In Imphal, residents said furniture was knocked over and books fell off shelves but no major damage has been reported so far.
"The ground swayed for almost a minute, jolting people awake in their homes," said one resident, Apem Arthur.
The area is dotted with small houses. There are few tall buildings in the region, she said.
"It was the biggest earthquake we have felt in Imphal," disaster response worker Kanarjit Kangujam from Imphal said.
The tremors were also felt in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal state.