Chandel district is an administrative district in the state of Manipur in north-eastern India. Located in the south-eastern part of the state, it shares an international border with Myanmar and is one of the hill districts of Manipur, predominantly inhabited by tribal communities. The district headquarters is the town of Chandel.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| State | Manipur |
| Country | India |
| Region | North-East India |
| Headquarters | Chandel |
| Type | Hill district |
| International border | Myanmar |
Chandel lies in the southern hill belt of Manipur. The terrain is largely hilly and forested, forming part of the broader Indo-Myanmar mountain system. The district borders Myanmar to the south and east, making it strategically significant for cross-border trade and movement. It is bounded by other Manipur districts including Churachandpur to the west and Tengnoupal/Ukhrul areas in the surrounding hills, following successive reorganisations of district boundaries in the state.
Chandel district is administered by a Deputy Commissioner under the Government of Manipur. For policing, it falls under the Manipur Police, with a Superintendent of Police heading the district unit. The district is part of the outer Manipur parliamentary constituency, which is reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
In 2016, the Government of Manipur reorganised several districts of the state. As part of this exercise, Tengnoupal district was carved out of the erstwhile Chandel district, reducing its area and altering its boundaries.
The population of Chandel is largely tribal, with a number of recognised Scheduled Tribe communities residing in the district, including groups belonging to the broader Naga and Kuki-Chin family of peoples, such as the Anal, Lamkang, Maring, Moyon, Monsang, Chothe, Kom, Aimol and others. Christianity is the predominant religion among most tribal communities in the district, alongside traditional indigenous practices. Languages spoken belong primarily to the Tibeto-Burman family.
The economy of Chandel district is largely agrarian, with cultivation including jhum (shifting cultivation) and terraced farming. Paddy, maize, vegetables and horticultural produce are common. The proximity to the Myanmar border supports limited cross-border movement and trade through designated points; the Moreh–Tamu corridor, historically associated with the broader Chandel region before Tengnoupal's separation, is an important Indo-Myanmar trade route.
Chandel's location on the Indo-Myanmar border gives it strategic importance for India's Act East Policy and connectivity initiatives with South-East Asia. The district is also significant for its tribal heritage and biodiversity, lying within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.