Imphal, the capital city of Manipur exhibits ancient origins rooted in the mists of time. Located in the core of the valley, this land has been a significant centre for centuries. This region was initially ruled by kings. The fertile valley naturally attracted settlements and fostered the development of cultural practices. The name itself is derived from “Yumpham”, with ‘Yum’ meaning home and ‘Pham’ meaning land. Basically, the ancient origins of Imphal paint a picture of an important and culturally significant settlement that evolved into the city that we know today. The legacy of early rulers, the enduring presence of Kangla Fort and the very name of the city echo its long and fascinating journey through history.

Imphal lies on the Imphal Valley surrounded by nine ranges of hills at 24.8074°N 93.9384°E in extreme eastern India, with an average elevation of 786 metres (2,579 ft). The Imphal Municipality covers an area of 1,22,800 hectares which comprises of Imphal East and Imphal West. The area extends between 24033’ N to 25055’N latitudes and 93042’ E to 9407’ E longitudes. It has a humid subtropical climate with cool, dry winters and a slightly hot monsoon season. Imphal enjoys a moderate climate tempered by its moderately high altitude and the surrounding hills. Maximum temperatures in the hottest months average about 29 °C (84 °F); January is the coldest month, with average lows near 4 °C (39 °F), often drops to around 1 °C in the coldest nights and in some clear nights drops below freezing point. Frost is observable in the winter mornings few days of the year. The city receives about 1,381 mm (54.4 in) of rain, with June and July being the wettest months. Thunder is common in the pre monsoon and rainy season, whereas fog mostly occurs in the dry winter mornings which clears out in the noon.

At the time of the 2011 census, Imphal Municipal Council had a population of 277,196, of which 135,059 were males and 142,137 females. Imphal West has the highest population of 514,683 which comprises of 18.91% of the total population among the nine districts of Manipur. It is followed by Imphal East with a population of 452,661 which comprises of 16.63% of the total population. Imphal West has the highest population density of 992 persons per square kilometers. Imphal had a sex ratio of 1052 females per 1000 males and a literacy rate of 90.8%: 95.1% for males and 86.77% for females. 29,216 (10.54%) were under 6 years of age, 14,997 being males and 14,219 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 1,274 (0.46%) and 29,778 (10.74%) of the population respectively.