The district of Ukhrul is a land of beautiful mountains interspersed by numerous Tribal habitats echoing with rhythms of tribal culture and rich wild life. The un-spoilt nature has enchanting calls to those who prefer to spend sometime in tranquility away from the din and bustle of mechanical life, its flora and fauna have their own appeal to the visitors. Nicer and more educative will be the tribal flock and visitor could meet on route during their sojourn.
Ukhrul District is bounded by Myanmar in the East, Chandel District in the South, Imphal East and Senapati Districts in the West and Nagaland State in the North. The terrain of the district is hilly with varying heights of 913 m to 3114 m (MSL). The district HQ Ukhrul is linked with Imphal, the state capital by a NH 150 about 84 Km. By ordinary passenger buses it takes about 3 hours. The climate of the district is of temperate nature with minimum and maximum degrees of 3 C to 33 C. The average annual rainfall is 1,763.7 mm (1991). The exact location of the district in the globe is 24N - 25.41 N and 94 E - 94.47 E. The rainy season in the district is from May to beginning of October broadly but Winter is chilly. The highest peak is the Khayang peak-3114 m (MSL), though the more popularly know peak is the Shirui Kashong Peak - 2,835 m (MSL). Ukhrul, the District HQ, is 2,020 m (MSL). Most of the major rivers originate from the crevices and slopes of this Shirui Peak. The terrain of the district is rippled with small ranges and striped by few rivers. 1. Somrah - Angkoching range, striped by Sanalok and Namba Lok; Shangshak - Phungyar range adjacent to which is the Shokvao - Mapithel - Kasom range striped by Tuyungbi and Taret Lok in the middle and Thoubal river in the West and Kachai - Hoome - Tampak Ngashan (Mahadev) range, striped by the tributaries of Thoubal river in Eastern side and Iril River in the Western side.
The Total Geographical Area: 454400 ha.
Population: 183115 (2011 census)
Climate: Sub-Tropical Monsoon Type
Average annual temperature: 30oC max & 3o C min
Soil: Alluvium, lateritic black regur and red ferruginous
Latitude: 24o28/ and 25o41/ North
Longitudes: 94o45/ and 94o80/ East
Population: 1,83,115 (Male-94,031 and Female-89,102)
Literacy rate: 81.87%(approx.)
Density: 40 per sq. km.
Growth rate: 32 Decennial
Land :
Sl. No Category Area (Ha) % to the total District Area
1. Settlement 6569.1 1.45
2. Agricultural Land 9675.02 2.13
3. Forest Cover 288330.98 63.45
4. Land with /without scrub 148347.82 32.65
5. Others 4077.08 0.9
Rivers:
Maklang and Tuyeng are the important rivers for Kasom Khullen and Kamjong Sub- division. The Thoubal river starts from the district and run through the Ukhrul North and Ukhrul central sub-divisions. It is the longest and biggest river in the district. Chammu and Chingai rivers are running through Ukhrul North Sub-division. These rivers are not useful for transportation as the current of the rivers are very stong and wild during the rainy season and very thin during winter. They are useful for fishing and irrigation.
Climate and Rainfall:
The whole district is having the monsoon type of climate. As the district headquarter lies on the top of the high hills it is very cold throughout the year. It is always covered by the clouds. Regarding weather of the district Headquarter, the sudden changes of the position of cloud are openly seen within a few moments. but in other places outside the district Headquarter, it is hot in summer and very cold in winter. However, the whole district is having a moderate temperature.
The hill range that lies in the district Headquarter Ukhrul Central sub-division has got very cold climate in winter while other parts of the vast hilly areas of the district have got moderate climate throughout the year. The coldest months of the district are December and January. During this period, the temperature at the Ukhrul district head-quarter uses to come down 30C and even 00C.
Agriculture:
An Area of 22,000 hectares of the district is under cultivation. Rice, Maize, Potato, Pulse,
Plantation of cotton is also done for their domestic consumption. Cabbage, Leafy vegetable, chilies, Groundnuts etc. are the main agricultural products. Banana, sugarcane, fruits like lemon and orange are also planted.
The People:
Ukhrul district is the home of the Tangkhuls. They are a highly cultured people. The name Tangkhul was given to them by their neighbours, the Meiteis. The northern Tangkhuls were also called the Luhupas. The name Naga was given to them by the Burmese ( Myanmar ), which, in Myanmar means people with pierced earlobes. Piercing of the earlobes is wide-spread practice among the Naga people including the Tangkhuls. The Tangkhuls belong to the great Mongolian race which is spread all over the World. Linguistically, they belong to a large language family called Sino-Tibetan, within that family to the sub-family Tibeto-Burman. In general this points towards an origin in the north, that is south-west China and Tibet . The earliest home of the Tangkhuls was the upper reaches of Huang heo and Yangtze Rivers which lies in the Zinjiang province of China. Like the other desert areas of the world, the people including the Tangkhuls, due to hardship of life, dispersed from this place to different directions. One group moved towards east and southeast to be become known as Chinese, another group moved southward to become the tribes of Tibeto-Burman which includes the Tangkhuls and other Naga sub tribes. That was between c, 10,000 B.C. to 8000 B.C. This movement has continued into recent historic times. S.K. Chatterjee noted that from 2000 B.C. onwards, Sino-Tibetan speakers from China pushed south and west and entered India . According to W.I. Singh, in his “The History of Manipur”, the Tangkhuls settled in Samshok (Thuangdut) area in Myanmar . They belong to Yakkha tribe in China . The Tangkhuls were first noticed in Manipur by Poireiton, one of the earliest kings of a principality in Manipur valley.
The Tangkhuls as also other Naga tribes came to Manipur, Nagaland, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh through Myanmar . Some of them also settled down in Myanmar and did not venture further. However, their movement over Myanmar and into India was spread over a period of time. They entered the present habitat in waves following one another and in some cases in close succession. The Tangkhuls came together with the Maos, Poumeis, Marams and Thangals because all of them have references to their dispersal from Makhel a Mao village in Senapati district. They had also erected megaliths at Makhel in memory of their having dispersed from there to various directions.
The Tangkhuls point out to the association of their forefathers with the seashore. Most of the ornaments of the Tangkhuls such as kongsang, huishon, etc. were made of sea shells, cowrie and conch shells a prominent feature of the people who live on the shore.
By 2nd century A.D. the Tangkhuls were living in Samshok (Thuangdut) in Myanmar . Ptolemy, a Greek astronomer and geographer of Alexandria in his Geography of Further India c. 140 A.D. referred to the Tangkhul Nagas (Nangalogue) at Triglypton (Thuangdut). The Tangkhuls began disperse from Samshok after the invasion of Ko-lo-feng and his successor I-mau-shun the king of Nan-chao in the closing part of the 8th century A.D. and beginning of the 9th century A.D. They were further driven towards the north west of Myanmar by the Shan people.
Thus, the Tangkhuls as also other Naga tribes have travelled from China to Myanmar and from there finally they came into their present land traversing through innumerable snow covered landscapes, mountains and wild forests confronting wild beasts and wild tribes. The exodus of the Tangkhuls from China to Myanmar and finally to India is indeed a story of heroism of human courage and endurance.
In course of time every Tangkhul village became a small republic like the Greek city states. Every village had an unwritten constitution made up of age-old conventions and traditions. The Tangkhul villages were self sufficient except for salt, and self governing units ruled by hereditary or elected chief assisted by a Council of Elders. The chief was a judge, administrated and commander rolled into one. However, absence of a national government was disastrous for them in the mediaeval period as the small village states were unable to withstand the onslaught of the organised army or the Meitei king.
The ancient Tangkhul history is hitherto an unrecorded past. History however became more enlightened by the beginning of the 13th century owing to the cultural, trade and sometimes turbulent relations which had grown up with the people of the valley. We find a reference to the Tangkhuls as early as the 13th century during the reign of Thawanthaba (1195-1231 AD) of Ningthouja Meitei dynasty. The chronicles refer to the frequent raids in many tribal villages. Thawanthaba raided Chingshong Tangkhul village which was defeated and burnt down.
There has always been some form of relationship between the Tangkhuls and the Meiteis in terms of political alliance and trade relation. Some items of Naga material - culture indicate a long history of contact between the plain and hills. The “Elephant Cloth” (Leirungphi), for instance, resplendent with complex animal designs, worn by the Nagas of Manipur, has its origin in the wish of the ruler of Manipur in the mid-seventeenth to present his Naga allies with a special cloth. The popular Tangkhul shawl “Changkhom” is also known as “Karaophi” in Manipur. The Tangkhul dance (pheichak) was known as “Chingkheirol” in Manipur, from the fact that it came from “Chingkhei” (North East of Imphal).
During the reign of the most powerful Meitei King Pamheiba a.k.a. Garib Nawaz (1709-1748) for the first time, the heartland area of the Tangkhul country was brought under the suzerainty of Manipur. In 1716, the king’s forces invaded the great Tangkhul village of Hundung and sixty eight prisoners were captured. In 1733, the king sent a military expedition to Ukhrul and conquered. The outcome of the expeditions incurred heavy casualty on the King’s forces; the royal chronicles record the death of seventy Meitei soldiers. The defeat of these two big villages situated in the heart of Tangkhul country was landmark in the establishement of the Meitei political hegemony over the Tangkhul hills which started feeling the brunt of the Meitei power. The Ningek inscription of king Garib Nawaz refers to the Khullakpa of Okhrul (Ukhrul). Ukhrul was the headquarters of the Tangkhul Long (Tangkhul Assembly), as well as the Tangkhul annual fair locally known as “Lei Khangapha” used to be held at Somsai in Ukhrul.
The next significant relationship between the hills and the valley took place during the reign of Bhagyachandra (1759-1762 and 1763-1798). In 1779 king Bhagyachandra established a new capital at Langthabal about seven kilometers south east of Imphal. For the nest 17 years Langthabal remained as the capital. He employed many Tangkhul and Kabui Nagas in the digging of moats around the new capital of Langthabal. Of the Tangkhul chiefs, Khullakpa of Hundung and Ukhrul made friendship with the king. The Tangkhul Chiefs of Ukhrul, Hundung and Huining came to pay respect to the king. King Bhagyachandra allocated land to the Tangkhuls for settlement of a Tangkhul village in the valley at a place called Puru pat. .....
The relationship between the Tangkhuls and the Meiteis during the mediaeval period was not only of wars and conquests. They also carried on trade and commerce. The Tangkhuls supplied cotton to the valley. They also came and did sale and purchased in the Sanakeithel which was the principal market in Imphal. The Tangkhuls are used Manipuri coin of bell-metal locally called ‘sel’ as a medium of exchange which was first introduced during the reign of Khagemba (1597-1652).
The boundary of Manipur and Burma ( Myanmar ) was laid down by an agreement signed between the British authorities (East India Company) and Burma on 9th January, 1834 on the river bank of Nighthee ( Chindwin). The Article No.4 (iii) of this agreement relates to the Tangkhul country. “Fourth (iii) - On the north, the line of boundary will begin at the foot of the same hills at the northern extremity of the Kabo Valley and pass due north upto the first range of hills, east of that upon which stand the villages of Chortor (Choithar), Noongbee (Nungbi), Nonghar (Nunghar), of the tribe called by the Munepooriis (Manipuris) Loohooppa (Tangkhul), and by the Burmahs Lagwensoung, now tributary of Manipoor.”
As a result of this boundary demarcation without the knowledge let alone consent of the Tangkhuls, many Tangkhul village situated in Somrah hills are include under Burma . Later, when India and Burma attained national independence, the Tangkhuls found themselves totally dismembered belonging to two different countries.
Art and Culture:
The life and art of the Tangkhul are attractive and captivating. Their different costumes and wears, utensils,architecture, monumental erections and memorial set-ups depict their dexterity in art, which also speak of their sense of beauty and finesse. Though there are common costumes and wears, both for male and female, there are also some costumes and wears exclusively meant for male and female.
Some of the Traditional Clothes and Wears:
Clothes/Shawls Man's Women's
1.Haora(Man's mostly) 1. Malao 1.Phangyai
2.Chonkhom(Women's moslty) 2. Laokha 2. Kahang Kashan
3.Tangkang(for man and woman) 3. Kahang Malao 3. Seichang Kashan
4. Luirim (man’s mostly) 4. Thangkang 4. Thangkang Kashan
5. Raivat Kachon (Common) 5. Khuilang Kashan
6. Khuilang Kachon (woman’s mostly) 6. Kongrah Kashan
7.Phingui Kchon (common) 7. Shanphaila
8. Phaphir (common) 8. Kuiying Muka
9. Phorei Kachon (man’s mostly) 9. Zingtai Kashan
10.Luingamla Kashan
Music and Dance:
Tangkhuls are music lovers and their songs are soft and melodious. Apart from encoding into the music the varied seasonal and cultural ideas and philosophies, music is a medium wherein historical events are also related in the lyrics. In as much as religious fervor is incorporated and composed in the songs, the romantic nature of the people also finds its expressions in the music. There are various varieties of songs, some are mood special, some are festival/seasonal specials. These folksongs and folklores can be taught and sang by anybody , anytime, but there are also some specific musical expressive melodies of every region or area.
These folksongs and folklores can be played or accompanied by musical instruments. Some of the musical instruments are: 1. Tingteila (Violin), 2. Tala (Trumpet), 3. Phung (Drum), 4. Mazo (Woman’s mouth-piece), 5. Sipa (Flute), 6. Kaha Ngashingkhon (Bamboo pipe) etc.
Corresponding to the rhythmic composition of the songs, the dances of the Tangkhuls are also rhythmic and these are eventful and vigorous. Thrilling as they are, there are also some special occasional dances, like the Kathi Mahon - dance for the dead, Laa Khanganui - virgin dance during Luira Festival, Rain Pheichak - war Dance etc
Traditional Tools/ Implements Ornaments:
Man's Woman's
1. Varao Kazei 1. Zeithing
2. Kazei 2. Vakui
3. Malah 3. Mayongcha
4. Khairei 4. Pheimakhei
5. Kuisikhai 5. Kangra
6. Ngalasop 6. Huishon
7. Ngalsop Kasai
8. Mayong pasi
9. Khommasing
10. Haar Kazao
11. Nakhui
12. Mani
Common Items:
1. Khaiva (Dao)
2. Khainao/shori (Knife)
3. Changkui (Sickle)
4. Raikhai (Sword)
5. Ngaha (Axe)
6. Yotpak (Spade)
7. Kaintin (Kind Of Spade)
8. Changphar
9.Lingriham
10. Kasai
11. Kazao (Bangles)
12. Charei
13. Kongsang
14. Narengthei
15. Cha (Necklace)
The house structure is more or less similar for all the villages, but the carvings on the posts and blinks vary from village to village and area to area. To display the splendour and wealth of the rich and noble families, tree trunks - TARUNG are erected in front of the house. Some even erect Monumental/Memorial stones in the courtyards or at some prominent sites in the village area. Construction of all these entails strict ritualistic procedures and norms.
Flora and Fauna:
Ukhrul District is best introduced by its beautiful Shirui Lily, Lilium Mackleanae Sealy, grown only on the peak of Shirui Kashung, some 18 Km. East of the district HQ. Ukhrul. This world famous Shirui Lily, which belongs to the lilium family was discovered by Frank Kingdon Ward in 1946 when he came to Manipur Hills for botanical collection on behalf of the New York Botanical Garden. The rareness and the uniqueness of this Lily is that, it has seven colours when examined through a microscope. Later, Frank won the prestigious prize of the Royal Horticulture Society Award, Landon in 1948. This Lily plant is 2ft. to 3ft. tall, consisting of a hard stem around which lanceolate leaves are spirally arranged. Shirui Lily was declared the State Flower in 1989 on March 21. Native to Tangkhul Hills and grown only on Shirui Peak, it is endemic to the region and considered as the most fabulous wealth of the Tangkhuls.
Shirui Lily
The District is gifted with rich flora and fauna. There are hundreds of varieties of trees , barderian flowering plants, orchids of enumerable hues and kinds, Epiphetic ferns, varied species of plants and shrubs. Some of the known species of plants and trees are : Alder (Alnus nepalensis), Prunus cirosirdes, Symingtonia, Acacia auriculifornis, Parkia javanica, Paraserrianthes falcotaria, Michelia oblanga, Cmilina arborea, pinus kerya, robinea psedudoacacia, besides various iris species, wild roses, red and white rhododendrons etc.
This tropical forest is also the habitat of many valued species of birds and animals. Many threatened species like, the tragopan blythii, pangolin (ant eater), salamander, tiger, porcubine, hooting monkey, leopard, big-small and medium size black bears, elephant, wild buffalo, wild boars, deers and stags, wild goats and many unidentified species are found in this region. Birds of various colours and sizes are also found here including some migratory birds. An area of 100 Sq. Km. around Shirui Peak has been declared as the National Park in 1998 by the Government of Manipur. Some of the important species of fish are; Golden Mhaseer (Tore Putitora) locally known as Ngara, Snow trout (schizothorax), locally know as khainguila, Barilius guteltus, locally called ngapaila, Mastcembelus, locally known as chipang, Botia species, locally known as masengla, Naemecheilus species, locally known as hangkorkhai, Chana species, locally known as khaiva, Pontius species, locally known as khaiwonla and khaipukla, Esomus species, locally know as wonsangla, Gara species, cyprinio semiplotus, glyptothorax plailigopanoide, botisdorio, xenden cacila etc.
Fauna :
A variety of fauna is found in the district. To an avid explorer of wild life the rich variety of rare birds and animals of this district will be of immense interest. Among the larger kind of animal, though very rare, the elephant is said to be found in the great Agon Ching range which boarders is the district with Myanmar ( Burma) Leopard and tigers are rarely seen. There are two kinds of black bear. Bishon or mithun is found mostly at eastern Ukhrul. Crested porcupine and pangolin are rarely found. Other animals found are jungle cat, wild pig, otter, field mouse, stag, etc. Monkeys of toque and baboon species are also seen.
Flora :
The district has very rich variety of flora. From amongst the flowers, the Shirui Lily (Lilium Mackelind) has achieved international fame because of its uniqueness. A British botanist named F Kingdomward discovered the uniqueness of this lily flower in 1948. This lily flower blooms in may and june of every year and also grows nowhere in the world other than on the slopes of Shirui hill range of this district. The local name of the flower is Kashongwon. According to the local legends the kashongwon is also the protective spirit which resides on the now called shirui peak. Now the flower becomes named as Shirui Lily. Haramwon is also another flower the colour of which is snow white. It takes its name Haramwon (snow white) from the snow that fails on Songrei peak where the flower blooms. Mention may be made of other names of the flowers, viz. chamtheiwon, nuisiwon, shiriwon, sikreiwon, Shilungwon, kokruiwon (rhodendron), Khayawon and Muivawon.(Reference : A tourist guide to Shirui Lily).
The evergreen forests give the district a sylvan look. Some commonly found trees in the district are :-
1. Pine
2. Albizzia spp
3. Castanopsis spp
4. Mesua Ferrea
5. Mangifera indica
6. Phoeba Hainesiana
7. Albizza Lebbek
8. Teak
9. Oak
10. Bamboo
Ukhrul District is best introduced by its beautiful Shirui Lily, Lilium Mackleanae Sealy, grown only on the peak of Shirui Kashong, some 18 Km. East of the district HQ. Ukhrul. This world famous Shirui Lily, which belongs to the Lilium family was discovered by Frank Kingdom Ward in 1946 when he came to Manipur Hills for botanical collection on behalf of the New York Botanical Garden. The rareness and the uniqueness of this Lily is that, it has seven colors when examined through a microscope. Later, Frank won the prestigious prize of the Royal Horticulture Society Award, Landon in 1948. This Lily plant is 2ft. to 3ft. tall, consisting of a hard stem around which lance late leaves are pirally arranged.
Shirui Lily was declared the State Flower in 1989 on March 21. Native to Tangkhul Hills and grown only on Shirui Peak, it is endemic to the region and considered as the most fabulous wealth of the Tangkhuls. The District is gifted with rich flora and fauna This tropical forest is also the habitat of many valued species of birds and animals. Many threatened species like, the tragopan blythii, pangolin (ant eater), salamander, tiger, porcubine, hooting monkey, leopard, big-small and medium size black bears, elephant, wild buffalo, wild boars, deers and stags, wild goats and many unidentified species are found in this region. Birds of various colours and sizes are also found here including some migratory birds.
An area of 100 Sq. Km. around Shirui Peak has been declared as the National Park in 1998 by the Government of Manipur. Some of the important species of fish are; Golden Mhaseer (Tore Putitora) locally known as Ngara, Snow trout (schizothorax), locally know as khainguila, Barilius guteltus, locally called ngapaila, Mastcembelus, locally known as chipang, Botia species, locally known as masengla, Naemecheilus species, locally known as hangkorkhai, Chana species, locally known as khaiva, Pontius species, locally known as khaiwonla and khaipukla, Esomus species, locally know as wonsangla, Gara species, cyprinio semiplotus, glyptothorax plailigopanoide, botisdorio, xenden cacila etc.
Mineral Resources:
Since the knowledge of geology of the state is still too incomplete, mineral-prospecting remains awaited. Poor communication facilities, inaccessibility and inclement climate have been the constraints in mineral explorations. However, the first attempt of systematic geological survey in Ukhrul District in the recent years have located quite a number of minerals whose mining potential needs be assessed after a detailed study. As it is clear from the Mineral Map, more occurrences of the minerals of whatever indication it is, are met with in the eastern longitudinal half of the state where the rocks are comparatively of older Disang formations. A part of the 220 km long amphibolites belt running north-south is also extended into the eastern border areas. These metamorphose rocks have more possibilities to undergo greater mineralisation. Investigations have revealed the occurrence of the following minerals.
Limestone:
A substantial deposit of good quality limestone suitable for use in the manufacture of cement has been located during the recent years by the Geological Survey of India near Ukhrul. Limestone has also been located at a number of other areas e.g. Hundung, Mova, Khonggoi, Lambui and Paoyi. In the Ukhrul area, limestone occurs in two bands. A reserve of 579 M tonnes has been proved by drilling to a depth of 105 meters. Other deposits are 0.26 M tonnes at Khonggoi and 1.88 M tonnes at Hundung. All these deposits taken together are expected to be able to feed a cement plant of modest capacity of 200 tonnes per day for about 45 years. But the present installed capacity is only 50 TPD (tonne per day).
Evaporities:
Evaporities are the mineralised salt sediments from the evaporation of saline waters specially the seawaters. These are used in fertilizer, chemical, drug and building industries. Minor occurrences of magnesium and other salts in Kongai area of Chingai sub-division of Ukhrul District have been located.
Mineral Water:
A number of brine wells occur at Chingai, Challao, Nameri, Luchai-Khullen, Mariem and Kharawam in Ukhrul District and at Ningel and Chandrakhong village in Thoubal District. The spring water is locally used in making salt cakes.
Chromites:
Chromites deposits containing partly metallurgical grade ore have been located at Kwatha and Khudengthabi in Chandel District and near Shirui Peak in Ukhrul District. Open cast mining has been operated by M/s Orissa Industries Pvt. Ltd., Rourkela. Possibilities of locating bigger deposits are indicated. Production of Chromites in 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97 are 643 MT, 784, 470 MT and 62 MT respectively.
Ferrous Alloy Metals:
Nickeliferous magnetites, copper and cobalt have been located at Kwatha, Khudengthabi and Namphesha along the ultramaphic expositions near Moreh. The ore grade and size of deposit need further assessment with investigations extended into the northern strips of the ultramaphic belt. The possibility of locating platinum in this ophiolite belt has been observed (NEC).
Asbestos:
Minor occurrences of these minerals have been reported from the ultramaphic suites of rocks particularly in the Ukhrul and Moreh areas.
Semi Precious Stones:
Jadeite, a semi-precious mineral occurs in the Indo-Burma borders. While Burma and China have abundant resource of these minerals, Indian occurrences are very poor. Other compact coloured minerals include the surpentinites found in the same belt.
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