The Kangla Fort is one of the most important sites of historical and archaeological value in the region, being identified as the site of the old palace and fortress of Manipur. A long line of Manipur kings, starting from the mythical God-king Nongda Lairen Pakhangba in 33 A. D. upto Maharaj Kulachandra in 1891 A. D. ruled Manipur from the Kangla.

Consequent to the defeat of the Manipuris in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, Kangla was occupied by the British imperialist forces after which the Assam Rifles occupied it for till 2004. Today the entire area of the Kangla, including the outer moat and Kekrupat, measuring 236.84 acres was declared as protected by the State Govt. in 1992 under the provision of "The Manipur Ancient and Historical Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1976". The area in its totality is also generally referred as the Kangla Fort.