Red Hill (Lok Paching) – It Is A Journey To A Sacred Place For Japanese Tourists

RED HILL (LOK PACHING)

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IMPHAL

Red Hill Lokpaching, situated on Tiddim Road, in Imphal west district of Manipur state of India.It is a place of great historical significance. It is the site where British and Japanese armies fought an ill-fated battle during World War II. 

The battle began on 20th May, 1944 and continued for nine days. The architecture of this memorial is iconic. You can also find various carvings on this monuments which adds beauty to this place.

It was the Battle of Imphal during the Second World War that the Red Hill turned into a site of massive armed destruction. Japanese forces kept advancing towards the British camps in Imphal, and it was the last phase of the war when the two adversaries finally clashed in Lokpaching. 

The combat at the Red Hill is considered to be the worst clash in the Battle of Imphal. Lt. General Iwaichi Fujiwara, a Japanese war veteran constructed ‘The India Peace Memorial’ to commemorate Japanese soldiers who lost their lives in this fierce battle. The memorial was inaugurated in the year 1994, on the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal.

By Air

The nearest airport in Imphal is approximately 8 kilometres away from the main city and is well-connected with major domestic cities like Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati.

By Train

Though Imphal is a major town but it does not have its own railway station and the nearest railway junction is in Dimapur which is approximately 215 kilometres away from the main city.

By Bus

Many state-run buses from Nagaland and Manipur Bus Corporation run from the neighbouring towns of Aizwal, Dimapur, Itanagar, Kohima, Shillong and Agartala. You can choose from a regular to a deluxe bus. The bus fare is usually economical.

Umananda Temple – It Resides An Island Amidst The Brahamapurtra River

UMANANDA TEMPLE

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KAMRUP

This temple located in between the mighty river Brahmaputra in a Peacock island, Umananda temple is just opposite side of the famous Kachari ghat in Guwahati, Assam.

This shiv temple was built by the famous Ahom King Gadadhar Singha who was the husband of Sati Joymati a great devout of Shaivite. The original temple was however immensely damaged by a devasting earthquake of 1897.

Later,it was reconstructed by a rich local merchant who chose to inscribe the interior part of a siva temple with Vaisnavite slogans.

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Siva created this place his wife Uma's happiness and pleasure.Siva is said to have resided here in the form of Bhayananda. Thats why this place is called Uma-Nanda.

Uma means Siva's wife and Ananda means happiness. According to another myth in Kalika Purana, Lord Siva burnt Kamdeva with his Third eye in this place when he tried to interrupt Siva's deep meditation. So it is also known as 'Bhasmachal'. 'Bhasma' means ash and 'chal' means home in assamese.

This place a small island, probably one of the smallest among the river islands, situated in the majestic Brahmaputra river

In 1694, the Ahom King Gadadhar Singha ordered his minister Gargaya Handique Phukan to build a temple. The deity of the temple is also called Umananda, Lord Sambhu- ruma- nandakarah. In 1897, a great earth quake damaged the temple heavily. but later it was repaired by a local merchant.

 The temple displays mixture of both Hindu Vaishnavism and Shaivism. There are beautiful assamese crafting of Lord Ganesha, Shiva, Pavati, Vishnu, and other Hindu Gods.

During the repairing work of the temple some new Vaishnavi scripts were written to the walls. Apart from the temple walls sculptures on the rocks of the Umananda Island presents talents of ancient assamese craftsmen. 

Maha Shivaratri is the most celebrated hindu festival celebrated in Umananda. Monday is considered to be the holiest day in the temple and new moon brings bliss to the pilgrims. 

Umananda island is home to few golden langur also. This one of the rarest species of monkeys found in Assam. A visit to Umananda will give you glimpse of this langur too.

By Air

The nearest airport to Umananda Temple is lokpriya gopinath bordoloi international airport , guwahati which is 18 km away from Umananda Temple.

By Train

The nearest railway station to umananda temple is Guwahati Train Station which is 1 km away from Umananda Temple.

By Road

Guwahati is linked to all the major cities of Assam and nearby states.one can easily reach Guwahati by road from any part of the state. 

Devotees can take a ferry to reach the temple. The ferries are arranged to take the visitors to the island by the state tourism department for the tourists from all the parts of India and around the world.

Halflong Lake - It Is To Be Found In The Hub Of The Halflong Hill Station

HALFLONG LAKE

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DIMA HASAO

Haflong, located in the hub of the Dima Hasao district of Assam, is the only hill station located in Assam. It is also home to the Haflong Lake, is said to be one of the best tourist attraction in Assam.

Haflong Lake is one of the most charming and the only tourist hill destination in this northeastern Indian State of Assam. An extremely scenic spot, Haflong Lake offers various leisure water sporting activities and boating facilities. It is under protection of Dima Hasao Tourist/forest Department and Dima Hasao Autonomous Council. It is also a viewpoint spot for fishing lovers. 

Haflong Lake is one of the largest natural water bodies in Assam and is situated in the heart of the town.  It is also Haflong’s most popular tourist spot. Jatinga is another famous tourist spot located located on a spur of the Haflong ridge which is famous for the phenomenon of bird suicides. It is popular with the tourists are the ruins of Mailbong, the erstwhile capital of the Dimasa Kachari kingdom.

Haflong Lake is located at the centre of Haflong hill town, which is in a very well-known way called the ‘Switzerland of the East‘. 

The beautiful (wide view of a nature scene/wide area of beautiful land) with blue hills, large and beautiful lakes, fascinating streams, waterfalls and (oversupply/largeamount) of pineapple trees and orangetrees earns the title for Haflong town. Haflong Lake is one among the two lakes of the town.

It is located at a height of 1683 feet above MSL and no wonder you will findclouds and mists touching your arms as they gently move away. The beauty not only thrills you but also offers different water sports and hence both your body and mind are made young again.

Haflong Lake is one of the normal lakes on the main slope station of Assam. Sailing and Garampani, a high temp water spring, are significant vacation spots on this lake.

This expansive and lovely lake adds a heavenly stunner to the slope station which is viewed as the ‘Scotland of Assam’.The surroundings of the lake offer a sanctuary for several transient flying creatures in winter.

By Air

The nearest airport to Haflong is the airport of Barapani, Shillong (Meghalaya), which is located at a distance of 252 km. You can also reach the place via Guwahati Airport, which is at a distance of 345 km from Haflong.

By Rail

Lower Haflong has a railway station, which is at a very close distance of 3 km from the main town. There are many trains going to and from Haflong, which provide slow moving scenic ride through the hill station. Lunding Juction Railway station is another railhead close to Haflong.

By Road

Haflong is well connected by road to the commercial city of Assam, Guwahati. There are both government and private buses operating at regular intervals, connecting the hill station to the main parts of Assam.