Tangkhul Villages: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Distribution and Heritage

THE TANGKHUL tribe inhabits the eastern region of Manipur, primarily in the Ukhrul and Kamjong districts, with settlements extending into the Imphal East district, Tengnoupal district, Thoubal district, and the Sadar area of Senapati district, which is now known as Kangpokpi district. Additionally, there are numerous Tangkhul villages in Myanmar, particularly along the Somra Tract. Traditionally, the people are grouped according to their migration waves, sharing close cultural and social ties. The Tangkhuls are traditionally divided into seven topographical settings.

In modern times, the Tangkhul Naga Long, the apex body representing the Tangkhul tribe, governs its jurisdiction through regional divisions: North, East, South, and West, referred to as Ato, Aze, Zingtun, and Zingsho Longphang, respectively. The names of the villages listed here are sourced from the gazette of the Tangkhul Naga Awunga Long (Tangkhul Chiefs’ Association) and the Tangkhul Naga Baptist Association in Myanmar. The information provided is primarily derived from the Tangkhul Tui Ngashan Mashanshim, TNL (Tangkhul Language & Cultural Research Council), and oral accounts from octogenarians, based on the traditional topographical settings.

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KHARAO 18 villages

1. Khampha
2. Teinem
3. Phalee
4. Shongrān
5. Talui
6. Ngainga̱
7. Kachai
8. Hoomi
9. Theivā
10. Tingshong
11. Maichon
12. Aheng (Torā)
13. Champhung
14. C. Changta (hamlet)
15. Tanrui
16. Tanrui shimhon (hamlet)
17. L. Phungthar
18. Sinakeithei
    
    KATHUR /KATHWE 35 villages
    
19. Ringui
20. Lamlang-
21. Seikhor (hamlet)
22. Pharung
23. Ta̱shar
24. Ta̱shar Chanhong
25. Hatha
26. Ramva̱
27. Raodei
28. Shokvao
29. Koso
30. Leishi
31. Leiting
32. Lungshang
33. Lungshang CT
34. Nungou,Ato
35. Nunguo Aze
36. Phalang
37. H. Godah
38. Shangching
39. S. Lungreiphung (hamlet)
40. Shangshak Khullen
41. Shangshak Phunghon
42. Shakok
43. Hungpung
44. Sharkaphung
45. S. Laho (hamlet)
46. Changa
47. Litan Sareikhong
    
    KHAORUI 4 villages; many villages in the area have been deserted due to ethnic conflicts, and some have been forcefully occupied by refugees.)
    
48. Hongmāhn
49. Mapao Zingsho
50. Mapao Zingtun
51. Seitangphung
    
    VEIKHANG 5 villages
    
52. Khāngkhui Khullen
53. Khāngkhui Khunou
54. Choithar
55. Nungshong Khunou/Lungshong Kasār
56. Nungshong Khullen
    
    RAPHEI/Yangreiram 24 villages
    
57. Halang
58. Hunphun
59. Kalhāng
60. Luireishimphung (hamlet)
61. Kuirei
62. Longpi Kajui
63. Nungbi khullen
64. Lunghar
65. Peh
66. Phungcham
67. Paorei (hamlet)
68. Varangalai (hamlet)
69. Langdāng
70. Shirui Chingthak
71. Shirui Chingkha
72. Khamsom
73. Khamasom Khayangkho (hamlet)
74. Khamasom Waleley (hamlet)
75. Khamasom Phungdhar (hamlet)
76. Khamasom Phungrei
77. Sihai
78. Sihai Khullen (hamlet)
79. Sihai Khunou (hamlet)
80. Sihai Kahaophung (hamlet)
    
    KUIGUROP/Luhuppa 34 villages
    
81. Chalou
82. Kuingai
83. Chingai
84. Chingjaroi Khullen
85. Chingjaroi CV
86. Chingjaroi
87. C. Ngachaphung (hamlet)
88. Huishu
89. Jessami
90. Kharāsom
91. Kharasom Lazo (hamlet)
92. New Kharasom (hamlet),
93. Kharāsom CV (hamlet)
94. Marangphung
95. Marem
96. Namrei
97. New. Tusom
98. Tusom CV (hamlet)
99. Tusom khullen (hamlet)
100. New Tusom (hamlet)
101. Ngahui
102. Poi
103. Ra̱zai Khullen
104. Ra̱zai Khunuo
105. Sorāphung
106. Wāhong
107. New Wāhong (hamlet)

KAMO

Kamo is a blanket term commonly used to refer to the Tangkhul villages located in the Kamjong district. However, when the name Kamo is used to refer to the people, it identifies a specific group characterized by naming conventions such as Mopa, Kopa, and Tipa, which reflect their cultural affinity with the Khmer/Hmong. (The Kangpat-Sorde-Nambashi group, for instance, shares a similar origin.) There are nine ranges under the Kamo topographical division.

Khukok Range 7 villages

108. Alāng (Ngayophung)
109. Chungka
110. Ramsophung/Khongjal
111. Loushing
112. Loushing Khunthak
113. Phungyar
114. Tusom South

Sambu 24 villages

115. Apong
116. Chāhong Khullen
117. Chāhong Phalung,(hamlet)
118. Chāhong Chingthak (hamlet)
119. Chamu
120. Hango Kaphung (hamlet)
121. Changa
122. Chatric (Khullen, Khunuo)
123. Hangkaw
124. Kashung
125. Khayang
126. Khayang Phungtha (hamlet)
127. Langkhe
128. Lāngli- (R. Langli)
129. Maku
130. Mapum
131. Madoyah
132. Pushing
133. Roni
134. Rusheah
135. Sahamphung
136. Shingchā
137. Sampui
138. Yedah
139. Zingsui
     
     Raizan 14 villages
     
140. Bungpā Khullen
141. Bungpā Khunou
142. Grihāng
143. Huimine Thanā
144. Kangpāt Khullen
145. Kangpāt Khunou
146. Kongkān
147. Meiti
148. Ningchou
149. Ningthi
150. Phange
151. Ramphoi
152. Skipe
153. Z Choro
     
     Lungpha̱ Range 9 villages
     
154. Khambi
155. Kumram
156. Mailiang
157. Nongman
158. Patbung
159. Punge
160. Sorathen
161. Sorbung
162. Sorde

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Leimarol 29 villages

164. Wanglee
165. Bungpun
166. Makan
167. Phungchon/Punouram
168. Kangkum
169. Kashung
170. Nambashi Khunou
171. Nambashi Khullen
172. Khonglo
173. Manthouram
174. Nambashi Valley
175. Khunthak
176. Tarong
177. Kasom Khullen
178. Kasom Khunou
179. Lairam Khullen
180. M Reishangphung
181. Lairam Phungka
182. Khoiripok Ato
183. Khoiripok Aze/Yeasom
184. Khamlang
185. K. Ashang Khullen
186. K. Ashang Khullen Ato
187. K. Ashang Khullen Aze
188. Mawai
189. Shangpunram
190. Chongdan
191. Hongbei (hamlet)
192. Kangoi
     
     Shangpun Long 18 villages
     
193. Irong Kongleiram
194. Maryland
195. Mumlo Ringpam
196. K. Leihaoram
197. Lungthar
198. Heinganglok
199. Sotun/Somdhar
200. Sadak-khunbi
201. Irong Ato
202. K Somrei
203. Nambashi Horton
204. Komlaching
205. Shungriphai/Soraland
206. Keihao
207. Chakhama
208. Kharan
209. Tangkhul Khullen
210. Sochanram
     
     Tomching Range 17 villages
     
211. Laikoiching
212. Happyland
213. Risophung
214. Leishiphung
215. Island
216. Sopleng/ Moirangpan
217. New Salem
218. Silent/Honkhuiphung
219. Thangchingpokpi
220. Ngarumphung
221. New Canaan
222. Muirei
223. Wunghon
224. Mayophung
225. Leiyaram
226. South Luoshing
227. Tongkoi/Colley
     
     Mapithel Range 17 villages
     
228. Lungpha̱
229. Shingta
230. Marou
231. Shingkap
232. T Hundung
233. T Hundung Khunou
234. Nongdam
235. Chadong
236. Ramrei
237. Ramrei Aze
238. Riha
239. Thoyee
240. Louphong
241. Bohoram
242. Itham
243. Manthou
244. Chingshou
     
     Nongmaiching Range 10 villages
     
245. Kaprang
246. Saman
247. Lishamlok
248. Poirou
249. Lembakhul
250. Ngaranphung
251. N. Kachumram
252. Tamaram
253. T Saram

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SOMRA TRACT in MYANMAR 31 villages

In the past, the Myanmarese were known to the Tangkhuls as the Mari people. For example, Mari-khong means “Burmese boat.” Burma was referred to as Avah, and Kabaw as Kabo by our forefathers. The Myanmarese called the Tangkhuls ‘Tang-khu,’ meaning “iron people,” as the word ‘tang’ means “iron” in Burmese. The Tangkhuls acquired iron from Mari, which refers to Myanmar. It may be assumed that the word Tang-khu or Tangkhul derives from the term Tang-khu given by the Myanmarese (meaning “iron people”), although there are differing schools of thought regarding the origin of the word Tangkhul. There are many Tangkhul villages located within the Myanmar border.

254. Somrā
255. Pha Phoa/New Somrā
256. Phungtret
257. Layum
258. Pansat
259. Mayelung
260. Old Kalen/Kokailung
261. New Kalen/Kakailung
262. Raakhenlhun
263. Shwebeaye
264. Yeror
265. Naungbin
266. Menton
267. Moepenluh
268. Bunpan
269. Ngachan
270. Reyjo
271. Old Hingkut
272. New Hingkut
273. Yennwen (hamlet)
274. Htamanti (hamlet)
275. Koki
276. Koki Songpya
277. Myag Nigone
278. Old Jila
279. New Jila
280. Tharyar
281. Min Nar
282. Khotuk
283. Cha Garong
284. Palen

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