Manipur is planning to develop war tourism in the state by preserving the historic Koirengei in Imphal, which is an old airfield in the northeast state. The state government is working to acquire the airport from the Ministry of Defence so as to fulfill this war tourism plan.
According to Manipur Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh, the state government is planning to relocate the units of the 57 Mountain Division of the Indian army currently deployed in Koirengei airfield to another site. This will then make way for the war tourism site that Manipur Tourism is planning to develop here. Not only a spot for war tourism, but also shopping malls, and government quarters are going to come up around the tourism site.
British war veterans call the Battle of Imphal/Kohima a significant one & its success wouldn’t have been possible w/o the airfields in Manipur. Among these, Koirengei airfield is still inaccessible to tourists as it is currently occupied by 57 Mt Division. @DefenceMinIndia
2/3— N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) January 5, 2021
Manipur played a central role in this part of the world during World War II. The British had built nine airfields in the state, all of which played some role in the war. The Japanese army tried to capture India, and battled the Allied Forces in the northeast states of Manipur, and Nagaland. The Allied Forces, and the Axis Power fought the wars here between March and July, 1944, during the height of the war.
The Imphal War Cemetery is already one of the most sought-after war tourism sites in the country. At the Red Hill, in Manipur, you can visit the Imphal Peace Museum that was set up with the help of the Nippon Foundation, Japan.