13 Aizawl
Aizawl, Mizoram
14th December 2011 (PM): We returned to Aizawl by 2:00PM and Hanif drove me around Aizawl a bit, so I got a feel of the City's people and streets.Then he dropped me off at Mizoram State Museum.
Later, he picked me up to show the BV Paradise ('Mini-Taj' as per Hanif) but it was already dark when we reached, there was no power and the place was closed.
Hanif was friendly and helpful and I discussed with him about going to some rural places in Mizoram. A 'reserved taxi' will be too costly to go alone without sharing Pax. He said he has often taken tourists to Champhai and Rih-Dil Lake in Burma was definitely worth visiting. He gave me the telephone nos of Tourist GH at Champhai to book room, if decide to go.
26 Unit Assam Rifles HQ in Aizawl
Aizawl Street Singer - with amp & speakers!
First Christian Church in Aizawl (1896)
Fortunately, Share-Sumos go to all rural places in Mizoram and most such journeys were 8-10 hour duration due to distance and hilly terrain of the State. These share-Sumos leave early morning, between 5:00 to 7:00AM from Zarkot Pt. upper and lower levels. Disadvantage of share-sumo being you cannot stop and see sights en-route or even stop to take pictures of the lovely scenery from view-points.
I don't know if it was due to the pre-Christmas rush season or it is normally so ... I found many share-sumo's go 'full' to all exotic name-places.
Mizoram seemed to be very peaceful place and bustling with life. From my hotel balcony (at Zarkot), I have watched the streets below suddenly bursting into noisy life at 5:30AM, each day, with Mizos boarding (with plenty of luggage), some 30-40 Sumos, heading to different remote places. A line of street-food hawkers suddenly appear at dawn, along the narrow pavements to sell breakfast - Puri, Aloo-Sabzi, Pork-chops and tea - to the travelling crowds. By 7:00AM the street becomes quiet and deserted, with no sign of the crowds and the vendors!
In the evening, I met an elderly Bengali gentleman, manning one of the Sumo Counters in Zarkot. And asked him which of the many rural destinations was worth visiting for a Tourist. He suggested I go East to Champhai, near Burma border ... or as a 2nd choice South to Lunglie and further on to Saiha.
I decided for Champhai (for the more scenic views there) and booked myself a seat for 6:30AM Dep next day.
Zarkaut Point from Hotel Tropicana Balcony
Aizawl Temple & Salvation Army Bldg
Zokhathanga Point
Mizoram State Museum, Aizawl
A Painting in State Museum
The detailed travel stories, with pictures, are in following sub-pages 47-01 to 47-20:
All the pictures of this North-East Tour in 23+ Flickr Albums are available in this Collection: North East -Dec-2011