Travel Guide toMizoram
Land of the Highlanders
Why travel to Mizoram ~ Introduction
The songbird of India's highlands.
“Consisting of parallel mountain ranges rising to heights of over 9,000 feet, this embraces every variety of physical feature and climate.”
— Adam Scott Reid(19th-century British official)
The state of Mizoram is popularly known as the Songbird of India and is one of the smallest states in the country. The name 'Mizoram' signifies the land of the Lushai Highlanders. It is located in the southern corner of Northeast India nestled mainly between Myanmar and Bangladesh. The hilly region of Mizoram was previously a part of Assam but was later made a separate state. It is a diverse land with mountains and valleys as well as tribal villages and urban centers with modern culture and lifestyles unlike anywhere else in India.
Shrouded with the mist that prevails over the hills, not much is known or recorded about the history of Mizoram. The oral traditions of most tribes believe to have originated from Khul, a mythical cave in southern China. The tribes then migrated westwards to Manipur, then southwards to Assam, and finally settled in the hills of Mizoram and the Chin region of Myanmar. Mizoram was the last territory to be explored and conquered by the British in India in the 19th century.
Aizawl, located near the Tropic of Cancer, is the bustling hilly capital of Mizoram. Though a small town with large churches, it is interesting to see the fashionable urban culture and modern lifestyle of its residents. Lunglei in the southern part is another important town, the center of administration during the British colonial days.
This landlocked little state is a land of scenic beauty with a variety of landscapes from the ridges of Aizawl, the deep gorges of Hmuifang, the valley of Champhai to the lofty peaks of Blue Mountain National Park. Though the indigenous people may have been influenced by western missionaries, they still believe in the old tribal practices of welcoming visitors wholeheartedly and a sense of old folk life prevails in the atmosphere.
Travel to Mizoram for its culture
Folk songs and the bamboo dance.
The culture of Mizoram is well known for the colorful attire of the womenfolk, their musical festivals, and the popular Cheraw bamboo dance. The people of Mizoram mainly comprise various Tibeto-Burman groups of the Kuki tribe such as Hmar, Lushai, Ralte, Pawi, Thadou, and Zou. However, with a sense of unity, they prefer to call themselves Mizo as most of the tribes speak Mizo Tawng, the common language.
The Lushais are the largest Mizo community. The Lushais were headhunters and also practiced slavery of captured enemies, similar to most tribal cultures of Southeast Asia. Some Lushai people also consider themselves to be Jews of Bnei Menashe, one of the lost tribes of Israel. The Hmars were the first group to enter Mizoram and are known for their colorful costumes and ceremonial dances.
Various tribes migrated from different places, arrived in waves, and made these hills their homeland. However, few aspects of tribal culture continue to remain common among all the groups. All the tribes practiced Jhum cultivation as many migrated in search of better pastures. Hnatlang or community service was an important activity for community welfare. All villages had a Zwalbuk dormitory where Mizo youth were trained to carry out social responsibilities. Above all, most Mizo tribes believed in the ethics of the Tlawmingaihna moral code which made them courteous and helpful to others.
The people of Mizoram are experts in cane and bamboo work as they prepare numerous items of bamboo, right from the cane walls of their houses to furniture and cane hats. Mizo women excel at weaving. Puanchei and Kawrchei textiles are the beautiful costumes of Mizoram worn during the Kut festivals and Cheraw bamboo dance.
Travel to Mizoram for its environment
Bamboo forests of the Lushai hills.
The terrain of Mizoram is entirely hilly as the state lies along the Lushai hills. Phawngpui, or Blue Mountain, is the highest point of the Lushai hills with an elevation of 2,165m. The Lushai Hills are a part of the Chin Hills and Arakan mountains of Myanmar. The densely forested hills have been well preserved since the time of the Mizo chiefs and are thus rich in biodiversity.
Mizoram has the third largest forest cover in India. Almost half of the state is covered with wild bamboo forests. The semi-evergreen forests are seen mainly on the foothills and steep slopes in the western part. Subtropical forests and a few coniferous forest belts are found in the eastern part of the higher mountains bordering the Chin region of Myanmar.
Dampa Tiger Reserve, Murlen National Park, Blue Mountain National Park, and Ngenpui Wildlife Sanctuary are the main forested areas of the state. Tigers, clouded leopards, elephants, gaur, hoolock gibbons, and gorals are found in the highland forests. Mizoram also has birds such as the brown fish owl, hill mynah, crested eagle, and pied hornbill. The colorful Hume Pheasant is the state bird of Mizoram.
Phawngpui — The Blue Mountain
The highest peak of the Lushai hills at 2,165 meters, Phawngpui is a national park shrouded in mist, home to rare orchids, wild rhododendrons, and the elusive Hume Pheasant — Mizoram's crown jewel of wilderness.
Plan your travel to Mizoram during festivals
Festivals of Mizoram
Chapchar Kut
Chapchar Kut is named after bamboo that has been cut and is drying. This agricultural festival is celebrated before planting begins. The Cheraw or bamboo dance is a big part of the festival — different styles of dance performances take place amidst beats of drums in a colorful celebration of spring.
Anthurium Festival
The Anthurium Festival is the most popular festival celebrated to promote tourism. Organized annually by the Tourism Department in collaboration with the Horticulture Department, it showcases the vibrant flowers, traditional dances, and cultural heritage of Mizoram.
Thalfavang Kut
Thalfavang Kut is observed every year to promote tourism and preserve the cultural heritage. Celebrated in November, the festival takes place before harvest to celebrate the completion of farming while waiting for the task of harvesting — a joyful gathering of music, dance, and community spirit.
Khuado Kut
One of the major festivals of the Paite community, Khuado Kut is celebrated as a thanksgiving festival when all the harvesting work is done. This festival is held during full moon nights which are regarded auspicious for this event.
Our Travel Experiences in Mizoram
We're still shaping our signature journeys through Mizoram. Tell us how you'd like to explore, and we'll build an itinerary around you.
Plan Your Journey→The Seasons of Mizoram
A living watercolor of Mizoram's landscape. Select a month to watch the seasons transform.
January
WinterCool and dry — perfect for hill exploration
February
WinterHigh 70°Low 48°Rain 0.5"Humid 60%Clear skies, warming days
March
WinterHigh 77°Low 55°Rain 2"Humid 58%Chapchar Kut festival, spring arriving
April
SpringHigh 79°Low 59°Rain 5"Humid 68%Warm, pre-monsoon showers begin
May
SpringHigh 82°Low 63°Rain 8"Humid 78%Hot and humid, increasing rain
June
MonsoonHigh 82°Low 68°Rain 14"Humid 86%Monsoon arrives, heavy rainfall
July
MonsoonHigh 82°Low 68°Rain 16"Humid 88%Peak monsoon, roads can be blocked
August
MonsoonHigh 82°Low 68°Rain 14"Humid 87%Heavy rains continue
September
MonsoonHigh 82°Low 66°Rain 9"Humid 84%Anthurium Festival, monsoon retreating
October
AutumnHigh 79°Low 59°Rain 4"Humid 78%Clearing skies, pleasant temperatures
November
AutumnHigh 73°Low 52°Rain 1"Humid 72%Thalfavang Kut, dry and beautiful
December
WinterHigh 68°Low 46°Rain 0.3"Humid 68%Cool and crisp, ideal for all activities
Winter
Dec – Feb · 45°F – 70°FCool and dry with clear skies. The best season for hill walks and long views across the ranges.
Spring
Mar – May · 55°F – 82°FChapchar Kut in March marks the start of spring. Showers begin in April, and May turns hot and humid.
Monsoon
Jun – Sep · 66°F – 82°FHeavy rain, peaking in July, when roads can be blocked. The Anthurium Festival in September comes as the rain eases.
Autumn
Oct – Nov · 52°F – 79°FClearing skies and pleasant temperatures. Thalfavang Kut in November falls in dry, beautiful weather.
Hikers on the Reiek ridge
A boat on a still lake among forested hills
A hillside village near Thenzawl
Green hills under a bright sky
Sunset over the Lushai hills
Mist over a forested valley at dawn
Travel news from Mizoram.
Stories from the field, our upcoming experiences, and other travel related news from Mizoram.