War Cemeteries

Introduction

Located in the city of Imphal, War Cemetery is a popular tourist destinations in Manipur. It is a symbolic memorial built as a citation for the human sacrifices made by officers during the Second World War. This cemetery encompasses the graves of the Indian and the allied soldiers. They died fighting with the Japanese during the assault of Imphal in 1944. After so many years, still the people of Manipur come here to pay their homage to the soldiers.

Location

The War Cemetery is situated at a distance of 10 km from the centre of Imphal along the National Highway No. 39. Earlier it housed only 950 soldiers, later the administrative authorities transferred the graves of the soldiers placed in two other cemeteries of Imphal to this cemetery and today it houses 1,600 graves of the soldiers. DM College is the nearest landmark to the War Cemetery,? which is only 1 km from it.

Historic Significance

This monumental War Cemetery was built to honor the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the Second World War. The battle of Manipur holds equal importance in the Indian history. Among all the battles on Eastern frontier of India, the siege of Imphal and its relief in 1944 rank next to the importance of Kohima Battle. In the year of 1944, the Indian soldiers got success in achieving independence of Imphal from the Japanese forces. The War Cemetery of Manipur is of much importance to the common people and the army men.?

Highlights

The site of the War Cemetery is open and flat and offers a spectacular view of the distant hills on its eastern side. Tourists can see about 950 burials in the cemetery. Graves from 2 smaller cemeteries in Imphal also lie there. It is maintained by The Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The graves encompass stone markers as well as bronze plaques with the names of the soldiers. The surrounding area is beautifully decorated offering a sense of tranquility.