Nongmaiching Ching

sacred mountain in Imphal Valley

The Nongmaiching Ching (Meitei: ꯅꯣꯡꯃꯥꯏꯆꯤꯡ ꯆꯤꯡ), also called the Nongmaijing Ching (Meitei: ꯅꯣꯡꯃꯥꯏꯖꯤꯡ ꯆꯤꯡ) or the Selloi Langmai Ching (Meitei: ꯁꯦꯜꯂꯣꯏ ꯂꯪꯃꯥꯏ ꯆꯤꯡ), is a mountain in the Imphal valley of Manipur. It is a holy pilgrimage site for the Meitei people, especially for the followers of Sanamahism (traditional Meitei religion). In Sanamahism, it is a sacred mountain and the abode of God Nongpok Ningthou and Goddess Panthoibi.

The Sanamahi Kiyong Temple, built in the top of the Nongmaiching, is the main tourist attraction as well as the main religious pilgrimage site in the mountain.

Understand

Word origin

The name of the mountain "Nongmaiching" is an ancient Meitei language word, derived from three root words, "nong" (Meitei: ꯅꯣꯡ), "mai" (Meitei: ꯃꯥꯏ) and "ching" (Meitei: ꯆꯤꯡ). Nong means sun or rain, mai means face or "in front of", and ching means hill or mountain. So, "Nongmaiching" is translated as "the mountain or the hill that fronts the rain or sun". It can also be rendered as "the mountain or the hill which rises to the east of Imphal and which is the scene of a rain-compelling ceremony." Nongmaiching may also mean "Sunday" or "Sun's Day" in Meitei language.

History

In the first century BC, the cult of God Nongpok Ningthou and Goddess Panthoibi was established in the top of the Nongmaiching.

In the 6-7th century AD, Meitei King Ura Konthouba (Meitei: ꯎꯔꯥ ꯀꯣꯟꯊꯧꯕ) controlled the tribal leaders living in the mountain, thereby assimilating the tribals into the Meitei ethnicity.

During the World War II, especially during the fight between United Kingdom and Japan, the Nongmaiching served as the most strategically important point in the Imphal valley of Manipur.

Geography

The Nongmaiching has an elevation of 5,133 ft (1,565 m) and a height of prominence of 2,500 ft (760 m). It is situated in the eastern side of the metropolis of Imphal, separating the plains of Thoubal (Meitei: ꯊꯧꯕꯥꯜ) from that of the Iril River (Meitei: ꯏꯔꯤꯜ ꯇꯨꯔꯦꯜ) and the Imphal River (Meitei: ꯏꯝꯐꯥꯜ ꯇꯨꯔꯦꯜ). It is close to the town of Andro.

Talk

Meitei language (officially called Manipuri) is the predominantly spoken language in the Nongmaiching.

Get in

To get in the Nongmaiching, it is accessible through its foothills in Imphal, Andro as well as Thoubal. Taxis or hired bikes are available in the cities, most preferably in the state's capital Imphal, to reach the Nongmaiching.

Get around

To get around the Nongmaiching, one can hire bikes or taxis but these vehicles are available only in metropolitan areas, especially Imphal. If one wants to do hiking by himself or herself or with their groups themselves, then they don't need to book any vehicles.

See

  • Sanamahi Kiyong (Meitei: ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ ꯀꯤꯌꯣꯡ) is a temple dedicated to ancient Meitei God Lainingthou Sanamahi. It has four doors facing the four directions. It has seven layered canopy, depicting seven clan dynasties of the Meitei ethnicity. The most interesting part of the temple is the underground hall under the main chamber of the temple building. The underground chamber is much bigger than the upper chamber. In the underground chamber, many altars are kept.

Do

  • Bird life photography
  • Blogging
  • Botanical research
  • Camping
  • Cycling
  • Excursion
  • Film shooting
  • Forestation
  • Geological research
  • Hiking
  • Mountain climbing
  • Mountain research
  • Ornithological research
  • Orographical research
  • Pedological research
  • Picnic
  • Pilgrimage
  • Planting
  • Plant life photography
  • Plogging
  • Religious studies
  • Trekking
  • Videography
  • Vlogging
  • Wildlife photography
  • Zoological research

Eat and Drink

Pineapple plants are abundantly grown for commercial purpose by the people living in the Nongmaiching but outside the jurisdiction of the "Nongmaiching Reserve Forest" areas.

Stay safe

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