An alluring atmosphere of mystery, a land wrapped in velvety silence, is what instantly strikes a visitor of Manipur, which literally means 'the land of jewels'. Described by Lord Irwin as the 'Switzerland of India', Manipur boasts of an exotic landscape with gently undulating hills, emerald green valleys, blue lakes and dense forests. . Nestled on a plateau far above the sea level, it is the sheer tranquility enveloping it, interrupted only by a soft breeze that sets it apart from the other North-Eastern states, and makes it the ideal getaway. Rajshree Bhagyachandra created the Ras Lila, the classical dance of Manipur in his enchanting dream by the grace of Lord Krishna. Manipur's mythological concept of creation reveals in her famous folk dances. Having a varied and proud history from the earliest times, Manipur came under the British Rule as a Princely State after the defeat in the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891. After independence the Princely State of Manipur was merged in the Indian Union on October 15th, 1949 and became a full-fledged State of India on 21st January, 1972.