Bishnupur district is one of the administrative districts of the state of Manipur in north-eastern India. Located in the south-western part of the Imphal Valley, the district takes its name from its headquarters town, Bishnupur, which is historically associated with an old Vishnu temple built during the reign of the Meitei kings. The district is known for its proximity to Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in north-eastern India, and for the floating Keibul Lamjao National Park.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Manipur |
| Region | Imphal Valley |
| Headquarters | Bishnupur |
| Type | District |
| Notable water body | Loktak Lake |
| Notable protected area | Keibul Lamjao National Park |
Bishnupur district lies along the western fringe of the Imphal Valley, with the Manipur Hills rising to its west and the valley floor extending to its east. The district shares boundaries with Imphal West district to the north, Churachandpur district to the west and south, and Thoubal district across the lake area to the east. A large portion of Loktak Lake falls within the district, and the lake's distinctive phumdis (floating mats of vegetation) form the habitat of the endangered Sangai (Manipur brow-antlered deer), the state animal of Manipur.
Loktak Lake is central to the district's ecology and economy, supporting fisheries, agriculture and hydroelectric generation through the Loktak Hydroelectric Project. Keibul Lamjao National Park, situated on the southern part of the lake, is the only floating national park in the world and was established to conserve the Sangai.
The district is administered by a Deputy Commissioner and is divided into administrative subdivisions and community development blocks. Bishnupur town serves as the district headquarters and as the principal urban centre, while Moirang, Nambol and Ningthoukhong are other significant towns within the district.
The Bishnupur area has long been part of the historical kingdom of Manipur ruled by the Meitei dynasty. Moirang, located within the present district, holds an important place in Manipuri tradition as the setting of the Khamba–Thoibi legend, one of the central narratives of Meitei culture. Moirang is also remembered in modern Indian history for the events of April 1944, when the flag of the Indian National Army (INA) under Subhas Chandra Bose was hoisted on Indian soil for the first time during the Imphal campaign of the Second World War. The INA Memorial Complex and museum at Moirang commemorates this episode.
Bishnupur district was carved out as a separate administrative unit in the latter half of the twentieth century during the reorganisation of Manipur's districts, when the earlier larger valley districts were subdivided.
The population of the district is predominantly Meitei, with Meiteilon (Manipuri) being the principal language. Vaishnavism, particularly the form propagated in Manipur from the eighteenth century, is the dominant religious tradition, alongside the indigenous Sanamahi faith. Traditional crafts of the district include handloom weaving, pottery (notably the black pottery of Thongjao and stone-pottery traditions of the valley), and bamboo work. Folk performance traditions such as Lai Haraoba and the Moirang Parva storytelling style are closely associated with the area.
The economy of Bishnupur is largely agrarian, with paddy cultivation occupying most of the wetland and valley areas. Fishing in Loktak Lake and associated wetlands provides livelihood to a significant population. Handloom weaving is a major household industry, and the Loktak Hydroelectric Project, operated by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, is a major piece of regional infrastructure linked to the district.
National Highway 2 (formerly NH-150) passes through the district, connecting Imphal with Churachandpur and onward to Mizoram, and forms the principal road link. The district is connected by road to Imphal, the state capital, which lies a short distance to the north-east.
Bishnupur district is significant for its ecological assets, particularly Loktak Lake and the Sangai habitat at Keibul Lamjao, and for its cultural and historical heritage represented by Moirang's INA legacy and the Kh