[6][7] In the Meitei cosmology, the "body" of Manipur is represented with various natural features of the land, including the Thangjing hill as its right leg.

In Meitei mythology, the hill is mainly associated with the deity Eputhou Thangjing who is considered the guardian of the mountain and the protector of the south of the Kanglei world.

][11][full citation needed][12] According to the Moirang kings' chronicle Ningthourol Lampuba, the Koireng people, an "Old Kuki" tribe, used to be settled around the Thangjing Hill.

[4] The Moirang people have a tradition of having been saved from a man-eater by the Kabui chief from Thangjing Hill during the rule of Thangtek Soinaiba.[when?

][15] By the time British Raj arrived in Manipur (c. 1830), the Sungbus had moved to the region around the Cachar–Bishnupur Road on sites that were previously occupied by Kuki people (called "Khongjais" by Manipuris).

[17][18] William McCulloch, British resident between 1844 and 1867, found that Kukis were living all around the Manipur valley,[19] confirmed by later commentators.

Land and protection were provided by Raja Chandrakirti Singh, as well as food for subsistence till they could grow their own crops.

[26] The Gazetteer of Manipur lists over 20 Kuki villages in the valley of the Tuila River, which flows south from the Thangjing Hills range.

[30] In early 1917, the local chiefs met at Ukha and Henglep to discuss the emerging conflict with the British authorities.

[37] Eventually the rebellion was suppressed only by wholesale destruction of villages, including their livestock and foodgrains, driving the people into the woods to starve, along with women and children.

[38] After the Rebellion, the British reorganised their hill administration by establishing a new headquarters for the South-West Subdivision at Songpi (then called "Churachandpur").

[41] Indian Airlines Flight 257 on 16 August 1991 crashed into Thangjing Hills range, killing all 69 people on board.

In 2010, a clash occurred between Meitei pilgrims on their annual pilgrimage and the local residents, with two Kuki youth being killed and four injured.

[46] In May 2022, Meitei activists under the banner of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM, the youth wing of the ruling party) organised a tree plantation drive in Thangjing hills, which was opposed by the local villagers.

[47][48] The Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) of the Henglep block raised the issue and barred the entry of "outsiders" into the hills without the permission of the village chief of the area.

[49][50] The chief of the Ukha Loikhai village was mentioned as the "rightful owner" of the Thangjing Hill, whose permission was necessary for any such efforts.