Come to Manipur and catch a glimpse of the natural beauty and bounty. Tourists from the country and abroad find the Cinderella state in the north eastern India a paradise on the earth. Spots after spots seem to have taken the tourists into a separate dreamscape. Mention may be made of the Thalon Caves. Locating at an altitude of 900 metres from the sea level it beckons umpteen number of tourists 4 km away from Thalon village in Tamenglong District. This is what one of the major historical sites that speaks volumes of the state’s age old unique art, culture and tradition. Budhachandra, the Manipur Maharaja discovered the spot in 1946 and since then it has been providing the first concrete evidence of the country’s 2000-year old Hoabinhian Culture. Of course, it bears striking resemblance with the existing culture in a few south east Asian countries. The caves, mostly, are connected to each other which have been giving no less scope to the state to promote tourism. Now these caves strike a pivotal role in the annual Manipur Tourism Festival. None of the tourists leaves the festival venue without a thrilling experience of cave expedition. Courtesy the state tourism department. Most of the participating tourists, who come via Imphal, have to travel 80 km for cave exploration. You can reach Thalon village en route to the cave by around one hour long trekking.
It is an ideal place for anxious anthropologists and archaeologists to find out the truth with research works. The initial experience is frightening. But gradually you would feel as if you if you are stepping into an unknown or world of encircling darkness.
The historic area is well connected by surface transport. Tuhilal is the nearest airport for the air tourists from where bus and taxi services are available to the cave town. The closest rail head is also Imphal the Thalon village is reachable from Guwahati via Imphal by bus through National Highway 36 and 39. Don’t miss the paradise from October to March.