Architecture and History

 

• The Solomon Temple is a splendid example of architectural splendor found in Mizoram. This architectural excellence is located in Aizawl district of Mizoram . The temple is actually a church built by the religious sect of Kohhran Thianghlim.

 

Bengkhuaia Thlan Tomb

 

• This tomb has been built in memory of the chief of the Sailo tribe of Mizoram, named Bengkhuaia Sailo.

 

• Traditionally, the Mizo houses are built in rectangular shape with thatched roof like straw and walls are made of weaved bamboo or timber frames and bamboo mat floor.

 

History

 

• Mizoram known by the name of Land of the Mizos was earlier known by the Lushai Hills District of Assam. The land was renamed the Mizo Hills District in 1954. In 1972  Mizoram became a centrally administered union territory and finally achieved statehood in 1987.

 

• The earliest Mizos settlers migrated to India known as Kukis, the second batch of immigrants were called New Kukis. The Lushais were the last of the Mizo tribes migrate to India in the 18th and 19th Century marked by many instances of tribal raids and expeditions of security breach.  North and south hills got united into Lushai Hills district in 1898 with its capital  in Aizwal .

 

• In the Kabaw Valley that Mizos interacted with the local Burmese.

 

• The two cultures of the two tribes influenced each other in way of clothing, customs, music and sports.

 

• The Mizos learnt the art of cultivation from the Burmese at Kabaw.

 

• At Chin Hills on the Indo-Burmese border, they Mizos had built villages.

 

• They named them by their clan names such as Seipui, Saihmun and Bochung.

 

 

 

 

Demographic Location

 

 

 

• Mizoram is located in the north-eastern part of the country. It is bounded on the north by states of Assam and Manipur, on the east and south by Myanmar and on the west by Bangladesh and the state of Tripura.

 

• The state is known for its evergreen hills and dense bamboo jungles, Mizoram lies in the southern most tip of north east India..

 

• Mizoram is a land of rolling hills, valleys, rivers and lakes. The region receives heavy rainfall and enjoys a very pleasing climate throughout the year. The presence of some major rivers like Tlau, Tlawng, Tuirini, Serlui and Mat makes the state more adorable..

 

• The eastern side of the state is situated at a higher altitude than the western side of the state.

 

• The tallest hills are the Phawngpui - Blue Mountain with a height of 2210 Meters. The valleys and plain lands of Cachar, Mat, Champhai, Chamdur and Tlabung are blessed with fertile soil and natural resources suitable for excellent agricultural and horticultural productions.

 

• Some of the rivers flowing through Mizoram are:
• Tlawng or Dhaleshwari
• Tiak
• Teirei
• Tuirini
• Serlui
• Chhimtuipui or Kolodyne
• Khawthlangturipui or Karnaphuli
• Tuichang
• Tuirial or Sonai
• Tuichawng
• Mat
• Tuipui or Khawchhak
• Tuivawl

 

 

• The Lakes of Mizoram are popular destination for boating, fishing, camping and trekking. Some of the important lakes in Mizoram are:

Palak Lake

 

• Palak Lake is one of the biggest natural lakes of Mizoram. The Palak Lake lies in the southern part of the state in the Lakher region.

 

• The oval shaped lake has a width of 150 meters and a length of almost 200 meters. According to the local beliefs, the Palak Lake was created by a flood, which engulfed an entire village. Bordered by deciduous and tropical evergreen forests, the Palak Lake in Mizoram is one of the most beautiful lakes of the state.

 

• The Palak Lake is a paradise for bird watchers and fishing freaks. The serene ambiance, the crystal clear water and the presence of rich flora around the lake attract local and migratory birds.

 

• Various species of wild ducks and other aquatic birds are seen in abundance. The unpolluted water of the lake is the home to many rare species of fish, crabs and other creatures of the aqua kingdom.

 

• The forest area near Palak is full of animals like bear, dear, tiger and boar, making it a must visit place for the wild life buffs and nature lovers.

 

 

Tamdil Lake

 

Situated in Aizwal district, the Tamdil Lake is 110 kilometers away from the capital city in the Lakher region. The oval shaped lake is bordered with stretches of deciduous and tropical evergreen forests. The lake is visited by numerous migratory birds.

 

Rengdil Lake

 

The Rendil Lake is an artificial lake in Aizawl.

 

Rungdil Lake

 

The Rungdil Lake covers an area of 2.5 hectares. The lake is divided into two parts and surrounded by long stretches of forests.

 

 

 

People, Rituals and Language

 

 

• The Mizo people speak Kuki-Chin-Mizo language that belongs to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan family. The language is also known as Duhlian and Lushai, a colonial term, as the Duhlian people were the first among the Mizos to be encountered by the British.

 

• The Mizo language is mainly based on Lusei dialect but it derives many words from its surrounding Mizo sub-tribes and sub-clan. Mizo language is also spoken in Myanmar , Bangladesh, parts of Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland.

 

• Many poetic languages are derived from Pawi, Zomi, and Hmar, and most known ancient poems considered to be Mizo are actually in Pawi.

 

• Mizo is the official language of Mizoram along with English language.

 

 

 

Season and Climate

 

• Mizoram has a pleasant climate. It is generally cool in summer and not very cold in winter. The entire area is under the direct influence of the monsoon.

 

• Normally this state has four seasons - winter, pre-monsoon, monsoon and retreating monsoon, the winter and the summer.

 

• The climate pattern is moist tropical to moist sub-tropical.

 

• According to the Köppen climate classification, Aizwal features a humid subtropical climate

 

• In summer, temperatures are moderately warm. In winter, daytime temperatures are cooler in comparison to the rest of the year, Mizoram is known for its cold climate and it may snow in some places.

 

 

Culture and Education

 

• The Mizo Formed one of the important hill tribes of India sub-continent.

 

• The culture of the Mizos is intrinsically woven with their practice of Jhuming cultivation.

 

• The important festival are associated with the various stages of their shifting cultivation.

 

• In Mizo, we found 3 main festival called ‘Kut’ such as

 

• Chapchar kut
• Mim kut
• Pawl kut

 

• These festival are observe with community feast, singing, dancing and drinking rice beer.

 

• The Mizos are also reputed for their love of music and songs. Music is a passion for the Mizos. Many folk-cores, tales and songs were passed down by words of mouth.There are numerous cherished local dances like Cheraw, chheih lam, khual lam, par lam,rallu lam, sar lam kai and solakia.

 

• Tlawmngaihna is another custom and social ritual celebrated by the Mizos. It is practiced to demand that every person in the clan is hospitable, kind to others, unselfish, courageous and helpful to other even at the top of self-sacrifice. It stands for self-less service for the other.

 

• Formal education started at the advent of the Christian Missionaries in the year 1894, by two Pioneering Missionaries Dr. (Rev) J.H. Lorrain and Rev. F.W. Savidge.

 

• The Christian Missionaries introduced the Roman scripts in 1894 with a phonetic form of spelling. They started opening schools in few villages, such as Khawrihnim, Phulpui and Chhingchhip 1901.

 

• The first government school was started in 1897 at Aizawl. The first middle school opened in 1906, and secondary school in 1944. The first higher education institute Pachhunga University College was started in 1958. The first university Mizoram University was established in 2001 by the University Grants Commission of India.

 

• Education on technical and vocational courses started only after 1980s. There are now various opportunities including engineering, veterinary, business management, technology, nursing, pharmacy, and other career oriented courses. The College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Selesih was opened in 1997 as one of the constituent colleges of the Central Agricultural University.

 

• National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, Aizawl was started by the Indian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in 2000. The Government of Mizoram established The Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India University, Mizoram in 2006. National Institute of Technology Mizoram was established in 2010 by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India.

 

 

 

Famous Spots

 

Lunglei

 

• The Lunglei means ‘the bridge of rock’ and the place derived the moniker from a bridge shaped rock that can be seen along a tributary of the River Tlawng. The quaint little town is famous for its natural splendor and scenic setting.

 

• Trekking, bird watching and camping are popular activities here.

 

• The region has two wildlife sanctuaries:

 

• The Horangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary
• Saza Wildlife Sanctuary.

 

• Mamit is the fourth largest district in the state of Mizoram.

 

• Mamit is also known as the ‘Orange Garden of Mizoram’ for the vast orange orchards. The district is known for its natural bounty and magnificent scenery especially for wildlife fans and adventure seekers.

 

• The Dampa Tiger Reserve located here is one of the most renowned natural protected areas in India. The state’s longest cave network in Pukzing is also a part of this district. Mamit witnesses a vibrant atmosphere during the annual harvest festivals of Chapchar Kut and Mim Kut.

 

• Kolasib is situated at a distance about 79 km towards the north. Kolasib is endowed with immense natural splendor, deep rooted ethnic culture and rich tradition. Tlawng river with its serene banks and calm forests covers the surrounding area.

 

 

Vantawng Waterfalls

 

The Vantawng Waterfalls is one of the most popular places to visit in Mizoram. Pristine white frothy water of the falls lunges down amid the lush greenery of the Mizo hills. It is the thirteenth highest waterfall in the country

 

Falkawn Village

 

This model village showcases typical local customs, traditions and livelihood of the indigenous population. The Mizo people comprise the largest tribe in Mizoram and this village gives an insight into one of the greatest tribal cultures in India.

 

Tamdil Lake

 

Tamdil or Tam Lake is a completely man-made water body developed into one of the most significant additions to the Mizoram tourist places. Tamdil translates to ‘Lake of Mustard’ in the local language. The Lake is surrounded on all sides by evergreen forests and gently sloping hills..

 

Hmuifang

 

• Hmuifang Tlang or Hmuifang, is a hill station located at a distance of about 50 km from Aizawl. It is one of those Mizoram tourist places that attracts nature lovers and wildlife fans from all across the country. The site is also renowned for hosting a local festival.

 

• Thalfavang Kut, mirros a deep insight of the local traditions and culture especially with dances such as Sawlakai, Siktuithiang lam, Cheraw and Chheih Lam.

Murlen National Park

 

• Murlen National Park has received the status of a national park by the Government of India in 1991. Murlen is sometimes alluded to as the Amazon of India due to its diverse and endangered flora and fauna, precipices, rivulets and caves.

 

• One can get splendid view here of wild animals as well as birds like the Hume’s pheasant, hill myna, brown wood owl, peacock pheasant, hornbills, among several others.

 

 

 

 

Aqua, Flora and Fauna

 

 

• The lush green forests cover inhabited by several types of animals in Mizoram.

 

• Bamboo forests is emiment part of flora cover of  Mizoram. The hills of Mizoram have dense deciduous vegetations. The valleys and the mountain peaks are home of many known and unknown species of orchids.

 

• The Rhododendron is seen in abundance in these areas. The Blue Mountain is one such place where the Veitchiunum and Arboretum species of Rhododendron are found in plenty.
• The presence of thick forests and good climate supports the fauna life in Mizoram. The animal kingdom of Mizoram comprises of several rare and endangered species. Some of the animals found in the Mizoram forests, wild life sanctuaries and national parks are:

 

• Bear
• Tiger
• Hoolock Gibbon
• Leopard
• Porcupine
• Mongoose
• Claw-less Otter
• Chinese Pangolin

 

• The forest areas and the lakes of Mizoram attract large number of migratory birds beside the local birds. Several species of Pheasants, Hawks, Eagles, Bulbuls, Herons and Egrets are sighted in Mizoram. Numerous species of butterflies, moths and many colorful insects are also found in these regions.