Battle of Imphal 1944
The hills near the old villages of Mapao and Molvom in Manipur were tenaciously defended by the Japanese in WWII.
Battle of Imphal 1944
The battle of Imphal raged across most of the state of Manipur in Northeast India from March to July 1944. It pitted the British Fourteenth Army against the Japanese Fifteenth Army and the Indian National Army (INA) in some of the bitterest fighting seen during the Second World War. The British-led forces ultimately emerged victorious in what is today recognised together with the Battle of Kohima, as one the main turning-point battles of the entire war.
In April 2013, the National Army Museum in the United Kingdom named Imphal/Kohima as Britain's Greatest Battle. It was at Imphal/Kohima that the Japanese march across Asia was halted. Although estimates vary, it is said that more than 30,000 Japanese soldiers died due to fighting or disease in the one of greatest defeats on land in Japan's history.
Battlefield tours
A range of battlefield tours centred on the 1944 Imphal battle have been developed by Hemant Singh Katoch and are available. These are currently organised by Battle of Imphal Tours, a battlefield tour company he founded in Imphal in 2013 and for which he now serves as an Adviser.
To book a tour, see the Tours section of its website (www.battleofimphal.com) or contact Yaiphaba Kangjam ('Yai') of Battle of Imphal Tours at battleofimphal@gmail.com.
The Battle of Imphal Tour
The tour covers sites in and around Imphal, Manipur, related to the 1944 battle and Manipur's overall Second World War experience. This includes (among others): a Second World War-era airfield (Koirengei or Imphal Main), two war cemeteries and a battlefield (Nungshigum).
The Tiddim Road Tour - White Tigers, Black Cats, and a Springing Tiger
The Tiddim Road was where the Japanese 33rd Division (the 'White Tigers') faced off with the 17th Indian Division (the 'Black Cats'), the main British force in the area, during the battle of Imphal. Just off it is Moirang, where men of the Indian National Army (INA) planted the Indian tricolour, which featured a springing tiger, for the first time as they crossed into India. The Tiddim Road Tour gives you a chance to discover this intriguing story, and much more. Heading out of Imphal on the Tiddim Road, this tour takes in the only Japanese war memorials in India; the India Peace Museum; battlefields along the way, including the town of Ningthoukhong where two Victoria Crosses were won in June 1944; the only INA Memorial Complex in the world at Moirang; and Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India.
The Shenam Saddle Tour - On the road to Burma
One of the main sectors of fighting during the Battle of Imphal was the road between Palel in India and Tamu in Burma/Myanmar and the section the British called the Shenam Saddle in particular. This was a series of hills between the villages of Shenam (Sinam) and Tengnoupal along the road on which British forces had established defensive positions to prevent the Japanese from advancing towards the Imphal Valley. This tour takes you to the very hills that made up the Shenam Saddle position on the road to Burma/Myanmar. Hear all about the fierce fighting in the area and see if you can spot trenches dating back to 1944. At a height of some 5,000 feet, take in some truly spectacular views on all sides.
The Battle of Sangshak Tour
The Battle of Sangshak (Shangshak) took place from March 22-26, 1944, and saw men of the 50th Indian Parachute Brigade holding out for several days against wave upon wave of Japanese attacks on their position in the village. The battle delayed the advance of the Japanese 31st Division towards Kohima and of the 15th Division towards Imphal by a critical few days in the early stages of the Japanese offensive in 1944. The Battle of Sangshak Tour takes you up the Ukhrul Road from Imphal and right into the heart of the present-day village of Shangshak. You explore the area that made up the British defensive position during the battle and learn of the ferociousness with which both sides fought. Trenches dating back to 1944 can still be spotted in Shangshak, which also affords glorious views of the hills of Ukhrul district. The tour of the village is rounded off by a visit to a war memorial which commemorates the battle.
The INA Tour
The Indian National Army (INA) Tour looks at the fascinating story of the INA, and of its participation in the 1944 battle of Imphal. The Tour takes in key, accessible sites in Manipur that are directly linked to the INA, notably the INA Memorial Complex in Moirang and the remains of the Palel Airfield (viewed from a distance). It also takes in sites that are less obviously connected, such as the India Peace Memorial and Potsangbam, but which nevertheless help us tell the INA story.
Imphal Walk
The Imphal Walk takes you into the heart of Manipur's capital. It winds through the historic Mapal Kangjeibung (the oldest living polo ground in the world), the incredibly atmospheric Ima Keithel (Mother's market), and the serene Kangla Fort, among others. Along the way, you will catch a glimpse of life in Manipur and its many communities. first-hand in this interesting land. Ultimately, however, we hope what you will find most rewarding is the opportunity to discover one of the most uncharted cities in India.