Before I checked out of the hotel, I walked across the road to see the fort, nestled in the large park opposite. Kangla was the original ancient city where Imphal now stands and was the capital until Imphal took over in 1891. Kangla palace was home to King Pakhangba around 33 AD, and is now more ruin that stately home. It stands in a park with its own moat that runs most of the way round. The land is partly landscaped, but a few areas are overgrown and pretty much derelict.
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I head out on the Imphal-Moreh Road or Highway 102 towards the hills. Before I get there, I have to say that Moreh has a bit of a reputation. Not only is it a well-known crossing for smugglers, but is happens to be a centre of the heroin trade. Well, that and amphetamines and a selection of other things to boot. Last year a big timber smuggling ring was busted here, so the contraband can take almost any form.
The roads are easily navigated, but a line of very large trucks passes me and this seems to be quite commercial. The mountains are not so high in the first stretch, and I soon approach the border crossing down a straight road. There is quite a queue, so I pull over and eat something while I wait. While there have been travellers crossing into Burma from India with their own vehicles, the general consensus seems to be that it is very hard. Permits can be organized from your own country in most cases, but international restrictions on Burma makes it all a bit of a problem. Either way, an Indian permit will be needed to go through Manipur, and an MTT permit will be required to get to Tamu. Some people report that a permit to get from Tamu to Kalewa, where I’m going, is needed, but I couldn’t confirm that.
An hour goes by and I move slowly up. I hand my papers to one of the guards and I am moved forward through the arch and into a large open square. There are some shops around one side, but I don’t stop. The main road takes me off into Burma and I eventually find the road south towards Kalewa. Less than half an hour south I pass through Khomunnom, a small village and home to the Khomunnom cave. Various kinds of Paleolithic tools for cutting and polishing were found and collected. These tools were used during the lower Paleolithic Era and probable culture of 200,000-50,000 BC. This Cave is one of the oldest and biggest rock shelters in the world.
Google maps suggests a drive of just over four hours, but the roads are not perfect and my camper does a steady fifty miles an hour. I pass by the Myit Thar bridge and into Kalewa. It’s a low, unassuming town much larger than I thought, and the river Myittha makes for an idyllic view. I will find a place to park up and spend the night in the camper. Tomorrow, I will head south to Mandalay.