18. Mizoram

Tourism in Mizoram

Mizoram is considered by many as a beautiful place due to its dramatic landscape and pleasant climate. The state is rich in bird diversity, which has the potential to make it a major Birdwatching destination., Mizoram is a stronghold for Mrs. Hume's PheasantSyrmaticus humiae. There is also a rare record of the Wild water buffalo from the state. There have been several past records of sightings of the Sumatran rhinoceros from Mizoram, and Lushai hills. A small population of wild elephants can be seen in Ngengpui and Dampa Sanctuaries. Other interesting sites are Mizo Poets' Square also known as Mizo Hlakungpui Mual in Mizo and the Great Megaliths locally known as 'Kawtchhuah Ropui'. Pu Ziona, who lives in Baktawng near Aizawl, also has lot of visitors due to his fame as having the largest Family in the World.

A panorama of Aizawl taken from Zemabawk.

Major Towns Cities of Mizoram

Aizawl

Aizawl is the capital of the state of Mizoram in India. It is also the centre of all important government offices, state assembly house and civil secretariat. The main tourist attraction in Aizawl are:

   
Bara Bazar is the main shopping centre of Aizawl in Dawrpui Veng locality. The steep Zion Street is lined with stalls selling garments .The main bazar is where the people are best seen in their traditional costumes selling produce from the farms as well as imports from China brought through Myanmar border area.The Millenium Center in the same locality is a popular shopping Mall.
   
Mizoram State Museum is located in the centre of the town at Zarkawt. This museum gives a good insight into Mizo traditions, culture and history.
   
Reiek Tourist Resort is a beautiful place at an elevation of 1548 metres, located 45 km south of Aizawl with a traditional Mizo Village.is a tourist spot 12 km from Aizawl, Mizoram.
   
Durtlang Hills situated on the northern side of Aizawl offers a fine view of the hill station from either Durtlang Hospital or Aizawl Theological College.
   
Hmuifang is about 50 km from Aizawl with an elevation of 1619 metres, the mountain is still covered with virgin forests reserved since the Mizo Chief's time.
   
Berawtlang Tourist Complex situated 7 km from Aizawl is a recreational centre that hosts cultural activities. It is also considered a popular picnic spot.
   
Baktawng Village 70 km from Aizawl is the place where Pu Ziona lives with the "worlds largest existing family" with 39 wives, 94 children, 14 daughters-in-law and 33 grandchildren India.
   
Solomon's Temple, Aizawl Mizoram, India located in Kidron Valley, Chawlhhmun locality is a grand temple complex operated by Kohran Thianghlim of Mizoram.
       
" LALRUANGA LUNG" is located in N.Khawbung Village ( Champhai district),N.khawbung is not far from Champhai town, around16 km from champhai. Champhai is 194 km from Aizawl. Lalruanga history is one of the interesting, excellent and famous in MIZO folktales. On this rock ( Lalruanga lung), Legendary Lalruanga's met his fateful end. ( 'Lalruanga' is a personal name, and 'Lung' means Stone/rock)

Champhai

Champhai is a border town in Mizoram state. Set on an altitude of 1678 metres, the town overlooks a patch of flat land which happens to be the largest plain area in the state and also commands a good view of the adjoining hill ranges of Myanmar from which the forefathers of the Mizos immigrated ages ago. Some of the more popular tourist spots near Champhai are:
   
Murlen National Park is home to a rich variety of Flora and Fauna. About 15 species of mammals, 150 species of birds, 35 species of Medicinal plants. 2 species of bamboos & 4 species of orchids so far have been recorded in this Park.
   
Mura Puk is situated in Zote village, which is 10 km away from Champhai town. There are six caves at this site and these were the hiding place of the local villagers.
   
Rih dïl 27 kilometres from Champhai near Zokhawthar in Myanmar is considered to be the passage of the souls to the eternal abode. The lake is around a kilometre long and 70 metres wide.
   
Thasiama Seno Neihna is a plateau on a rugged hillock measuring around 7.20 sqmin near Vaphai village, which is 86 km away from Champhai.
   
Fiara Tui is located about 65 km from Champhai and has its source in the Tan Tlang Mountain.
   
Mizo Hlakungpui Mual- is a monument to commemorate Mizo poets. It was set up in 1986. It is located at the southern edge of Khawbung Village which is near Champhai.
   
Lamsial Puk is located very close to Farkawn village in the district of Champhai of the Mizoram state. It is believed that a huge fight took place at this site between two villages, during which a large number of villagers were killed.
   
Hnahlan is a grape growing area which is very close to Champhai with vineyards and beautiful climate.
   
Zokhawthar is a trading town 28 km from Champhai on the border with Myanmar.
   
Lianchhiari Tlangabout 56 km from Champhai is a rocky ledge over a high cliff near the village of Dungtlang.
   
Tan Tlangis around 85 km from Champhai, it is 6356 ft above sea level located near Vaphai village

" LALRUANGA LUNG" is located in N.Khawbung Village ( Champhai district),N.khawbung is not far from Champhai town, around16 km from champhai. Champhai is 194 km from Aizawl. Lalruanga history is one of the interesting, excellent and famous in MIZO folktales. On this rock ( Lalruanga lung), Legendary Lalruanga's met his fateful end. ( 'Lalruanga' is a personal name, and 'Lung' means Stone/rock)

   
CHAWNGTLAI - MIZO HISTORICAL VILLAGE (162 km from Aizawl, 50 km from Champhai)

Historical Sites and Artifacts at Chawngtlai- Mizo Historical Village are:

1. House site of Chawngtlai Chief Nikuala, who guarded the western part of Mizoram from the eastern enemies.
2. Sahlam - a tree where they hung enemy heads
3. Zawlbuk ban - Foundation post bachelor quarters
4. Tawlhlohpuan - the first warriors clothes originated from this village
5. Pasaltha Hranghleia feikibar - Brave worriers Hranghlei’s spear-head
6. Manganga lungtat - Whetting stone of Manganga, the chief blacksmith
7. Manganga lung - Monuments pictorial stone of Manganga, the chief blacksmith
8. Chawngtlai - The flowering tree called Chawngtlai
9. Hmar Lungtat - Whetting stone of Hmar tribe dating back to 1700 AD
10. Pasaltha Hranghleia thlan - Tomb stone of brave warriors Hranghleia, who guarded the western from the eastern enemies
11.Lasi lalnu Tantihchhingi Khawpuitan - the hills of the forest fairy queen Tantinchhingi
12.Lal Nikuala inthawina - Chief Nikuala’s worship place
13.Tantinchhingi Khawpuitan puk - A fairy queen Tantinchhingi cave at Khawpuitan
14.Thingtlang Thlanmual hmasaber - First village graveyard in Mizoram
15.Hranglung - Monument by warriors in the 18th century
16. Lal lungdawh - Monuments by the Chief and his family
17.Lalruanga lungkahkeh - the ancient famous mizo warlock stone crushed with his arrow
18.Lal Nikuala man tuma lo thawk British sipai inkulhna - The resting place of Chief Nikuala where the British Army captured him
19.Mithah kawn - The last slaughter place, where the enemy warriors from Pawih tribe slaughtered the Lushei.
20.Mizoram lungphun sang ber - Tallest monolith in Mizoram 24.6 feet
21.Lungsen(red rock)- fortune telling red coloured rock
22. Biaklawma lung - Memorial stone of biaklawma, a bachelor who guided the children in doing good and introduced the idea of the Mizoram Presbyterian’s version of babies’s Christening
23.Puk ropui - The big/great cave
24.Lasi rorelna puk - A cave where the forest fairies used to have council meetings
25.Theire puk - the cave where the village priest used to give offerings to the pagan gods
26.Hringei puk - The cannibal cave
27. Sai Bualpui Dil - A bathing pond of the elephants

Thenzawl

Thenzawl is a beautiful town located in the middle of Mizoram, the main tourist attractions are:

   
Vantawng Falls is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of Thenzawl.
   
Benkhuaia Thlan - The founder of Thenzawl Bengkhuaia invaded Alexandrapur in 1871 kidnapping Mary Winchester which brought about the British to Mizoram. He died ub 1879.
   
Vaibiak is the place from where they took back Mary Winchester.
   
Tualvungi Thlan There are two graves at Phulpui village in the Aizawl district of Mizoram India. It is said that, Zawlpala, Chief of Phulpui village, married the legendary beauty, Talvungi of Thenzawl. Talvungi was subsequently married to the chief of Rothai, Punthia. But, Talvungi could not forget Zawlpala, her previous husband. After many years when Zawlpala died, grief-stricken Talvungi came to Phulpui, dug a pit by the side of Zawlpala's grave and asked an old woman to kill her and bury her in the grave.
   
Chawngchilhi Puk or cave had a love story between a lady and a snake.
   
Tuirihiau is a beautiful waterfall near Thenzawl, upstream of Vantawng fall.
   
Thenzawl Deer Park has 17 deers(11 female and 6 male) in natural environment.

Lunglei

Lunglei is a town, situated in the south-central part of Mizoram. The Main Tourist Attractions in Lunglei are:

Zobawk Sports Academy
Kawmzawl Park
Khawnglung Wildlife Sanctuary

Saikuti Hall where most of the concerts and celebrations are held. A unique museum has also been established in the hall where local painters demonstrate their skill and exhibit their works.

Thuamluaia Mual is the second football stadium with Artificial turf in Mizoram.

Hill Stations

Hmuifang Tlang

Hmuifang is a tourist spot near Aizawl, Mizoram. It is about 50 km from Aizawl With an elevation of 1619 metres, the mountain is still covered with virgin forests reserved since the Mizo Chief's time. Hmuifang is on the way to Lunglei.

Reiek Tlang

Reiek is a tourist 12 km from Aizawl.It rest at an elevation of 1548 metres, overlooking Aizawl and offers view of the surrounding valleys and hills, on a clear day the plains of Bangladesh can be seen from the top of the hill. Reiek Hill is surrounded by thick lush green temperate trees and bushes.

Lakes

Palak Dil

Palak dïl (lit. Palak Lake) or Pala Tipo (in Mara language) is the biggest lake in Mizoram
Tam Dil

Tam Dil Lake is a reservoir located in the hills 6 km from Saitual, a nearby town and 110 km from Aizawl.

Waterfalls

Vantawng Falls

Vantawng Falls (called Vantawng Khawhthla in Mizo language) is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of Thenzawl in Serchhip district in the Indian state of Mizoram. It is a two-tiered waterfall with a total height of 229 metres (751 ft).
Festivals

Young Mizos are leaving traditional customs and adopting new ways of life which are greatly influenced by Western culture. Christmas is probably the biggest festival and local communities contribute towards large feasts, typically organised by nearby churches, where many hundreds in a local community would eat together. Traditional Mizo social gatherings revolve around the agricultural calendar.

Mim Kut

The Mim Kut Festival is usually celebrated during the months of August and September, after the harvest of maize. Mim Kut is celebrated with great fanfare by (illegally) drinking rice-beer, singing, dancing, and feasting. Samples of the year's harvests are consecrated to the departed souls of the community.

Chapchar Kut

Chapchar Kut is another festival celebrated during March after completion of their most arduous task of Jhum operation i.e., jungle-clearing (clearing of the remnants of burning). This is a spring festival celebrated with great fervour and gaiety.

Pawl Kut

Pawl Kut Festival; Pawl means “Straw” hence pawl kut means a straw harvest festival. It is typically celebrated in December and is another important festival.

Wild Life

Phawngpui

Phawngpui is the highest mountain peak in Mizoram, rising about 2157 metres high near the Myanmar border in Chhimtuipui District. Phawngpui Peak is famous for orchids and rhododendrons.

Dampa Tiger Reserve

Dampa Tiger Reserveis the largest wildlife sanctuary in Mizoram, was notified in 1985 and declared a Tiger Reserve in 1944. It is situated in the western part of Mizoram state, on the international border with Bangladesh about 127 km from Aizawl. It covers an area of approximately 550 km². The tropical Forests of Dampa are home to rich flora and fauna. It consists of forest interpolated with steep precipitous hills, deep valleys, jungle streams, ripping rivulets, natural salts licks, with an altitudinal zone of 200 - 800 mts. Dampa Tiger Reserve is a part of Project Tiger funded by the Government of India.
Murlen National Park

Murlen National Park is a national park located in the Champhai district Mizoram in India. The size of the park area is 200 km². The park is situated about 245 km east of Aizawl, and is close to the Chin Hills. It covers an area of approximately 100 km2. The Tropical, Semi evergreeen and Sub montane Forests of Murlen are home to a rich variety of Flora and Fauna. About 15 species of mammals, 150 species of birds, 35 species of Medicinal plants. 2 species of bamboos & 4 species of orchids so far have been recorded in this Park.At present, 36 people are involved in conservation work of Murlen National Park.