The history of Ukhrul is fundamentally woven with the history of the Tangkhul Nagas. According to local oral traditions, the Tangkhul people migrated from regions further east (modern-day Myanmar) and settled in the fertile hills of present-day Ukhrul district centuries ago. Historically, the villages operated as independent chiefdoms, fiercely protecting their territories and engaging in headhunting practices before the arrival of modern administration.
A major turning point in Ukhrul's history occurred in 1896 when Reverend William Pettigrew, a Scottish-British missionary, arrived in the area. Finding the highland climate and the local populace receptive, he established the first western school and introduced Christianity to the Tangkhul people. This event triggered profound social, educational, and cultural transformations, rapidly modernizing the local society and replacing older animist traditions with widespread Baptist Christianity.
During World War II, Ukhrul and its surrounding hills were deeply impacted by the Burma Campaign. As Japanese forces advanced toward Imphal and Kohima in 1944, the region saw strategic movements and skirmishes, with local villagers often caught in the crossfire or assisting the Allied forces. Following India's independence in 1947, Ukhrul became a sub-division and later an independent district in 1969. In recent decades, it has grown into a bustling town, retaining its indigenous identity while dealing with the modern challenges of infrastructure and economic development.