Kangleipak was an ancient, lesser known civilisation, consisting of the modern day Manipur, India which is still known to some residents as Kangleipak, and other neighbouring regions.^[1][2][3][4] The Kangla served as the foremost capital city of this realm from the 15th century BCE, up to medieval times.^[5]

This article contains the Meitei alphabet. Without proper rendering support, you may see errors in display.

The territory of this realm is mountainous and thereby, ancient Kangleipak consists of several smaller region each with its own dialect, cultural peculiarities, and identity.^[4][6] At one time during the reign of Meidingu Khagemba the territory of Kangleipak(Manipur) stretched upto the present Yunan Province of modern day China.^[7] Kabaw valley in Mayanmar was also a part of Manipur until the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru India gifted it to Myanmar on his visit to Manipur in 1952.^[8] Thibomei(now Kohima) was also once annexed by the then King Gambhir Singh.^[9]

In fact, there were seven independent kingdoms ruled by the seven clan dynasties in this realm. These seven principalities had their own capital cities.

The Ancient Meitei language (early form of the modern Meitei language) had a wide array of Meitei scriptures (Puya (Meitei texts)), of numerous topics, written in the archaic Meitei script.^[10][11] One of the oldest scriptures is the Wakoklon Heelel Thilen Salai Amailon Pukok Puya, written in 1398 BC (verified by the National Archives of India, New Delhi).^[12]

The Ancient Meitei military ran in the Lallup system. Lal-lup system (literally, Lal means war; lup means club or association or organization) was a predominant system in ancient Kangleipak. According to the system, every men of indigenous ethnicity of above 16 years of age was a member.^[14]

• Puya Mei Thaba
• Bihu Loukon
• Stonehenge of Manipur
• Ancient Moirang