A Trip to Mizoram
Tucked away in the thickets of green on the southern tip of Northeast India, Mizoram is a nature lover's paradise. Mizoram Tourism is about enjoying all that nature has to offer, in the forms of lakes, valleys and rivers.
Mizoram is linked with the rest of the country by air, rail and surface transport.Mizoram is linked with the rest of the country by air. Lengpui Airport which is 37 kms from the capital city Aizawl has direct flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Imphal, Shillong and Agartala operated by various airlines such as Indigo, Air India and Alliance Air.The nearest railhead is Bairabi (132 kms) in Kolasib District and Silchar (180 kms) in Assam.Mizoram is accessible through National Highway 54 via Silchar in Assam and can also be accessed from Tripura and Manipur.
Mizoram is one of the states of Northeast India, with Aizawl as its capital. The name is derived from Mi (people), Zo (Belonging to the people of Mizoram/Lushai Hills) and Ram (land), and thus Mizoram implies "land of the hill people".Mizoram lies in the southernmost outpost of extreme North-Eastern India, the land of the Blue Mountains. Manipur, Assam and Tripura bind the northern end of this little island of tranquility with neighbouring countries Myanmar and Bangladesh nestling most of the state between them.
Evergreen ranges of Mizoram hills with blooms of exotic flora and dense bamboo jungles rise sharply from the plains of Assam in a north-south direction. These hills and plunging gorges are criss-crossed by gushing rivers and sparkling waterfalls. Highest among its several peaks is the Phawngpui (Blue Mountain).
Historians believe that the Mizos are a part of the great wave of the Mongolian race spilling over into the eastern and southern India centuries ago. Their sojourn in western Myanmar, into which they eventually drifted around the seventh century, is estimated to last about ten centuries.
Historians believe that the Mizos are a part of the great wave of the Mongolian race spilling over into the eastern and southern India centuries ago. Their sojourn in western Myanmar, into which they eventually drifted around the seventh century, is estimated to last about ten centuries.
Mizoram is a kaleidoscopic 'pleasure trove' for the discerning visitor, with its wide array of festivals and dances, handicrafts, flora and fauna, breathtaking natural beauty, and temperate climate. The Mizos are very friendly and hospitable. English is commonly spoken. The joyful enthusiasm and the gregarious spirit of the local populace have been the main reasons for establishing some of the most attractive tourism features in this beautiful state.
Today, Mizoram is a dazzling mix of this cross-cultural vibrancy with 91% literacy (the third-highest in India, a fact in which every Mizo takes genuine pride), gender equality and a vigorous pursuit of its ancient cultural traditions and social mores. Almost everybody in the state is a Christian by religion and yet they haven't allowed their distinct Mizo culture to fade.
You will find women working everywhere in Mizoram. In fact, all shops are run and managed by women. Men tend to be taxi drivers or do harder labour by being car/scoooter mechanics, working in the fields, et al. Women are respected, are safe and enjoy considerable freedom. Smoking and chewing tobacco paan/gutkha is very common in Mizoram. Many women too smoke, eat tobacco paan, gutkha etc. Comfortable and decent western clothing is uniformly worn across the state and Mizo women dress up quite smartly with makeup in small villages and cities alike. Divorces are common and so are re-marriages.
People give priority for self-sufficiency and you find no beggars anywhere in Mizoram. The crime rate is almost nil and most Mizo houses in villages and small towns are unlocked. The only thefts are due to some drug addicts. Overall the society is quite homogeneous, peace-loving and classless. Mizoram is sandwiched between Bangladesh and Myanmar, so it could be possible for you to visit the border towns for foreign goods from both countries. Be careful not to bring in alcohol (?), as it is prohibited in Mizoram.
REIEK
This is a very nice place near Aizawl and is a must-see. It has a model Mizo Village. Entry ticket is ₹30/- for adults and ₹10/- for children.There is 2 K.M trek up the mountain from the model Mozo village, which one must do. It takes you up to top of the mountain with a cliff to give you wide, breathtaking view. One must spend some time there. The climb is also quite pleasant and passes through thick forest. You can carry some picnic snacks and drinking water to the top. But make sure you don't litter the place and bring back the waste to dustbins near cafeteria, to maintain the natural, pristine beauty of the place.
VANTAWNG FALL
Surrounded by a vast stretch of thick bamboo forests close to Thenzawl hill station is Mizoram's highest waterfall Vantawng (750 ft high). Located 110 km from Aizawl, this popular water body is worth a visit.
TUIRIHIAU FALLS
The Tuirihiau Falls is located 5 kilometres south of Thenzawl in Serchhip district in the Indian state of Mizoram. Tuirihiau Falls Khawhthla or Tuirihiau Falls Falls is the most spectacular of all the waterfalls and cascades in the fast flowing rivers of Mizoram. It is located in Vanva river near Buangpui. The uniqueness of this waterfall is that there are caves behind the waterfalls and you see the falls from behind.
CHAMPHAI
Drive along the fertile plains of Champhai, about 200 km from Aizawl, to enjoy the stunning vista of emerald rice fields bordered by the smoky hills of Myanmar. Champai has the biggest stretch of plains in Mizoram which is used for rice cultivation.
This bustling commercial hub on the Indo-Myanmar borderline also attracts nature lovers by the droves. You can book accommodation in a government lodge. All the huts have scenic view of beautiful hills in Myanmar. It is worth enjoying the clear sky at night. You will realize that there are more stars in the sky than you thought.
The road from Aizwal to Champai is not very good in some places and it takes about 8 hours one way by a shared SUMO. A privately hired car may take about 6-7 hrs. Top speed of only 40 km per hr is possible. But the raw and yet scenic beauty one enjoys along the winding, turning road which goes through thick forests, is a memorable experience.
RIHDIL
This is a very beautiful lake situated in Myanmar and is very near to the Indo-Myanmar border. Rih means heart. Dil means lake. This lake is heart-shaped. You can reach this place from Champhai. You need to catch an auto from Govt lodge to reach Champhai bazaar. Then, you need to reserve a seat in a shared SUV which leaves for Zokhawthar ( roughly meaning a 'new Mizo village') . Zokhawthar is situated at the Indo-Burma border. Get a permit for a nominal cost from the Burmese outpost to enter Burma.
Once you enter Burma, you can walk up to the lake which is around 1.5 km from the outpost or you can hire a bike which will be driven by a Burmese. You need to start your journey early in the morning, not because the place is far but because unless the shared SUV gets all the passengers, it will not leave for Zokhawthar, and there are only a few such shared SUVs running between Champhai and Zokhawthar. It is better you hire a cab in Champhai. It is also possible to take your vehicle ( if you have exclusively hired it) inside for a fee. Ask the driver to do the needful.
PHAWNGPUI
One of the finest encounter with Mizoram's splendid vistas is Phawngpui, its highest peak, extremely popular with trekkers and adventure enthusiasts. The Blue Mountain, as it is often referred to, is 300 km from Aizawl and close to the Myanmar border. Fragrant herbs and rare species of orchids and rhododendrons are found here.
If you're a citizen of India and you're not from Mizoram, you cannot enter without an Inner Line Permit (ILP).All Indian citizens (with the exception of ethnic Mizos) have to apply for an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to enter the state. There are two ILPs which you can apply for: A temporary permit (valid for 7 days) or a regular permit (valid for 6 months). Regular permits require sponsorship from a local or a government agency. Temporary permit cost INR 350/- , you can easily get it in the arrival of Lengpui Airport.You can also avail it in various "Mizoram House: located Kolkata, Guwahati etc .All foreign visitors need to register themselves with the police within 24 hours of arrival. Citizens of Afghanistan, China, and Pakistan, and anyone having origins in these three countries will be denied entry unless they have permission from the Home Affairs Ministry.
No comments