Location:
Northeastern Region Of India
Capital:
Aizwal
Tourist
Attractions: Tamdil Lake,
Palak Lake, Phawngui Peak, Milu
Peak, Pukzing Cave, Lamail Puk
Best Time
to Visite : October To
April |
Tourism in
Mizoram
Land Of The Blue
Mountain
With the exclusion of a small portion lying
in the plains, the entire state is full of
ranges running in the north-south direction.
The hilly ridges vary from about 3,000 feet
to 7,000 feet. The slope of the hills is
very steep while the gorges are narrow and
so deep that in many cases one cannot fathom
their bottom. The plains are mostly located
in the eastern part of Mizoram, namely the
places known as Champhai (about 7-km in
length and 3-km in width) and a portion of
Vanlaiphai (about 6-km in length and 3-km in
width).
Through this land mass of hills and plains
flow the main 13 rivers, which irrigate and
render the soil fertile for cultivation.
Perched on the high hills, Mizoram is
flanked by Bangladesh in the west and
Myanmar in the east and south, sharing
around 630-kms with these foreign countries.
Two sister states of Manipur and Assam
border with it on the north, while Tripura
lies in the west. The highest peak, the blue
mountain known locally as "Phawngpui"
(meaning "Vast Meadow") is 2,065m in height.
Occupying an area of 21,087-sq-kms, Mizoram
supports a population of over five Lakh who
call themselves 'Mizo'. The term 'Mizo' is a
compound of two words: 'Mi' means man and 'Zo'
means hills. Thus Mizo connotes a "hill
man". The term 'Mizo', therefore, gives a
racial and distinctive ethnic identity to
the people of the state.
CLIMATE
The climate is not uniform in the entire
state. The valleys are warm and humid while
the higher ridges are delightfully cool and
pleasant even in the hot season of the year.
Monsoon winds blow across the hills in April
or early May. The rainfall, which generally
starts in May, varies from 70 to 170 inches
in a year. The temperature fluctuates from
200C to 290C in summer and 110C to 200C in
winter.
The People :
Protected By Angels
The Mizos are simple, happy, carefree,
contented, generous and freedom-loving
people. They lead a life of close
comradeship in their habitat of a salubrious
climate and dense green forests abounding in
diverse flora and fauna. They rank third in
the country as far as percentage of literacy
is concerned - the state with 87% literacy
rate is just behind Chandigarh and Kerala.
The Mizos do not draw any status distinction
between men and women who rank equal in
their society. Their guiding code of ethics
is known as "Tlawmngaihna", which means that
everyone should be unselfish, hospitable and
helpful towards each other, endowed with a
rich culture, they are passionately drawn to
dance and songs. They have a rich variety of
community dances, which have been handed
down for generations. The dances reflect
their mirthful nature.
The Mizos also believed that mountains, big
trees, huge rocks, swamps and caves were
haunted by malevolent spirits and demons
which caused suffering to human beings in
their own different ways. However, under the
British rule, western missionaries brought
about evangelization of the people from the
19th century. And enamoured of their
newfound faith, the Mizos clung to it with
dedication and submission. Consequently,
Christian culture now has a great bearing on
the social life of the Mizos.
Festivals
The Mizos have a large variety of annual
festivals. Being mainly agriculturists by
occupation, their festivals are linked with
shifting cultivation, the cutting down of
jungle, sowing and harvesting. Three
prominent festivals are known as "Chapchar
Kut", "Mini Kut" and "Pawl Kut". Chapchar
Kut is the greatest festival observed after
completion of the cutting down of the jungle
in February and March.
Mini Kut is the maize festival celebrated in
September after the maize harvest is
dedicated to the departed souls. The third
festival, Pawl Kut, is observed after the
harvest in December. This is festival is
devoted to children's welfare. During these
festivals, villagers sing, dance and feast
in thanksgiving. According into a legend,
the origin of festivals goes back to olden
times before the Mizos migrated to India
from Myanmar. After having faced famine for
consecutive years, they prayed to their
supreme God, Chhung Pathian, who blessed
them with bumper crops. The festivals are,
therefore, primarily observed as devotion
and in thanksgiving. However, today, the
greatest festival is Christmas and New
Year's Day.
Places Of Interest
in Mizoram :
Folklore Comes Alive
The places of interest to visitors may be
categorised under four principal heads:
Natural lakes, Peaks, Flora and fauna and
sites of historical significance. The Palak
Lake is situated in an accessible area in
the south of the state. It is an abode of
aquatic birds with wild duck of different
species. Fish and crab are found in the lake
measuring 200 metres in length and 150
metres in width in an area of 30 hectares.
Bear, tiger, deer, wild pig and other fauna
are found in the forest surrounding the
lake.
Tamdil Lake in Aizawl district is another
abode of aquatic fauna consisting of fish
and prawns and wild life in the enclosing
jungle. Rangdil lake is surrounded by
tropical and evergreen forests. Rangdil is a
man made lake some 150 kilometres from
aizawl.
Peaks
There are about 21 peaks in Mizoram varying
from 1,179m to 2,157 metres in altitude. The
peaks are generally precipitous which have
led to the theory that the territory was
earlier under water, which receded from west
to the east. The fact that Mizoram hills
abruptly rise from the plains of Assam gives
credence to the theory. The peaks offer much
scope to visitors fond of adventure sports
like climbing and mountaineering.
Historically Important
Some 13 places of historical interest are
associated with legends, local folklore and
stories. The deep sense of belonging and
togetherness of the mizos has been
interwoven with these places. They form an
important part of the history and culture of
the Mizo race.
Phawngui - The Blue Mountain
"Phawngui" or the Blue Mountain, the highest
mountain peak in Mizoram, is considered the
abode of gods to whom annual sacrifices are
offered. On the peak, there is a level
ground about 200 hectares which is
surrounded by matted bamboo groves, rare
flora species and Orchids and Rhododendrons
which have survived owing to the isolation
of the mountain. Milu peak is a cave of
human skulls of people who lived in the area
before the Mizos. They were known as "Tlau".
Caves
Pukzing Cave about 25-km wide is the biggest
cave said to have been carved out using a
hairpin by a sturdy man called "Mualzavata".
Lamail Puk is another cave, the site of a
war between two villages. Kungawrhi Puk is
named after a beautiful girl around whom an
interesting story is associated. Thansiama
Seno Neihna is a hill whose top is beautiful
flat land. Subutta Lung is a memorial stone
erected which again has a fascinating Storyu.
Philpul grave has two graves to which
visitors are attracted because of the
legends linked with the site. The memorial
of Chhingpui is again a memorial stone
connected with love stories of the past.
The Buddha's image near Mualchung village
was found near Lunglei town. On either side
of the image, there are engravings of
dancing girls.
The names of other locations of historical
interest are Khawng Run, Thangliana Lung,
Suangpuilawn inscriptions, Lungvandawl,
Tualchung, Mangkahia Lung, Pangzawl and
eastern villages. These places, in their
turn, will provide the visitor with a
cluster of folklore of the Mizo people.
Flora And Fauna : Feathered Friends
Orchids are abundant in Mizoram. Epiphytic
orchids are greater in number than
terrestrial ones. Some of the rare species
of orchids endemic to Mizoram consist of
fine foliage and bright flowers of great
interest to garden lovers. There is a drive
to protect the wildlife and conserve the
threatened and endemic Taxa of orchids and
other interesting plants in the Orchidaria
of the botanical survey of India at Shillong,
the capital of Meghalaya state.
Available records show that a wide range of
insects, Molluscs, Crustaceans, a few 1,000
species of insects, about 12 species of
Butterflies and Moths , 20 of Beetles, 13 of
Molluscs and various types of Snails are
found in Mizoram. Seven species of Owls, 10
of Pheasants, 12 of Hawks and Eagles, 11 of
Bulbuls belonging to 13 families, nine of
Egrets and Herons too exist. The mammals
consist of Black and Wild Bear Tiger,
Leopard, Hoolock Gibbon, Chinese Pangolin,
Clawless Otter, Porcupine and Mongoose.
TOURIST INFORMATION
Director, Tourism Department, Govt. of
Mizoram, Aizwal - 1
Mizoram House, 24 Old Ballygunge Road,
KolKata - 19
Mizoram House, Circular Road, Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi.
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India
Travel Guide / States / Mizoram Travel Guide
