Things to do in Mizoram

The Hmuifang Tlang (hill) is one of the most beautiful destinations in the entire North Eastern India. The Hmuifang located in the virginal forest amidst the area is quite enticing. The hill is around 1600 m above sea level, which accounts for its extremely pleasant weather. During winters, the misty hills display a charming look that can be quite attractive. The green and rich biodiversity of the region offers a unique representation of the region making it a must visit spot.
The Tuirial River, an important source of water in the region, originates near the Hmuifang hills. The charming river ultimately joins the Barak River in Assam. With special attention paid by the Mizoram Government for development of the place as a major tourist spot, the area is slowly adapting to modern amenities.

The trek to the peak of Hmuifang Tlang is a must for adventure seeking tourists. The view from the peak is very beautiful. Also, a visit to the Vantawng Falls is a must for people coming to visit the place. The Vantawng Falls are the highest waterfall of the state and is an ideal place to witness the beauty of nature.

The Hmuifang Tlang is well known for its scenic beauty and beautiful virginal forest. During the visit to the location, trekking to the peak of the hill is a must. For some adrenaline rush, tourists can try mountain biking and hiking as well. Besides that, the Thalfavang Kut festival organized in the month of November is a must-experience. The festival is celebrated to announce the ending of the farming season and beginning of the harvest. Cultural dances, music and flower shows are organized during the Thalfavang Kut festival, and tourists can buy handicrafts and handlooms made by the locals. Also, visit to the Music festival during the Thalfavang Kut is a must visit for tourists who want to explore the Mizo music.

The Luangmual Handicrafts Centre is a specialized center popular for handicrafts items. It is an interesting place for buying artifacts and souvenirs to take back home. The shops are run by the locals and offer a variety of things. This place is an important source of employment for the local weavers and craftsmen.
One of the most searched items of the market is the ceremonial ‘Khumbeu’ hat. This hat is made from the leaves of wild hnahthial grown in the hilly region. These hats were usually used by the locals during the rainy season as they were waterproof in nature. With time people of Mizoram have adopted several modern amenities, but the love for beloved Khumbeu hat seizes to falter. Items like mite shawls, wooden articles and wicker baskets are also sold in the shops of the centre. These items are handmade by the locals, giving these items a distinct feature. And due to this, no two items can be completely alike. The rich heritage of the Mizo hinterland can be easily observed in this center.

The main market complex is neatly divided in different shops selling items ranging from clothes, handicrafts and other local made items. Also, one can visit to the local weaver’s center nearby to know more about Mizo handlooms and its origins.

Shopping in the handicraft center is a must for tourists. Bargaining is accepted by locals, and is quite commonly done while buying items. The market is surrounded by beautiful scenery and suitable for a peaceful stroll after shopping. Photography and hiking lovers should visit the surroundings. Although, the place is quite close to the main city of Aizawl, still one can witness the radiating beauty of nature which is quite in contrast to the concrete city life.

The Mizoram State Museum, located in the heart of the city of Aizawl, is one of the popular ethnographic museums with a huge collection. The museum has approximately 2500 artifacts narrating the interesting history of the region. The museum was inaugurated in April 1977 and initially was running from a rented space. Later on, in 1990 the current complex was procured and used as the museum complex. It was modernized in 2008, which has improved the visitor experience drastically.
The galleries, there are 5 of them, display the vibrant and interesting culture of the Mizo tribes. The galleries are arranged in textile, ethnology, history, anthropology and zoology categories. Besides that, the archeological terrace is another attraction of the museum that contains special and rare specimens found during excavation in the nearby region. In the Archeological Gallery, polished stone from Zamuang villahe and the sharpening tools of Lersia are main attractions.

A trip to the museum can be an enriching experience. In the textile gallery, tourists can see the textiles worn by the different Mizo sub tribes. The old traditional costumes such as the Siapsuap (worn by woman) and Hnawkha (worn by man) are displayed here. In the Ethnology Gallery, artifacts such as musical instruments, utensils, and traditional bamboo arts can be seen.
As the name suggests, tourists can explore the history of Mizoram through the History Gallery. The artifacts in this gallery include photographs, maintaining, stone implements and other artifacts of historical significance. One of the most interesting displays is found at Anthropology Gallery. The house of the tribe chief and a replica model of Daibawl sacrifice, a traditional practice of offering sacrifice to the Huai (a supernatural being), can be seen here.

For history buffs, a visit to the museum is a must as they can learn more about the culture and history of the region. Also, adjacent playground close to the museum is an ideal place to soak in the beauty of this marvelous and generous city.

Reiek is a beautiful heritage Mizo village on the foothills of Reiek Mountains, a part of the Lushai Hills range. The heritage village is maintained by the Tourism Department of Mizoram Government. Situated at a height of around 1500 m above sea level, this small village is simply breathtaking. The village offers the tourists a fresh gush of pure air and a visual treat of unadulterated beauty of nature. The village has been constructed as a replica of a typical Mizo village, familiarizing the tourists with distinctive Mizo lifestyle. The hut of a Mizo chief and the other buildings are fully furnished with artifacts used by the tribal community of Mizoram. The entire surrounding is covered in beautiful mountains, giving the place a surreal feeling.

The Reiek Heritage village offers tourists an insight into the lifestyle of the Mizo tribal community. The huts and the nearby buildings bring out how the tribes of the Mizoram run their lives. The huts are decorated with furniture and items used by the members of the community. Besides that, tourists can trek to the Reiek Peak on the Reiek Tlang (Hill) to see the beauty of the nature at its full display. On clear sunny days, tourists can even see the plains of Bangladesh from the peak.
Birdwatchers can watch several beautiful and rare birds in the area. One of the most popular birds of the region is Peregrine Falcon. During the month of September, the annual Anthurium Festival is celebrated in the Reiek village displaying the culture and tradition of the Mizo community.

Firstly, the visit to the Reiek Heritage Village is a must to see the traditional lifestyle of the Mizo tribal community. During the visit to Reiek, tourists can hike towards the mountain peak named after the village. From the top of the hill, the unobstructed view of the nearby areas can be seen easily. During September, the Anthurium Festival is celebrated. The festival celebrates the cultivation of the beautiful Anthurium flower by the locals of Reiek Tlang. Cultural dances and traditional games are organized for the entertainment of the tourists.

The Solomon’s Temple is a famous church and a beautiful institution located in an area covered in forests in Mizoram. The church was constructed by the joint efforts of the group Kohhran Thianghlim (Holy Church) of Mizoram. As per Dr. L. B. Sailo, the founder of the Kohhran Thianghlim group, the idea of constructing a dam came to his dream. In the year 1991, Dr. Sailo dreamt about the Salomon’s Temple. In his dream he could see the detailed architecture of the King Solomon’s temple. After he woke up, he drew the image he saw in the dream. Considering it a divine intervention, he considered building a church as a replica of the image he saw in the dream.
The structure and the design of the church are quite similar to that of the Temple of Solomon as mentioned in the Old Testament. The main building of the church has 12 doors, and on the porch, there are tall pillars carrying the Seven David’s Stars. It is a massive church, which can accommodate nearly 2,000 people inside the main building.

Tam Dil is a beautiful reservoir lake in the middle of nowhere, located only 85 km away from Aizawl making it a perfect spot for a daytrip. The route towards Tamdil is surrounded by beautiful tropical evergreen and deciduous forest with several species of trees. The name Tam Dil is derived from two Mizo words, ‘Tam’ a contraction for ‘antam’ meaning mustard plant and ‘Dil’ meaning lake. Thus, Tamdil literally means ‘lake of the mustard’.
The clear water of the lakes creates a beautiful reflection of the surrounding forest. It is also the home to several birds, and is an active bird watching venue. Besides that, animals like bears, wild pigs and deer live in the surrounding forest. This lake has been reconstructed as a part of fishing reservoirs to provide opportunities of employment for the people in the nearby areas.

The Tamdil Lake is an ideal place for picnics and holidays. Tourists can soak in serenity and beauty of nature, and take a break from the busy city life. The thick forest is suitable for hiking and trekking. The lake is home to rare and endangered amphibians. In 2010, a rare variety of frog Leptolalax tamdil was discovered near the lake, the species which is found only in this region, till date. If lucky, tourists can explore the area and watch this rare animal living freely in the region. It is also a birdwatcher’s paradise with several rare species of birds can be spotted near the lake.

Boating is a must for tourists visiting this place. Also, they can trek in the close by forest and watch several varieties of flora and fauna living in their natural habitat. Photography lovers would definitely find interesting subjects to capture in their lenses. The crystal-clear water of the lake is mind-blowing as it reflects the surrounding regions making it a visual treat that would be etched in your memory forever.