Sequestered in the far-flung reaches of northeast India, Mizoram is perfect for slow-paced travel. Its raw scenic beauty, fresh environs, rich cultural heritage, attractive crafts, organic food, and easy adventure activities make it a sheer paradise for discerning travellers. By Karan Kaushik
Once a part of Assam, the Mizo Hills were included in British India in 1895. The north and south hills were officially merged as the Lushai Hills district in 1898. It was renamed Mizo Hills district in 1954. Mizoram served as a Union Territory before attaining full statehood in 1987.
Mizoram shares its borders with Manipur, Assam, and Tripura. Some parts also lie at a kissing distance from Myanmar and Bangladesh. Home to the Kuki, New Kuki, and Lushai tribes, Mizoram is endowed with abundant natural beauty.
Here is all you need to know about travelling to Mizoram
Places to Visit
Aizawl
Known as the abode of highlanders, Mizoram’s capital Aizawl stands on gorgeous ridges and overlooks the Tawang River valley. It is also one of the rare places in India through which the Tropic of Cancer passes. Aizawl serves as a nice city to get acquainted with the Mizo people, and their culture.
View this post on Instagram
There’s not much to be done here apart from the Mizoram State Museum and KV Paradise, touted as Aizawl’s modern Taj Mahal. Aizawl serves as a nice base to begin your explorations in Mizoram. From here, you can take a day excursion to the mesmerising Tam Dil Lake.
View this post on Instagram
You may also visit Thenzawl, a picturesque village that serves as the main centre for Mizoram’s traditional handloom industry. When in Thenzawl, you must also not miss the Vantawng Waterfall, located only 5km from here. Nestled amidst lush bamboo forests, the waterfall is Mizoram’s highest waterfall.
View this post on Instagram
If wildlife is your thing, plan a visit to the Khawnglung Wildlife Sanctuary, located 170km from Aizawl. Then there’s the Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary, which can be reached from Thenzawl. Another wildlife haven that you could explore near Aizawl is the Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary.
Reiek
An hour-long ride from Aizawl takes you to the tiny village of Reiek, which is famous for hosting the Anthurium Festival in September every year. The mountaintop on which the village is perched offers stunning views of rocky cliffs and verdant forests. Marvel at the sunlit peaks glowing in amber and watch freshwater cascades gushing from every corner. Reiek is a sensuous feast for the eyes, to say the least.
Dotted with traditional Mizo huts, Reiek offers an off-beat travel experience. On your way to Reiek, stop at Ailawng village and allow the locals to tell you the story of the great Mizo warrior Khuangchera, who died while fighting the British army.
View this post on Instagram
Do visit the Khuangchera Puk cave, named after the warrior. Wildlife lovers must visit the Dampa Tiger Reserve, 20km from Reiek. Sprawling over an area of 572sqkm, the wildlife sanctuary became a tiger reserve in 1994.
Hmuifang
This gorgeous village is a trekker’s paradise. Located on the Hmuifang Mountain, 50km from Aizawl, Hmuifang is blessed with unspoilt scenic beauty. It’s perfect for family picnics, leisure holidays, and adventure activities like trekking and rock climbing.
When here, you can embark on rewarding treks to Sumsuih, Chawilung, Maubuang, Thiak, Sateek, and Sialsuk villages and explore rural Mizoram. Many locals run homestays here and would be more than happy to welcome you to savour local cuisine and experience their daily life.
View this post on Instagram
Blessed with rich flora and fauna, Hmuifang also offers nice opportunities for biodiversity trekking. You may contact Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Network (BIOCONE) for more information on the same.
From Hmuifang, head to Phawngpui, also known as the Blue Mountain. You can explore the Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park here. The park is dotted with a wide variety of orchids, bamboos, and rhododendrons. If fortunate, you may even run into a leopard cat or an Asiatic black bear. It is one of the few places in India where clouded leopard sightings have been recorded.
Lunglei
An important town of Mizoram, Lunglei’s boasts an incredibly beautiful landscape. A perfect getaway for lovers of the great outdoors, Lunglie has its own share of exciting myths and legends. The town is known to house extremely rare Buddhist relics.
The city gets its name from the Lunglei stone bridge. The stunning Karbafuli river valley here is a must-visit for every nature lover. When in Lunglei, you can also take a day excursion to Saiha. Visit the Palak Dil Lake from here known for its large wealth of ducks and wetland birds.
View this post on Instagram
The adventurous at heart can also embark on trekking and caving expeditions. Get in touch with the Youth Hostels Association of India, Mizoram, to help you with the same.
Champhai
You will love Champhai if #cloudporn is your favourite hashtag. Dotted with lovely vineyards, beautiful valleys, charming orchards and verdant hills, the small hamlet is simply stunning. It features the Letha Mountain range. Champhai’s untouched beauty makes it a perfect summer getaway. It is also great for trekking and camping.
View this post on Instagram
From Champhai, you can visit the Murlen National Park, popular for hoolock gibbons. If you wish to delve deeper into the rural Mizo lifestyle, you can also visit Ruantlang village. Here, you can unwind in the lap of nature at Rih Dil Lake.
View this post on Instagram
If you are a wine connoisseur, do visit the little village of Hnahlan, known for its grapes and local wine called Zawlaidi. If adventure excites you, try caving at Tluangtea Puk.
How to reach
By Air
There are daily flights to Aizawl’s Lengpui Airport from Kolkata. From the airport, you can hire a taxi to reach Aizawl city, which lies at 45km. Contact Lengpui Airport at 0389-2573355
By Rail
Silchar, at 140km is the nearest railhead. It will take you about 6 hrs to reach Aizawl. Independent and shared taxis are easily available for Aizawl.
By Road
Aizawl is connected to Silchar by NH54. You can also take the Guwahati-Shillong-Jowai-Silchar-Aizawl route via Sonaimukh, Kolasib and Mualvum. Private and government buses run regularly from Guwahati to Aizawl via Shillong.
Weather and best time to go
Mizoram experiences a pleasant climate throughout the year. There are no extreme weather conditions. Summers are from March to May. Monsoon starts from May-end and lasts till September. Winters are cold and last from October to March. The best time to visit Mizoram is from September to May.
Where to stay
Mizoram doesn’t have high-end five-star luxury hotels. But there’s no dearth for comfortable stays. Hotel Regency (Contact: 0389 2349334), at Zarkawt Main Road, is a decent option. It has 45 rooms and a top-class suite. Expect all mod cons at affordable rates here. They have a multicuisine restaurant too.
View this post on Instagram
Another nice option is JIT Hotel (Contact: +91 98623 42903), only 2.2km from the airport. Offering all necessary modern facilities, the hotel makes for a nice stay. The deluxe rooms have attached balconies that offer stunning views of the mountainous landscape. They too have an in-house restaurant that will take care of your hunger pangs.
Related: These Road Trips From Shillong Will Make Your Journey All The More Memorable
Most popular
Most popular
