This is Manipur's pre-eminent Vaishnavite temple adjoining the palace of the former rulers of Manipur. It is a great historic centre and is a simple and beautiful structure with gold domes and a large raised congregation hall. The presiding deity, Lord Vishnu in the center of the temple stands flanked by the shrines of Balarama and Krishna on one side and Jagannatha on the other. Priests come down the steps to accept offerings from devotees standing on the paved courtyard. The core of Imphal’s traditions, however, lies in its various temples. The most important of these is the Shri Govindajee Temple. Constructed in the early 18th century under the Rajarishi Bhagyachandra regime, the temple comes alive during festivals when thousands of people offer prayers. The best time to visit it is during Holi, also known as Dolijatra or Yaosong in Manipur when boys and girls do the Thaba Changba folk dance, all night. The temple also has a paved court and a large raised congregation hall.