Lunglei

Enchanting view of Lunglei Town


In the south-central part of Mizoram, lies a town 'lunglei'. Lunglei, sometimes spelled Lungleh, means 'bridge of rock'. Tlawng is the longest river in Mizoram . A bridge like rock was found in the riverine area around Nghasih which is a small tributary of Tlawng. Thus it got its name lunglie. It is the 2nd largest town in Mizoram after Aizawl. Lunglei is also the headquarter of the district in South of Mizoram. It lies 175 kms far away from Aizawl. Lunglei is like a dream come true where you can spend your time camping and hiking. It is a perfect place to relax and find yourself. If you want a break from your regular and busy life and want to rejuvenate your mind and soul, then Lunglei is the best option. Lunglei has an old church which was the first ever church built in Mizoram. Lunglei is also the Church Headquarters of Baptist Church of Mizoram. Lunglei is a major urban hub of Mizoram. Near Mualcheng village, about 50 km from the town lies an engraved image of Buddha. It remains a secret since no other Buddhist relics has till date been found elsewhere in the state. Lunglei offers birdwatching, photography, camping, hiking, fishing and much more . Lunglei is famous for its several picnic spots along rivers and riverine.

 

HOW TO REACH LUNGLEI


BY AIR

Lengpui Airport

Mizoram has only one airport Lengpui Airport. Lengpui Airport(AJL), is the nearest airport to reach Lunglei. The airport is well-connected with Guwahati, Imphal and Kolkata. The airport was built by the State Government. Lengpui Airport has a table top runway and landing on this is not an easy task. You can hire a cab from there or can even get a direct bus to Lunglei. Lunglei is 200 km from this airport.


BY RAIL

Manu Railway Station is the nearest Station to Lunglei


The railway station of Manu (MANU) & Sk Para (SKAP), Skap, Agratola of Tripura railways lies close to Lunglei. 


BY ROAD


National Highway 54 connects Aizwal with the rest of the country through Silchar. The city is connected by regular service of state transport buses and jeeps. The road has mountains on one side and deep gorges on the other side. 


BY HELICOPTER

Helicopter ride by Pawan Hans

A Helicopter service has been started by Pawan Hans between Aizawl and Lunglei. The excite of airborne and the wonderful views from the top is unforgettable.


WEATHER OF LUNGLEI


The weather is calm and soothing though out the year. You can visit Lunglei at any time of the year as it is neither too cold nor too hot. Still October to April is the best time to visit Lunglei . The temperatures during summers is mild, ranging from 20°C to 29°C. In winters the temperatures range between 7°C to 21 °C. The heavy rainfall can sometimes cause landslides. So it's better to avoid travelling between May till September.


PLACES TO VISIT IN LUNGLEI


1. MEMORIAL OF CHHINGPUI

Memorial of Chhingpui

Chhingpui was a beautiful women of this region renowned because of her appearance and beauty. She married a young man named Kaptuanga. She was kidnapped and killed during the war between the rival chiefs of the region. Chhingpuii was killed during the second civil war between chhak leh tlang indo, east and west war, from 1877 to 1880. Shocked and depressed with the incident, her husband, Kaptluanga too committed suicide. This monument was erected in the memory of Chhingpuli for paying a tribute to real magnate Chhingpuii. Memorial of Chhingpui is located on the Aizawl-Lunglei Road and is a symbol of eternal love.


2. KHAWNGLUNG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Leopard at Khawnglung Wildlife Sanctuary 

Khawnglung is a mountain situated near Pangzawl. Spread over an area of 35 sq. km, Khawnglung is one of the most popular wildlife sanctuary located about 126 km from Aizawl. The Khawnglung was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 2000 and is rich in flora and fauna. It is categorised as Sub-Tropical and Semi-evergreen forests. For visiting it you have to contact the Department of Environment and Forest, Mizoram. It is home of wild animals like the wild boar, gibbon, barking deer, sambar deer, hoolock and the leopard. It is one of the “highest-grossing” sanctuaries as it is located at a height of 1300 meters. You can spend hours here walking through the ups and downs in the lush green forest. The best time for visiting this sanctuary is between October and March. 


3. THORANGTLANG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Mother Elephant with her cub at Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary 

Thorangtlamg Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the major wildlife sanctuaries in Mizoram and is nature’s paradise. Elephants, tigers, jungle cats, leopards, wild dogs, barking deer, leaf monkeys, sambar, porcupines and many other animals can be easily spotted. October to March is the ideal time to visit this sanctuary as a variety of different birds migrate to this place at this time of the year. It covers an area of ​​about 50 sq. km. One of the significant feature of this sanctuary is the elephants that migrate to this place from Bangladesh.


4. SAZA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY 

Tiger at Saza Wildlife Sanctuary 

The Saza Wildlife Sanctuary is another famous attraction for the tourists that lies on the western part of Mizoram. Spread over an area of 15 sq. km it is nestled against lush green hills. A wonderful spot for both wildlife and nature lovers. It is home of various wildlife animals like leopard, barking deer, rhesus monkey and a few rare varieties of birds. It is known to a favorite hub of wildlife photographers. Best time to visit this sanctuary is throughout the year because of its calm and peaceful environment. It is also  known as the ‘bird-watcher’s paradise’.


5. SAIKUTI HALL

Saikuti Hall

Saikuti hall is a huge multistoried building which has multiple museums, stores, auditorium, restaurants, a library, a conference hall and much more. Mizoram's heritage are preserved here. On the first floor is the District Museum. The library is on the fourth floor which has more than 21,000 books on different subjects. You may browse through books to understand the people and the place. The local artists are also seen working on their art, demonstrating their skills and exhibiting their works. People skilled with Basketry, display their small items that are made out of bamboos and canes. Most of the concerts and celebrations are held here. Its auditorium offers a large space where 1,200 people can be seated at one time.


6. THE DISTRICT MUSEUM

The District Museum 

On the first floor of the Saikuti Hall is The District Museum, which was established in 2006.The District Museum, Lunglei tell more about its culture and traditions. It exhibits armor, artifacts, jewelry, handicrafts, utensils, paintings, statues, sculptures and other native art. The museum preserves the ethnic treasure of the state of Mizoram. 


7. PHAWNGPUI 

Phawngpui


Phawngpui is the highest peak in Mizoram. It is situated near the south-eastern border. Phawngpui has been declared a National Park. You can enjoy trekking and the picturesque view of Mizoram from the Phawngpui. The flora and fauna is unbeatable. The orchids and rhododendrons spread all over the valley. Phawngpui has variety of birdlife which  includes the rare Blyth’s Tragopan, Dark Rumped Swift and Hume’s pheasant. Some endangered mammals like the Slow Loris, Tiger, Leopard, Leopard Cat, Serov, Goral, Asiatic Black Bear, Stump-tailed Macaque and Capped Langur can also be seen if you are lucky.


8. LUNGLEI BRIDGE

Tlawng River

Lunglei itself means ‘bridge of rocks’. Tlawng is the longest river in Mizoram . A bridge made of rock was found in the riverine area around Nghasih which is a small tributary of Tlawng. You can spend hours here admiring the beauty of the rushing river.


9. NGHASIH STREAM 

Nghasih Stream

Nghasih is a small but beautiful tributary of Tlawng. The ambience and the picturesque surroundings of the stream is what makes this place favorite among travelers.


10. ZOBAWK SPORTS ACADEMY

Academy of Football, Zobawk


Zobawk is a village in Lunglei District located 9 km towards East from District head quarters Lunglei. Zobawk Sports Academy was built built to encourage the sporting activities of the whole region.


11. SAZAIKAWN

Sazaikawn

It is a multi-purpose indoor sports stadium which is the largest of its kind. It has a total area of 2484.86 sq. m and housed indoor combat sports dojo which can cater taekwondo, judo and many other. It can host even an international event. It was built under the aegis of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports under Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS).


12. UI LUNG - CHERHLUN

Ui Lung at Cherhlun

Cherhlun is a small village in the Lunglei district. The monolith of Ui Lung is found here which is famous for its intricate carvings. The monolith was erected by a Chinzah chieftain around 1800. Ui Lung monolith has fine carvings of humans figures and various weapons such as spears, animal heads and gongs.


13. KAWMZAWL PARK

Kawmzawl Park

Kawmzawl Park is a hilltop park and is a relaxing place for the visitors.


14. LUNGLEI SIGHTSEEING

Sightseeing at Lunglei

Apart from these view points you can also enjoy the lush greenery, trekking routes, taking the off-beat road, discovering new places and interacting with the local people. Lunglei is picturesque in itself. Lunglei is an ideal offbeat destination for those who love natural sightseeing. The natural beauty of Lunglei is a mesmerizing one. The most spectacular view is to watch the changing scenario of surrounding rolling hills throughout the day as the clouds sometimes cover them and sometimes moving.


15. DARKHUANG TLANG, PUKPUI

Mountains of Darkhuang Tlang

Darkhuang Tlang is located in Pukpui village which is about 7 km from Lunglei. It is believed that here a Mizo prophet of the late nineteenth century, Darphawka used to "talk with the spirits". Spirits showed him visions of future events which include the coming of the Christian missionaries. Earlier the animist Mizos knew nothing about Christianity. On the peak of Darkhuang a prayer house has also been constructed for visitors.


16. KRISTIAN HMASATE THLANMUAL

Kristian Hmasate Thlanmual

Sehan Roy was a Khasi Officer who supervised the construction of Aizawl-Lunglei bridle path. He converted some Mizo labourers and around 40 families to Christianity by 1900. The converted people came together and set up a Christian village in Theiriat. At Theiriat village near Lunglei lies a cemetery of the early Christians. Their gravestones here bear quotations of the Bible verses and beautiful inscriptions in English.


17. BUNGALOW OF PIONEER MISSIONARIES 

Bunglow of Pioneer Missionaries 

These are the oldest buildings of Mizoram. The two bungalows were constructed in 1903 in Serkawn village. The two pioneer missionaries first arrived in Mizo in 1894 from Welsh and established a Presbyterian Church mission in Aizawl. They returned home in 1897 but came back in 1902. This time they worked under the Baptist Missionary Society establishing base at Serkawn near Lunglei.


18. THANGLIANA LUNG, TLABUNG

Thangliana Lung, Tlabung

Near the Bangladesh border approximately 91 km to the west of Lunglei, lies the Tlabung village. Here a memorial stone was erected in the memory of Captain T.H. Lewin. Mizos fondly called him Thangliana or "Man of Great Fame". Lewin entered Mizoram from Tlabung in 1865 and was the Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Hill Tracts. He is remembered as the first white friend of the Mizos. He even wrote some books about the Mizo people and their culture and authored the first Lushai book. He married a Mizo girl named Darpuii. They had a son but he unfortunately died after a year. Lewin died in 1916 at the age of 77. The memorial stone was erected in 1920.


19. LUNGDING RUALALUNG

Rualalung Village

Rualalung village lies 82 km to the south of Lunglei. Here you will see a fascinating natural landmark Lungding, composing of rock and hard soil. Lungding meaning "a stone that stands upright" is about 60 ft in height, 120 ft in girth at the base and a small flat top of about 20 sq. ft. It is covered with shrubs and climbing plants around its surface. The Mizos believe that rocks, plants and trees were in dwelled by spirits. The sides were covered with shrubs and vines although the flat top was always bare and clean. After their conversion to Christianity, some of the people offered prayers here. It is believed to ward off evil spirits and since then the top also has been covered with vegetation.


20. PHUNHNAWMA

Phunhnawma rock

Close to the Myanmar border, approximately 106 km to the east of Lunglei lies a small Lungpuitlang village. Phunhnawma's Rock is a large rock with a dimension of about 60 meters and a height of around 26.60 m. It is situated on the top of a breezy hill offering panoramic views. It is said that it was discovered by Phunhnawma, a chief of Cheural village during his hunting trip. There is a story behind this which tells that when he first came to this rock, he met its fairy guardians who told him to go back home and bring a cock for them. In return for this they would bless him with wild animals which he wanted to kill. He did so and the fairies blessed him and he killed many animals in the area. This made a name for him as a great hunter.


21. UI LUNG, NGHARCHHIP

Ngharchhip from the mountains

The village of Ngharchhip near the Myanmar border, has a big monolith with remarkably intricate carvings. A severe famine broke out in the former village called Dawn. The deadly famine forced them to leave their homes. They moved out of their village in three groups and this group settled down in Ngharchhip. So a Chinzah chief and his citizens erected it around 1800 in expression of their ''longing". It measures about 8.5 ft in height and 11 ft in girth. It's surface has carvings of animal heads, gongs and human figures with spears and other weapons.


22. LUNG MILEM

Lung Milem

'Lung Milem' or locally known as 'Stone Figures' is on the southern edge of Tawikhawthlir hill. It is near Mualcheng village, about 50 km south of Lunglei. There are three figurines of persons in meditational poses of the Buddhists. The image is amazingly carved with dancing girls on either side of the image. It still remains a mystery till date as no one knows who created them. It is also a mystery as no other relics of Buddhism is found elsewhere in the state.


23. MILU PUK CAVE

Milu Puk Cave

In the Mizo language, Puk means a cave and Milu Puk means cave of skulls. This is a large cave situated near Mamte Village, approximately 72 km from Lunglei. Heaps of human skeletons were discovered here many years ago. The caves have interesting stories containing the relics of the past. The skeletons found here are much taller than the Mizos which clearly proves that the place was earlier resided by a race other than the Mizos, known as the ‘Tlau’.


24. THUAMLUAIA MUAL

Thuamluaia Mual

It is the second football stadium with Artificial turf in Mizoram.


25. THEIRIAT TLANG

View of Theiriat Tlang

Theiriat tlang is a beautiful hill in Lunglei, Mizoram. There is a high watch tower at the top of the hill from where you can see the entire town of Lunglei. You could just sit, relax and lie down for hours as it is so quiet and peaceful.


10 ADVENTURE SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES IN LUNGLEI


Lunglei offers unlimited opportunities for adventure as well as outdoor activities. Some of them are :-


1. WILDLIFE SAFARI

Jeep Safari

You can enjoy safaris in Khawnglung Wildlife Sanctuary, Thorangtlang Wildlife  Sanctuary and Saza Wildlife Sanctuary.


2. TREKKING

Trekking

Lunglei has a number of trekking opportunities in the lush green forests and beautiful valleys. Trekking can be enjoyed at Champai, Lunglei town, Phawangpui peak, National Parks, Pala Tipo and Theiriat Tlang.


3. BIRD WATCHING 

Peahen with her little one's 

Saza Wildlife Sanctuary is  known as the ‘bird-watcher’s paradise’.


4. CAVING

Caving

Milu Puk Cave in the Lunglei offers an amazing caving experience. Caves of Mizoram offer sheer adventure offering thrill, pleasure and excitement.


5. MOUNTAINEERING 

Mountaineering

Phawngpui is the highest peak in Mizoram. You can get the most exciting views of Mizoram from the cliffs of Phawngpui. 


6. ROCK CLIMBING

Rock Climbing

Rock climbing can be done near Phawangpui peak.


7. ANGLING

Angling

Tlawng bears various species of fish like Mahseer and Trout and Crabs. So it is an amazing place to have angling adventure.


8. PARAGLIDING 

Paragliding

Paragliding was first introduced in Mizoram by paragliders from Japan, Switzerland and Korea. It started in October 2008 where test flights were held at Lunglei and Aizawl. You may enjoy paragliding at Lunglei.


9. CYCLING

Cycling

Cycling in the mountains and forests, or through national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, is a wonderful experience.


10. CAMPING

Camping

Phawangpui Peak is the perfect spot for camping. 


SHOPPING AT LUNGLEI


You will find traditional mizo weaving, e.g. Shawls, Bags, scarfs etc. They are worth buying as the pieces and designs are hand-crafted. They may be considered as some of the rare pieces in the world. The styles and colors of local dresses are attractive. Wonderfully crafted items of bamboo and cane are also available which are beautiful and last longer. Serkawn Bazar and BCM Bazar are the two local markets. There are few small road side markets for regular shopping.


FOOD TO EAT IN LUNGLEI

Mizo Bai

Mostly Mizo dishes are available. Mizos are traditionally rice eaters though they love to add non-vegetarian ingredients to every dish. Indian cuisine are also available but it takes bit of time. It is advisable to order for Indian food well before hand.


WHERE TO STAY IN LUNGLEI

Hotel Alabasta of Lunglei

The best option is the Government Guest House but only if you book it well in advance. You may feel the clouds entering your room as you sip your morning tea. Budget hotels are also available. Tourist lodge are also available.


FESTIVALS OF LUNGLEI

Mim Kut Festival

Mim Kut, Chapchar Kut, Pawl Kut and Christmas are some of the festivals that are celebrated in Lunglei.


TRAVEL TIPS


1. Must try Mizo cuisine. 

2. Carry mosquito replant lotion as you will find mosquitoes in the Sanctuary.

3. Wear comfortable sneakers and carry bottled water for trekking.


ITINERARY


5 to 6 days will be sufficient.