The earliest citation of Manipur is found in the Indian epic - the Mahabharata. Characters, like Chitrangada, Ulupi, Babruvahana, and Iravan, mentioned in the epic were Manipuri’s. During the period of exile, Arjuna traveled across the country and his wanderings took him to prehistoric Manipur. In the eastern Himalayas, Manipur was a mystic realm known for its striking natural beauty. Here Arjuna met Chitrangada, who was daughter of the king of Manipur, and got married to her.
According to the condition put by the King, Arjuna could not take his wife or children borne by her with himself. And moreover, their children would be the heir of Manipur. Soon, Chitrangada gave birth to a son, Babruvahana, who later succeeded his maternal grandfather as king of Manipur. Babruvahana was nurtured there in a palace of the rich, amidst wealth and signs of power. After years, when Arjuna went to Manipur, along with the horse proposed for the Aswamedha; a quarrel occurred between Arjuna and King Babhruvahana.
King Babhruvahana won the combat since he killed his father. In order to repent for his action, he made his mind to kill himself, but Uloopi - the Naga princess, gave him a gem which brought back Arjuna to life. After the incident, Babhruvahana returned to Hastinapura with his father. All this happened due the curse of the Vasus that was bestowed when Arjuna killed Bhisma during the war of Mahabharata. This whole legend re-establishes the mythological history and origin of Manipur.
The acknowledged history of Manipur starts with the dominion of King Pakhangba, and when the seven clans of the Manipuri civilization got united. Incidents also proclaim that the introduction of Vaishnavism resulted in a major change in the civilization of Manipur. Arrival of the British put en end to the independent status of the Kingdom but this was last kingdom to be overturned by British India. At present, Manipur is an independent state of the Republic of India.
