangular late medieval brick-built temple with a portico or separate verandah to the front entrance. The whole structure is double-celled type, with an ambulatory passage running round the sanctum hall which measures 11.30 x 7.65 sq.m. Three flights of step lead to the sanctum hall from the northern, southern and eastern sides. The temple measures 16.95 m in length and is 18.63 m in breadth.

E.    Bheithob

The Bheithob for the Shree Shree Govindaji Temple is located to the front of the temple, on the east. The bheithob was dedicated to Lord Govinda by Maharaj Chandrakirti on the 25th of July 1855. Sankirtan, religious ceremonies, etc. were performed here. The Bheithob suffered acute damage in the great earthquake of 1868 A. D. Three people were killed when part of the Bheithob building collapsed in the same earthquake (Cheitharol Kumbaba, p. 374).

F.    Site of Rasmandal

A secluded grove to the south west of Shree Shree Govindaji temple marks the site of Rsmandal where Ras leela was performed.

G.    Temple of Brindabanchandra

This 19th Century structure is better known as the Temple of Bir Tikendrajit. The Yuvraj used to worship his family deity Brindabanchandra regularly at this temple. The location site of the temple is believed to be part of Yuvraj Tikendrajit's residential complex. The site is located at the north-western part of the Kangla Fort Complex.

H.    Nunggoibi

The site is a sacred place of worship of the Goddess of War. The Huyen Lalu Chanba ritual was performed here whenever a King of Manipur emerged victorious in battle.

I.    Manglen

It is the cremation site of the Kings of Manipur. The Manglen is believed to have been developed by Maharaj Garibaniwaza in 1738 A.D. According to the royal chronicle, Cheitharol Kumbaba, Nara Singh Maharaj (1844-50 A.D.) was cremated here at the Manglen.

J.    Nungjeng Pukhri

This is a sacred pond believed to be the abode of Lord Pakhangba. It is located to the north-west of the Uttra. Religious rituals are performed here.