The gift of King Khe-Khomba
Shri Gopinath Temple was built at a time when Vaishnavi (worshipping Lord Vishnu) Hinduism was growing rapidly in the region. But the reason behind the rise of Vishnu worship can be traced to a tale that began in 1467 A.D. when a king named Kyamba took the throne in Manipur.
Kyamba had big dreams of expanding his kingdom, so he conquered a neighbouring place called Kyang, a kingdom in the Kabow Valley. He was wise in his relations with neighbouring kingdoms, especially the Pong Kingdom ruled by King Khe-Khomba. They had a strong friendship, thanks to Kyamba's skillful diplomacy. One day, Kyamba and King Khe-Khomba decided to join forces and attack Kyang together. They emerged victorious and celebrated their success with a grand feast, using golden vessels. They even exchanged scholars and servants as a gesture of goodwill.