After dip during conflict, Kangla visitors on the rise
Source: Chronicle News Service / Sagolsem Bigyan

Imphal, August 18 2025: After the number of visitors to Kangla Fort took a dive following the conflict which broke out on May 3, 2023, the number of visitors to the ancient fort has recovered significantly in the financial year 2024-24 with around two lakh people including 1000 foreigners visiting the fort.

According to an official of Kangla Fort Board, prior to the conflict, the number of visitors to Kangla, in the financial year 2022-23 was around 2.7 lakhs.

The figure dropped following the conflict with only 90,000 domestic tourists recorded in 2023-24 and no foreigners.

However, in the financial year 2024-25, the number of visitors rose with around 1000 foreigners visiting the Fort.

After dip during conflict, Kangla visitors on the rise

In total, around two lakh people visited the Kangla Fort.

While the state natives are charged Rs 10 per person for entry to the Fort, the ticket rate for people from other states is fixed at Rs 20 per person and Rs 100 per foreigner.

For children below 10 years of age, the entry fee is Rs 5 per head.

However, the entry is free for differently-abled person, while their caretakers are charged the specified fees.

Wheelchairs are provided free of cost.

In 2022-23, the govern ment collected Rs 30 lakh in revenue via the entry fees by, with the collection touching the Rs 25 lakh mark during the 2024-25 financial year.

Kangla is historically a sacred site of Manipur.

While some people come to pray at the many sacred spots inside the fort, others come to meet and hang out with friends and acquaintances that they have not seen for a long time.

There are also others who come to relax and those eager learn more about the Fort.

Visitors get the tickets from the western gate of Kangla and able to visit the sacred sites within the Fort, various gardens, museums and other allowed sites.

The highest flow of visitors is during the weekends, and holidays.

In addition, one can take bicycle ride inside the Fort, while morning and evening joggers are also welcomed.

If a visitor wants to ride a bicycle, he/she has to pay Rs 30 per hour.

There are both bicycle and tricycles available.

For anyone wanting to jog and walk inside the campus, they have to get permission from the Kangla Fort Board, with the permit spanning from six months to a year.

However, the permit is only given to individuals above 40 years of age.

The permit was suspended following the conflict but now the Board receives 20-30 applications every month.

The Kangla Fort Board has taken up different initiatives so that visitors would have more pleasant experience.

A cafeteria has been set up inside the Fort, in addition to a water drinking spot and three sanitary toilets.

The Board is also working to maintain cleanliness inside the Fort so to ensure visitors experience the beauty and environment friendly Kangla.

However, there have been instances of visitors littering inside the Fort such as random discarding of plastic bottles or tucking them on tree branches, and dumping food packets.

As such, all plastic items are banned inside the Fort.

Maintaining the cleanliness inside Kangla is not just the responsibility of Kangla Fort Board and Environment Department, but is also the responsibility of all those visiting the ancient fort.