Imphal, September 12, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, on a two-day visit to Manipur, took a boat ride on Loktak Lake in Bishnupur district on Saturday, officials said.
Gor, who arrived in Imphal on Friday, was accompanied by US Consul General in Kolkata Kathy Giles-Diaz and other officials during his visit to the lake, the largest freshwater lake in the Northeast.
Located around 48 km from Imphal city, Loktak Lake is known for its floating islands, locally called Phumdis. Fishermen living in floating huts known as Phumsangs are among the lake’s distinctive features.
During his visit to Manipur, Gor also met Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh at the CM Secretariat in Mantripukhri and called on Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Lok Bhavan.
At his meeting with the Chief Minister, Gor described Manipur as a “stunning place” with remarkable natural beauty and enquired about tourist footfall in the state, according to a senior official of the Chief Minister’s Office.
The US Ambassador also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on the development of Northeast India was a positive step for a diverse country like India.
Gor further said there was a special bond between Modi and US President Donald Trump that went beyond the normal relationship between a Prime Minister and a President, adding that Trump personally cherished the relationship.
Khemchand Singh invited Gor to the upcoming Manipur Sangai Festival 2026 and identified tourism and allied sectors as potential areas for development in the state.
The Chief Minister described India as a “mini world” and Manipur as a “mini India”, pointing out that the state is home to 36 communities.
The 10-day Manipur Sangai Festival will be held from November 21 to 30 under the theme “Destination Manipur”. It will showcase the state’s art and culture, handloom and handicrafts, fine arts, indigenous sports, cuisine and music, besides eco-tourism and adventure sports.
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