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Ima Keithel
The 500-year-old all-women market.
- Tradition
- Women-only traders
- Position
- Central Imphal
Ima Keithel, the Mothers’ Market, is Imphal’s historic market run entirely by women: thousands of licensed female traders selling produce, textiles, fish and handicraft from a complex of halls, a tradition centuries old and unique in scale.
Quick answers
Ima Keithel at a glance
Why is Ima Keithel famous?
It is one of the world’s largest markets run exclusively by women, a living Meitei institution.
Practicals
Permits & season
ILP required for Indian nationals; check the current advisory with us before booking, as ground conditions decide the plan.
October to March is the comfortable window in the Imphal valley; winters are crisp, monsoon months are wet.
When to go
Plan around these months
Nearby
Close enough to combine
Things to do
What you're here for
The halls
Rows of Imas under one enormous roof.
Journal
Read before you go
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Explore Ima Keithel
Facts checked against the official Manipur tourism portal · Last verified 2026-09-26