Mizoram is a beautiful, hilly and landlocked Indian state located in the Northeastern part of the country and is bordered by three Indian states namely Assam, Manipur and Tripura and also it shares its borders with the two neighbouring countries, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Almost the whole state of Mizoram is based on the hills. There are plenty of lush green spaces in the state and surprisingly 91% of total area of the state are covered by forests. It is the 2nd least populous state in India with only 1,091,014 population and has an area of 21,087 square kilometres. The name Mizoram was derived from two words 'Mizo' which implies the name of the native inhabitants and 'Ram' means Land. So, Mizoram means 'The Land of the Mizos'. Mizoram is the 2nd highest literate state in India with 92% literacy rate and has a agriculture based economy. The official language of Mizoram is English & Mizo. Around 95% of the peoples living in Mizoram are tribals and is the highest in the country. It is also one of three Christian majority states in India with 87% peoples following Christianity. The peoples of Mizoram are very humble and welcoming. The state of Mizoram is a gem of tourist attractions which are mostly unexplored. So, here in this post I have listed out the most beautiful and the most amazing tourist attractions in Mizoram.
* Note: Every visitors to the state of Mizoram are required to obtain Inner Line Permit before entering the state. One can obtain the permit from the Liaison officer, Government of Mizoram in Silchar, Guwahati, Shillong, Kolkata and New Delhi. So, please have a look on the below list of top tourist attractions in Mizoram to better plan your visit to the state -
1. Aizawl City
Aizawl is the largest and the most densely populated city in Mizoram with 2,93,416 population. It is the capital of the state of Mizoram and is a major Hill Station in India. The whole city of Mizoram is located on the hill and has a very good weather conditions that make it suitable/ideal place for tourists to visit. Being the capital of the state of Mizoram, Aizawl is home to the Mizoram government secretariat and other major govt offices. It is home to the major educational institutions in the state such as, Mizoram University, National Institute of Technology, Mizoram etc. Aizawl is well connected with other parts of India via Air and Roads. The Lengpui Airport located in Aizawl is connected with some state capitals of India including Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata. Aizawl is connected to Guwahati and Silchar via road also. There are several beautiful and important tourist attractions in Aizawl e.g, Mizoram State Museum, Solomon's Temple, Reiek Heritage Village, Phulpui Grave, Durtlang Hills and Burra Bazaar etc.
2. Murlen National Park
Murlen National Park is the largest National Park in the state of Mizoram and is located at Champhai district of the state. It is spreaded across 200 square kilometres of land and is a very densely forested area, which is home to several species of flora and fauna. The Murlen National Park is a tropical, semi-evergreen forest and is home to about 150 different species of birds, 35 varied species of medicinal plants, 15 species of mammals & 4 different species of orchids etc. The Murlen National Park is located at Murlen Village and it was declared as a National Park back in the year 1991. The park has a very similarity with the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. Only 1% of the Sun rays can penetrate through thick/dense forest of the Murlen National Park which is the same with the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. Even there are some places in the Murlen National Park through which not a single beam of light can pass through. The national park is very rich in biodiversity with presence of several varied species of flora & fauna. Some, important flora's found in the park are - Rhodendron, Pinus Kesiya, Betula, Quercus, Orchids and Canes etc. And some notable fauna's found in the Murlen National Park are - Tiger, Rhesus Macaque, Hoolock Gibbon, Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, Barking Deer and Hill Myna etc. Beautiful dense forest of the park and the presence of varied types animals are the prime reasons of popularity of the park among the tourists.
3. Lunglei
Lunglei is the largest district in Mizoram with 4,536 square kilometres of total area & has a population of 1,61,428 according to 2011 Census. The name Lunglei is derived from the word Lungleh, a mizo word which means ' bridge of rock'. Lunglei is the capital of the district of Lunglei. It is the second most populous town/city in the state of Mizoram with 57,011 population as of 2011 according to the 2011 general census. The district of Lunglei is bordered by 5 districts of Mizoram, viz. Mamit, Aizawl, Serchhip, Lawngtlai and Saiha and is also bordered by two countries, viz. Bangladesh and Myanmar. There are 3 sub-divisons in the district of Lunglei, viz. Lunglei Sadar sub-division, Tlabung and Hnahthial sub-divisons. The town of Lunglei is well connected by roadways with the state capital Aizawl and is situated at a distance of 165 km from Aizawl, the capital city of the state of Mizoram. The hilly town of Lunglei is famous for its scenic beauty and for its feasibility to numerous adventurous activities like trekking, hill climbing & is also famous for being a best camping/ picnic spot. There are several wildlife reserve forests or sanctuaries are there in the district of Lunglei which are home to various types of animals and plants. In short, we can say that wildlife sanctuaries in Lunglei are very rich in biodiversity. Two of the most famous and biodiversity rich wildlife sanctuaries in the district of Lunglei are Saza Wildlife Sanctuary and Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary and both of them are most frequented by the tourists. Saza Wildlife Sanctuary is home to some rare species of birds and is also a host of kinds of migratory birds. So, if you are a bird enthusiasts, then this place is a must visit for you. On the other hand, Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for being a home to different types of animals. So, if you visit the park you might have chance to have a glimpse of of tigers, leopards, deers and monkeys etc.
4. Phawngpui National Park
Phawngpui National Park is one of the two National Parks of India located entirely on the Lushai Hill Mountain Range in the state of Mizoram. It is also known as the Blue Mountain and is the highest Mountain Peak in the state of Mizoram with an elevation of 2,157 meters from the sea level. Phawngpui is located in Lawngtlai District in the state Mizoram and is in the proximity of the Myanmar border. The park is spread across 50 acres of land which is highly forested and has huge diversity of different animals and plants. The word Phawngpui is derived from the words 'Phawng/ phong' which ( In Lai language) means " Grasslands'' or " Meadows" & 'Pui' means " Great". So, in Lai language, the meaning of Phawngpui is Great Meadows/ Grasslands. The Lai language is spoken by some native peoples of the Lawngtlai District in Mizoram and is also spoken in some parts of Myanmar. The Phawngpui National Park is located at a distance of 250 kilometres from Aizawl, the capital city of the state of Mizoram. It receives around 2,500 mm rainfall per year and temperature ranges here between 2 - 30 degree Celsius throughout the year. The Phawngpui National Park is great for sightseeing, which has an abundance of natural sceneries and different varieties of flora and fauna's. The most important flora's found in the park are - Rhodendron's, Orchids etc and the fauna's found in the park are - Wreathed hornbill, Blyth's Tragopan, Tiger, Leopard, Slow Lori's, Stump-tailed Macaque, Himalayan Black Bear, oriental pied hornbill, Hoolock Gibbon and Hume's Pheasant ( the state bird of Mizoram) etc. So, if you visit the Phawngpui National Park then you can have a glimpse of all these animals and plants at once and that can turn out to be a very memorable visit in your life.
Best Time to Visit: Between October- March.
5. Vantawng Waterfalls
Vantawng Waterfall is the largest Waterfall in the state of Mizoram and is located in the Serchhip District. It is also the highest Waterfall in the state of Mizoram and is located at a distance of 108 km (according to Google Map) from the state capital, Aizawl via road. The Vantawng Waterfall is well connected via roadways with Aizawl, the capital city of the state of Mizoram and can be reached within 3 to 3:30 hours. It is located on the course of the fast flowing Vanva River near the Thenzawl town. It's a tiered waterfall and is the biggest, tallest and the most beautiful of all the Cascades that falls on the course of the Vanva River. The highest recorded fall of water in the Vantawng Waterfall is as high as 750 feet and that makes it the tallest waterfall in Mizoram and also one of the tallest waterfalls in India. The Vantawng Waterfall is named after the great swimmer Vantawnga who was excelled in swimming over the Cascades and was met with a tragic death from an accident while on one of his performances on the Cascades of the Vanva River, he died when a log fall upon him from above the cascade. The milky-white water falling down from the Vantawng Waterfall amidst the dense green forest looks absolutely amazing and I bet that will be one of your most memorable journey in your life. Albeit, you can't go close to the waterfall because of the dense forest and a very steep slope, you can have a spectacular view of the Vantawng Waterfall from an observation tower that is built near the waterfall. It's a place of scenic beauty and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Mizoram.
Some Important Informations about the Vantawng Waterfall:
Location - Vantawng Waterfall is located on the Vanva River, about 5 kilometers south of Thenzawl, a small town in the Serchhip District of Mizoram.
How to reach there - The Vantawng Waterfall can be reached via Roadways, Trains and via Air also. The Vantawng Waterfall is located at distance of around 108 kilometres from Aizawl, the capital city of the state of Mizoram and can be reached within 3 to 3 & a half hours by cars. The nearby airport to Vantawng Waterfall is Lengpui Airport & is located at Aizawl. The nearby train station to Vantawng Waterfall is Silchar Station which is located at a distance of about 170 kilometers in the state of Assam.
Where to stay there - There are several small hotels, resorts, lodges in Thenzawl district near the Vantawng Waterfall where you can stay overnight while on your visit to the Vantawng Waterfall. Some nearby hotels & resorts to the Vantawng Waterfall are - Hmuifang Tourist Resorts ( located at a distance about 19 km from the waterfall), K H Hotel and Tourist Lodge etc. & all of these are located within 25 kilometers from the Vantawng Waterfall.
Entry Fees - Entry charge is 5 rupees per person.
Timings - 9AM to 5PM
Best Months to Visit - Between September to February.
Nearby tourist attractions - Hmuifang, Lunglei, Aizawl city etc.
6. Mamit
Mamit is one of the 8 districts in Mizoram and is the 4th largest district in the state with a total area of 3,025 square kilometers. The district of Mamit is located on the Western part of Mizoram and is very rich in wildlife and natural sceneries. And because of this reason, Mamit is frequented by tourists visiting the state. Some of the most popular and renowned toursit attractions in Mamit are - Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary, West Phaileng, Pukzing and Saitlaw etc. The Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary is home to several types of flora and fauna e.g, Tigers, sloth bears, leopards, barking deers, rhesus macaques, peacock, emerald dove and leaf monkeys, globba spathulatha etc. The Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary is home to some tigers and with an intention to better protect the lives of the tigers, the Indian Government in 1994, declared Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary a Tiger Reserve. Almost the whole district of Mamit is covered by dense forest and so has a huge abundance of different animals, plants & natural beauties. It's a must visit place for the animal and nature lovers.
7. Hmuifang
Hmuifang is a mountain in the state of Mizoram and is a major tourist attraction in Mizoram. Hamuifang falls under Aizawl district and is located at a distance of about 50 kilometers to the south of Aizawl, the capital city of Mizoram. It's a mountain with dense forests, different cliffs and with some lush green spaces/ grasslands. The Hmuifang Mountain is an ideal place for sightseeing, picnic, outdoor camping, relaxing etc. It's a haven for nature lovers. There's a famous resort in Hamuifang called 'Hamuifang Tourist Resort' which was built by a former Mizo Chief Minister and is now used in to accommodate the tourists visiting the Hamuifang Mountain. The Hamuifang Tourist Resort is a luxury resort and has a cafeteria. From the Resort one can have a spectacular view of the surrounding forests and the green fields. Moreover, Hamuifang is a cultural center and is the venue of two famous festivals of Mizoram namely Thalfavang Kut. & Anthurium festival. You can have a deeper insight about the mizo lifestyle and culture by visiting the nearby villages e.g, Lamchhip, Sumsuih, and chamring village etc. Hamuifang is well connected to the state capital Aizawl via roadways which makes it accessible for the tourists to have an amazing visit to Hamuifang.
8. Reiek
Reiek is a hill station and a famous tourist attraction located at a distance of 29 kilometers to the west of Aizawl, the capital city of the state of Mizoram. Reiek is renowned for its vast green forests & bushes. It's an excellent location for natural sightseeing and outdoor camping. From Reiek, you can have a spectacular view of the hills and valleys surrounding it, which would definitely be a very memorable moment of your journey to Reiek and to the state of Mizoram. You can enjoy trekking on the Reiek Mountain and you might encounter so many types of birds, animals and plants during your journey through the Reiek Mountain.
There's a typical old mizo village in Reiek consisting different bamboo huts, which will take you back to old times, when the mizo peoples used to live on those kind of houses. And by the side of the old mizo village, a new and modern mizo village is constructed which is made of concrete, which signifies the change of mizo lifestyle with the passing times. In short, you can have a depth understanding about old mizo lifestyle and their transition to the new modern lifestyle once you visit Reiek. The most famous flower in Reiek is Anthurium and is a local grown product of Reiek. Every year in the month of September, Anthurium Festival is held in Reiek to promote the home grown Anthurium. Also, numerous fashion shows are organised in Reiek every year. So, if you visit Reiek in September, don't miss to attend the Anthurium Festival. You could enjoy numerous traditional mizo dance and the shows of flower and that I bet would be an unforgettable moment. Also, you might get a glimpse of Peregrine Falcon (a rare species of falcons found in Mizoram) while on your journey to Reiek.
Best Month to Visit - April
9. Saiha
Saiha is one of eight districts in Mizoram located at the south-easternmost part of the state and is bordered by Myanmar to the south-east side and also it shares its boundaries with two other mizo districts namely, Lunglei and Lawngtlai on the north and south respectively. Saiha is officially known as Siaha, the name was given by the Mara Autonomous District Council. The majority of the peoples living in Saiha belongs to Mara tribe and the Mara Autonomous District Council is one of the 3 autonomous district council in the state of Mizoram. Though, the peoples living in the district popularly calls it as Saiha. The official name of the district Siaha is derived from two words - 'Sia' means Elephant and 'Ha' means Tooth. So, the literal meaning of Siaha is ' Elephant Tooth' or 'Tooth of Elephant'. Saiha is further divided into two development blocks- Saiha and Tipa and has a total population of 56,574 according to 2011 census.
Saiha has a moderate temperature and is one of the main reasons why peoples from different parts of India and from across the world flocked into this place. Saiha is a hill station with huge abundance of natural sceneries and is good for trekking and outdoor camping. Also, if you are an adventure enthusiast, then you can take part in numerous adventurous activities in the district of Saiha. Having a look a look on the surrounding hills from each hill in Saiha is so amazing and memorable that might tempt you to visit the scenic beauty again and again. Also, by visiting the Mizo villages in Saiha, you can have an in-depth knowledge about the contemporary mizo culture and lifestyle.
10. Tamdil Lake
Tam Dil is a reservoir or a lake located at Saitual Village in the the district of Aizawl. The Tamdil lake is located at a distance of 90 kilometers via road from the state capital Aizawl and can be reached roughly within 3 hours in usual traffic. It is situated to the east of Aizawl and is a place of serene beauty. The name Tamdil is derived from the two mizo words, ' Tam' ( a short form of the original word 'antam') which means Mustard Plant and 'Dil' means Lake. So, the literal meaning of Tamdil is " Lake of Mustard" or " Mustard Lake".The Tamdil lake was created with an intention to create a reservoir for fishes by the Fisheries Department, Government of Mizoram. There are some resorts and lodges by the side of the lake where the tourists can have their food and stay overnight. This is a very quiet place with huge abundance of natural sceneries and to spend a night in the resorts located by the side of the Tamdil lake is really one of the most interesting things to do to enjoy the ultimate visual & mental pleasure the vast natural sceneries and the resorts of the Tamdil Lake/ reservoir can offer. The Tamdil Lake now serving as both a major pisciculture center and a major tourist attraction in the state of Mizoram. The Tamdil lake is well connected with the state capital Aizawl via roadways that makes it more easier & convenient for the tourists to visit the Lake.
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