The climate is pleasant, generally cool in summer, and not very cold in winter. It rains heavily from May to September. Mizoram is a treasure - trove of natural beauty, with its emerald valleys and dales, gurgling streams and falls, amazing fields of exotic blooms, and a teeming fauna population. The highest peak in the region, Phawngpui (meaning vast meadow) also known as Blue Mountain, a wonderful garden of rhododendron of arboreum and veitchianum species, is 2,065 mts (7,100 ft).

The Mizo culture boasts a plethora of folk and community dances that get passed down over the generations. The most popular of these dances are the Cheraw (bamboo dance), Khuallam, Solakia and Chheih lam. None of these dance-forms were intended for the stage - they evolved through community participation.

Prime Sites :

• Aizawl :
  The capital Aizawl is perched at an altitude of 4000 ft. above sea level. It is accessible from Shillong, Guwahati and Silchar, by bus, by road and by car.It stands on a high ridge, fringed on the east by the sylvan valley of the river Tlawng, and on the north bounded by the craggy hills of Durtlang. Aizawl, thanks to its perfect location, is an ideal hill-resort.
  1. The Cultural Sub-Centre :
     This cultural centre has been set up on a beautiful hill range, to the north of Aizawl, with the most modern recreational facilities.

  2. State Museum :
     The State Museum at Macdonald's Hill houses historical relics, ancient costumes and traditional implements.

  3. Mini Zoo :
     The Mini Zoo fosters rare species of Asiatic fauna, which include the endangered sunbear.

• Bung (15 kms) and Paikhai (16 kms) :
  adjacent to each other, make for ideal getaway joints.

• Tamdil :
  85 kms from Aizawl, near Saituai village, is the wonderful lake of Tamdil, an ideal picnic - spot. The lake boasts of fine boating facilities.

• Vantawng Falls :
  137 kms from Aizawl and 5 kms from the town of Thenzawl, are the largest and most magnificent falls in Mizoram, the Vantawng Falls. The waterfall is 750 feet high and is surrounded by a lush forest teeming with bamboo groves.

• Champhai :
  204 kms from Aizawl, at the other end of Mizoram, is Champhai, the sub-divisional headquarters, which affords a fantastic view of the Myanmar hills.

• Lunglei :
  For the nature-lover, Lunglei, a District Headquarters town of south Mizoram, 235 kms from Aizawl, is the perfect site.

• Phawngpui :
  Known as the 'Blue Mountain', Phawngpui is the highest peak in Mizoram. With splendid trees and flowers of all hues, Phawngpui presents a fairytale view of the blue hazed hills, and vales unfolding below.

• Wildlife :
  Mizoram is home to a rich variety of wildlife, concentrated especially in the Dampa Sanctuary, founded in 1976, at the north-western tip of the Mizo hills. The Sanctuary is inhabited by swamp deer, tiger, leopard, elephant and hoolock gibbon. The best time to visit is November to March.

A major must-buy for every tourist visiting Mizoram, is the Khumbeu ceremonial bamboo hat, made of waterproof wild Hnathial leaves. Bara Bazaar is the main shopping centre of Aizawl, where all handicraft and handloom items are available. A visit to the State Govt. and Handloom Emporium is advisable. The other shopping centres are New market, Ritz Market, Bazar Bungkawn, Thakthing Bazar, Burma Lane and Solomon Cave.

How To Get There

• Air: There is daily Vayudoot air service between Calcutta and Aizawl.
• Rail: Silchar, at a distance of 180 kms from Aizawl (capital of Mizoram) is the nearest railhead
• Road: Buses run by the Mizoram State Transport ply regularly between Silchar and Aizawl.

• New Delhi
  Mizoram House, Circular Road,
  Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
  Tel : 3015951, 3016408
  
• Calcutta
  Mizoram House, 24,
  Old Ballygunge Road,
  Calcutta 700019
  Tel : 4757887, 4756430
  Fax : 033-4757034
  
• Calcutta
  Mizoram House, Block 1B,
  Plot No. 168, Sector 3,
  Salt Lake, Calcutta 700091
  Tel : 3343209
  PABX : 033-3370917
  
• Shillong
  Mizoram House,
  Cleve Colony, Tripura Castle Road,
  Shillong - 793003
  Tel : (0364) 225689, 225068
  
• Silchar
  Mizoram House, Rangir Kharia,
  Silchar - 788005
  Tel : (03842) 20142
  
• Guwahati
  Mizoram House, Christian Basti,
  G.S.Road, Guwahati - 788 005
  Tel : (0361) 56426