Mizoram in January 2008

beesakopie

Am visiting Mizoram for the first time in January 2008. I am to be in Aizawl for 4 Nights. Can anyone suggest places to see and things to do?

Two specific questions anyways :

1. Is it a good idea to do the Dampa Tiger Reserve given that I have so few days in Aizawl?

2. Can the trip to Champhai and further to the Burma border be done in one day?

Thanks all.

matei

First of all to cross the Burma border you would need to to obtain a permit from the police atChamphai.The journey from Aizawl to Champhai is about 7 hrs.If its just to cross the border you would need barely another hour but if you want to visit the Rih Dil(lake)on the Burma side it would take longer say about 2 hrs from Champhai.Normally people make the trip with a night halt at Champhai.

Secondly ,Dampa sanctuary is about 4 hrs from Aizawl,a permit to enter the sanctuary may be obtained from the forest officials at Phaileng.You could start early on a private vehicle and can come back on the same day.

You may PM me for more details on the info. as i understand i am unable to from my end .

beesakopie

Matei,

Thanks so so much for replying. i think you need to be a member of the website for more than 15 days or to have more than 10 posts to be allowed to send private messages. Anyways...

Actually, am coming to Mizoram to meet some friends, but as it is difficult to contact all the time, am trying to get as much info as possible before coming...

Yes, the idea to go towards Champhai is to visit Rihdil. Its good to know that we will be able to access Burma from that side. For night halt at Champhai, can you suggest some hotel there or is there a tourist lodge?

Like you suggest for Dampa, I think we shall make a day trip there.

On another note, please do contribute to this website with info on Mizoram / pictures etc. I do not think that many people are aware just how beautiful the NE is. Everyone is too scared to go for all the wrong reasons, so we really need to change those ideas !!!

Cheers

machadinha

Latest I heard, and for a long time, is Myanmar by land is just essentially off-limits from there (or anywhere else, save for the Thai border, which seems to have its ups and downs).

Is there more leeway for Indians or PIO's etc.? For all I know foreign nationals can forget about entering here. I may be wrong.

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beesakopie

Mac,

I believe the Burma border will always remain open from Champhai area...(though matei needs to confirm this). The fact is that Rihdil which is a sacred lake for Mizo's is located under Myanmar territory. Mizo's have a long held belief (pre-christianity)that souls migrate to Pathian (God) through the Rihdil. Rihdil is thus an area of pilgrimage - and of GREAT importance to Mizo's.

I do not think that on a local level, the border will ever be closed between the two countries to allow pilgrimage...

Another thing is that it is widely accepted that the Indo-Burma border is not reflective of the ethnic nature of peoples living there. There are eastern Naga's who live in Burma while Thangkuls and other western Naga's who live in India (Nagaland). Likewise Chins live on the other side of the border while the Zo people are in Mizoram...the Indo Burma border is thus irrelevant.

Moreh, in Manipur is a town that is known for duty free trade between Burma and India...

I think for those holding foreign passports, access to these areas would be extremely difficult if not downright impossible (really, only the concerned Indian Embassy / Home Ministry in India can provide a definitive view).

On the other hand, for Indian passport holding travellers, people will definitely be able to cross over for day trips...

Thats the limit of what I know...rest needs to be confirmed by someone living there...Matei?

machadinha

No, that's pretty much what I would have thought (but yes, Matei, bring on the details). Just to get a clear overview, and to prevent any foreigners (as in non-Indian) from thinking this would be a piece of cake (and yes, the area has long held my interest, and I certainly mean to visit some day and at least cross over into Bangladesh. Itself difficult enough and/or a matter of luck to a foreigner I gather, although this may have become easier over the past few years. Overlanding it to SE Asia would be ideal, but as far as I know it's just impossible.* Although one may get lucky, I suppose. I just wouldn't count on it.)

btw You'll be aware the border is very much a reality to the Karen and other refugees and immigrant workers to the east of Myanmar... In that sense, none of this strikes me as very conclusive.

* Save for going through Pakistan and all the way over Tibet... I hear this is a long loooong way (as in weeks), and the Chinese area you need to get into SE Asia isn't that open to foreigners either I believe.

CANADON

There's an interesting article in the December Vanity Fair about Mizoram and how it remains very difficult for a foreigner to access.According to VFin the last five years only 2,319 foreigners managed to visit and that the majority of those were missionaries and evangelists.

matei

Beesakopie,

Yes,there s a Tourist lodge at Champhai and there are Govt rest houses also.Am not too sure about decent hotels.Best would be to check into the tourist lodge as food will also not be problem there.I also suggest that your confirm your booking from the Tourist lodge at Aizawl before leaving for Champhai.

Thanks for the encouragement ,will indeed try my best to contribute as much to this website on infos on Mizoram.

beesakopie

ok, Matei,

Thanks for all the info. I will definitely be putting up a travelog when I get back from there.

Cheers!

matei

Beesakopie and Mac,

Yes,as have mentioned in the above post, its true what Beesakopie has mentioned about the importance of Rih Dil in the culture and beliefs of the Mizos.I rememember my grand ma telling me the same story when i was a little kid.Though this belief has faded due to the advent of christianity,the place still holds dear to the Mizos .It is being taught in the primary schools as the the biggest lake of Mizoram which is situated in Burma!!!

It is also a fact that many of the mizo tribes are living on the Burma side,people have been going from here to there ever since.In the 50s and 60s many of the people crossed over to Burma for a living and some have also joined the Burmese army .Its the reverse now with the economy of Burma going down people from there come to Mizoram side for work as skilled and unskilled labourers, unofficially of course.Most of the weavers here are Burmese!!Lots of trading of various goods also take place across the border.

By the way,the RAP(retricted area permit) issued to the foreigners for visit to Mizoram is for Aizawl only.But then the officials are lenient ,they do allow you to go out to other areas with prior information to them.Early this year a friend did take his German friend to Dampa and other areas outside Aizawl after informing the officials here.But am not too sure about the case for crossing over the border but i guess one can get lucky!

beesakopie

Here is a confession: Mizoram has been haunting me for quite some time - I have been making plans to visit since 1997 !!!! It is finally going to come true in 2008 !!!! I have studied just about any source there is on the internet about information on Mizoram... From govt. websites, to youtube mizo music video's to the Lelte Online website, I've gone through pages and pages of information. Stories about Laldenga, the Bnei Menashe jewish group, Mautam, the military school at Vairengte, Chhurburra, "Bekang", "i belh pawn(Tribal Power)"... you name it...it been haunting me since a very very long time !!!

I am really, really looking forward to this trip.

Cheers.

PS: They called me "Malsawm"...

matei

beesakopie,

Heres wishing you a safe landing at Lengpui,happy rocking with the' tribal power', and may you relish the taste of 'bekang'

Dont forget to pick up a few cans of beer for me from Burma just kidding......(Mizoram side is 'dry')

Have fun!

God Bless(Malsawm) you