Divya Darshan 360
Shree Shree Govindajee Temple, Imphal

Famous temples · Manipur

Shree Shree Govindajee Temple, Imphal

The gold-domed royal temple of Radha and Govindaji beside the old palace

Checked 15 Oct 2026 with 6 sources3 min read

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Getting there

  • By air

    Bir Tikendrajit International Airport is about 7 km south of central Imphal. Taxis and autos run to the palace compound.

  • By train

    Imphal has no passenger railway yet. The nearest major railhead is Dimapur in Nagaland, about 215 km away by road.

  • By road

    The temple is inside the palace compound in central Imphal, reached easily by auto or taxi.

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Rules to know

  • Men wear a white shirt or light-coloured kurta with a dhoti for worship.
  • Women wear the Manipuri phanek and innafi, a saree or a salwar kameez.
  • Devotees line up with women on one side and men on the other.
  • No phone rule is published, so ask the staff before taking photos inside the shrine.

Why devotees come here

Shree Shree Govindajee Temple stands in the old royal palace compound in Imphal. It is the main centre of Vaishnava worship in Manipur, home to Radha and Govindaji. It opens from 5:30 AM to 1 PM and again from 4 PM to 8:30 PM.

Maharaja Nara Singh built this temple in 1846 for Shree Govindaji, the royal deity of Manipur. An earthquake in 1868 badly damaged the temple and its images. Maharaja Chandrakirti rebuilt it to the same design, and it was consecrated again on 26 April 1876.

The images are older than the temple. Tradition says Maharaja Bhagyachandra received a divine command in a dream to carve the deity. The wood came from a jackfruit tree on Kaina hill, about 29 km from Imphal. The image was consecrated in 1779.

The temple has twin gold-plated domes, a paved courtyard and a large raised congregation hall. Radha and Govindaji stand in the centre. Side shrines hold Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, and Krishna with Balarama. The temple is the heart of Manipuri Ras Lila, the dance of Radha, Krishna and the gopis, performed here on festival nights.

Darshan at home

Do this darshan from home

The Divya Darshan 360 app has 1 video of this temple.

In the app: Shree Shree Govindaji Temple, Imphal
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The app is free, Android only (no iPhone app yet). The VR box is ₹899 paid online or ₹949 cash on delivery, with free delivery in India and a 7-day replacement. It fits Android phones from 4.7" to 6.5".

Festivals

  • June or JulyKang (Rath Yatra)

    One of the biggest gatherings of the year at the temple.

  • AugustJanmashtami

    Krishna's birth, which draws large crowds.

  • Holi, Basant Purnima and Kartik PurnimaRas Lila nights

    Manipuri Ras Lila dance is performed for Radha and Govindaji.

Tips for your visit

  • Come for the morning aarti, when musicians play traditional music for the deities.
  • The temple closes from 1 PM to 4 PM, so plan a morning or evening visit.
  • Visitors can join the daily worship and take vegetarian prasad for a small fee.
  • Shri Bijoy Govindaji Temple at Sagolband, also in Imphal, has close ties to this temple and is worth a visit.

Questions people ask

Who built the Govindajee Temple in Imphal?

Maharaja Nara Singh built it in 1846. After an earthquake in 1868 damaged it, Maharaja Chandrakirti rebuilt it, and it was consecrated again in 1876.

Is there a dress code at Govindajee Temple?

Yes. For worship, men wear a dhoti with a white shirt or light kurta. Women wear the phanek and innafi, a saree or a salwar kameez.

What is the best time to visit Govindajee Temple?

The morning aarti, when traditional music is played, is the most loved time. The evening aarti also draws a large gathering of devotees.

Can I watch Ras Lila at the temple?

Ras Lila is performed at the temple on festival nights such as Holi, Basant Purnima and Kartik Purnima. Dates follow the lunar calendar, so check locally before you plan.

Can I see Govindajee Temple darshan from home?

Yes. The Divya Darshan 360 app on Android has a recorded darshan video of Shree Shree Govindaji Temple, Imphal.

How we checked this page

On 15 Oct 2026 we checked every fact on this page against these sources, official ones first. Anything we could not confirm is left out.

  1. Incredible India, Shree Shree Govindajee Temple incredibleindia.gov.in
  2. Imphal East district, Places of interest imphaleast.nic.in
  3. Manipur Tourism, Culture and heritage manipurtourism.gov.in
  4. Wikipedia, Shree Govindajee Temple en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, Bir Tikendrajit International Airport en.wikipedia.org
  6. Morung Express, Jiribam to Imphal rail line timeline morungexpress.com

More temples in Manipur

In the appShri Mahabali Hanuman Temple, ImphalWangkhei, Imphal East district, ManipurIn the appHiyangthang Lairembi Temple, Imphal WestHeibok Ching, Hiyangthang, Imphal West district, Manipur
All 3 temples in Manipur

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