It is a small hamlet located towards the east of Imphal at the base of a hill popular for its pottery. The village is home to the Andro Gramshang Museum, which comprises different varieties of traditional pots namely, Pudond Makhong, Walom, Ngangkha and Yukhum. Among other varieties are Wangkham, Kambi, Kambi Makhong Panba and Eshaiphu.
Pottery in Andro can only be done by married women. Traditional methods of pottery have been replaced with a flat stone and a bat, which is used to beat the mud into a required shape. Along with pots, the women also make vases, piggy banks and lamps.
Apart from pottery, Andro is also famous for a Doll House, which showcases dolls belonging to 29 popular Manipuri tribes. The small village has witnessed a certain level of development in terms of transportation facilities. Travellers can easily avail buses, cycles, auto-rickshaws and taxis to access different locations.
Andro is fast becoming a popular tourist destination for city dwellers because of its easy accessibility and the attractions. The Santhei Natural Park and dam is the main draw. A decent number of picnickers visit Andro on a regular basis. The dam located at the base of the hill is a nice spot for picnickers. The park is on the edge of the lake. The park is covered with small trees and offers shade even on hot day.
Chakpa Panam Ningthou Meithoupirol Shanglen or Mei Mutaba is an interesting destination. It is an old traditional Hindu temple where for more than a thousand years the fire lit inside has never been annihilated since without any flame. The temple was a big empty hall except for few idols. The fire was buried in ashes and only a small bellow of smoke came out of it. It looked as if the fire was dying. The priest took a tong and cleared the ashes. Men folks for many generations have taken turns building the fire, and therefore keeping the tradition alive. The locals are very proud of the tradition they have kept alive for more than thousand years.
At Andro Mutau Museum is altogether a different kind of destination. It is the most significant place to visit in Andro. The cultural complex is run by a family at their backyard. An old woman collect tickets (of INR 5) sheepishly, for maintenance purposes. Though the project has been started few years back; the remoteness of the place and its small size does not draw enough visitors on regular basis. There are many cottages built in traditional tribal style and each contain valuables, which have been stolen by visitors in the past. There are traditional houses of major communities and tribes inhabiting Manipur like the Meitei, Kabui, Tangkhul and Kuki. The museum is a cultural complex showcasing major tribal traditions and their artifacts. In the middle of the complex stands an old tree trunk, carved with beautiful designs. Nearby few monoliths give company to the old mystic figure.
Most are authentic materials brought in from other places. Some common artifacts on display include various forms of pottery, musical instruments, traditional clothes and others. One most important aspect of the complex is the beautiful wood carvings on the traditional houses. The Mutau museum is a beautiful and innovative way of showcasing the complex conglomeration of people and their culture co-existing in the state.
How to reach
By Air
The Imphal Tulihal International Airport has flight services to all major destinations of the country.
By Train
The closest junction to Imphal is the Dimapur railway station which is located at a distance of 215 kilometers from Manipur
By Road
Guwahati to Imphal; (490.9 km) via NH 36 & NH39
Imphal to Andro (21 kms) located on NH 150
Best time to visit
Between October & February