city, capital of Manipur state, northeastern India, lying in the Manipur River valley at an elevation of 2,500 feet (760 metres). Imphal was the seat of the kings of Manipur before the region fell under British rule. In 1944 it was the site of a significant tactical victory for the Anglo-Indian forces over the Japanese on the Burmese front of World War II. The city is a major trade centre noted for its weaving, brass-ware, bronze-ware, and other cottage industries. Imphal College, Imphal Training Centre, Dhana Manjari College, and a technical school are located there. Imphal is connected with the North-Eastern Railway at Dimapur, Assam, and with Myanmar (Burma) by hard-surface roads. It has an airfield with regular service to Kolkata (Calcutta) (Calcutta; 400 miles 【650 km】 west-southwest) and Guwahati in Assam state. The population is mainly Manipuri. Pop. (2001) 221,492.