Shri Mahabali Hanuman Temple, Imphal

Getting there

• By air

  Imphal's Bir Tikendrajit airport at Tulihal is about 7 km south of the city centre. Taxis and autos run from the airport to Wangkhei.

• By train

  Imphal has no working railway station yet, as the Jiribam to Imphal line is still being built. Rail travellers come via Dimapur in Nagaland and continue by road.

• By road

  The temple is in the heart of Imphal, in Imphal East district. Local autos and taxis reach the Mahabali area easily.

Rules to know

• Remove footwear before you enter the mandapa, as at any Hindu temple.
• Devotees have darshan from a grilled hall in front of the sanctum.
• Keep prasad and food packed away, because monkeys move freely around the temple.

Why devotees come here

Shri Mahabali Hanuman Temple stands in the Mahabali forest on the bank of the Imphal River, in Imphal East. King Garib Niwaj built it in 1725, and it is the only temple of his reign. Darshan is usually from about 5 AM to noon and 4 PM to 9 PM.

This is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Manipur. King Garib Niwaj built it in 1725, and the Imphal East district administration notes it is the only temple raised during his reign. It recalls the spread of the Ramanandi tradition of Rama devotion in Manipur, which faded after the king's death.

The shrine was first built of brick in the hut style of Bengal, with a curved roof. Later it was coated in cement, and a large mandapa was added in front, which now partly hides the old shrine. Inside, Hanuman is carved from a single large slab of stone, full size and in human form, with a mace.

The temple sits in a grove of old trees by the river, known as the Mahabali forest. The same grove is sacred in the Meitei Sanamahi faith as Mongba Hanba Umang. Monkeys live along the temple roofs and in the trees, and they are very much part of the temple's life.

Festivals

• Check the date locallyHanuman Jayanti

  Celebrated with great pomp, drawing devotees from across Manipur.

Tips for your visit

• The temple closes at midday and reopens around 4 PM, so plan a morning or evening visit.
• Walk round to the side to see the older Bengal hut style shrine behind the newer mandapa.
• Expect large crowds on Hanuman Jayanti; an ordinary weekday morning is easier for elderly parents.
• Do not feed the monkeys by hand, and keep bags closed in the grove.

Questions people ask