Andro is a tribal village near Imphal that attracts visitors by showcasing its unique heritage and culture. If you are in Imphal, you should not exclude Andro from your must-visit places list. Almost an hour’s drive from the capital of Manipur, Andro has a unique tribal museum, an ancient temple, local rice brewing units in village houses and unique local pottery workshops.
About Andro
The name Andro comes from the word “Handro” which in the local language means “village of the people who returned”. The primary community of the residents of Andro are Lois, who was driven by a local ruler once, returned later to this place and established their society. This community is very efficient in pottery. Their ingenious style of pottery is known as Charai Taba or Coil Pottery, makes Andro a prominent destination in Manipur Tourism Circuit,
How to reach
Andro is 25 kilometres east of Imphal. It takes an hour’s drive to reach Andro from Imphal. Shared cabs are readily available from ISBT. The early morning drive through the country road was a beautiful experience. The winter fog on the paddy fields with the outline of the Nongmaiching hills range on the horizon makes a perfect landscape canvas. Once we cut across the hills, the Andro village is on the other side at the foothills.
Where to stay
There is no stay option in Andro village. You have to stay in Imphal and visit the heritage village. Imphal has plenty of hotels and homestays as per your budget. Hotel Imphal by Classic Group is an excellent hotel with good amenities, a large lawn, satisfactory dining and impeccable services.
Thing to see
Tribal museum
The tribal museum or the cultural heritage complex is an open space showcasing thatched huts of different tribes of Manipur. Inside these thatched houses are displays of clothing, jewellery, pottery, weapons, bamboo baskets, musical instruments etc. Each hut has a unique set of artefacts used by the ingenious tribe.
This museum is also called Mutua museum, named after its first curator Mutua Bahadur who took the initiative to construct this unique cultural complex in Andro village. The museum was opened in 1993. A unique doll house inside the complex houses 29 dolls dressed as per the tradition of 29 tribes in Manipur.
Opening day: Sundays and holidays
Entry time: 9 am – 4 pm
Entry fee: Indian – ₹20, Foreigner – ₹100
Ancient temple
Mei Mutaba, the ancient temple, is dedicated to the village deity Panam Ningthou. There is a sacred fire inside the temple, which is believed to be burning since ancient times for more than a millennium. Every house in the village is responsible for guarding the sacred fire for at least one day a year.
Coil pottery workshop
Andro is famous for an ingenious style of pottery known as Coil Pottery or Charai Taba. No mould or wheel is used to make the pots. First, the clay is condensed by beating and pressing, while sand is mixed with the clay. Then loops or clay coils are made on a flat surface with the help of a ruler. Lastly, the different-sized coils are stacked one after another to make pots. The pots are finally dried, burnt, coloured and ready for sale. These pots are used for all kinds of household purposes and during ceremonies.
Another interesting thing about Coil Pottery is that only married women know the craftmanship of this unique style of work. The art is taught to newlywed brides by their mothers-in-law in a traditional ceremony called Thou Chanba.
Rice brewing unit
The traditional brew of Andro village is known as Sekmai. It is prepared by fermenting rice for days. Then the rice is mixed with the stem of a local creeper plant, and the mixture is distilled to get the whitish drink, Sekmai. This drink is an integral part of all the celebrations in Andro.
Senthei Nature Park
Senthei Nature Park is a scenic place where locals from nearby villages or Imphal city often come for a picnic. There are manicured gardens inside with a large water reservoir. Inside the park are marked areas where locals can cook food and enjoy a meal outdoors. An orchid farm will be inaugurated soon in Senthei National Park in the near future.
