Mizoram


The capital of the state is Aizawl (pronounced eyes will) spread across a mountain top at an altitude of 1300 metres (4000 feet). It means the climate is fairly mild

Down town Aizawl is pretty chaotic with pedestrians and vehicles competing for space. Most stores are small and carry a basic range of goods

I stayed at the Tourist Lodge in Aizawl, located at the top of the ridge in the picture above. The rooms were fairly basic, but some of the other accomodation we stayed at further south (pictures below) was even more basic



The houses in Aizawl spill across the hillsides. Sanitation is pretty basic. There is little water reticulation and no sewage systems. Rubbish is tipped down the slopes

The Mizos are dominantly Christian so eat all varieties of meat including beef and pork. This make it difficult for other Indian nationals to feel at home. In fact other Indian need a permit to be able to live here. Given the conditions the meat and fish were sold in, I stuck to vegetarian meals or chicken

The Mizos are a pretty friendly bunch . The group of boys were photographed near the tourist lodge, while the two girls were from a tea house in the south

Our Project started on the southern outskirts of Aizawl and headed some 100 km to the south. At Aizawl there is a large bus station. A few years back a rockfall fell on a bus and killed the driver.

Two kilometres south of Aizawl the route passes through another village. This was the site of a fatal rockfall two years ago. A little to the west of this vilalge is the Hlimen Quarry where 18 people were killed in a rockfall in 1992 when the quarry gave way and overwhelmed a settlement

The amazing thing to me was that the quarry continues to be worked to supply building stone for Aizawl

On the way south the road first traverses fairly steep mountainsides

To provide sufficient space, retaining walls are built on the outside edge of the formation

On the way south, the road passes through a number of villages, where the houses are built very close to the road edge. The modern looking buildings are staff quarters for the new hospital at Falkawn. Problem is that they built the staff quarters and the administration block, but run out of money for the hospital

Ther is always building activity going on and you can always get a cup of tea at the local hotel cum restuarant. Photos taken in Aibawk

We stayed the night here. The photos are of the cook (and his well equipped kitchen) and the consultants team in Aibawk

Further south the route traverses a large escarpment. This will challenge the contractor, who has little skill with excavation.

Ther is a lot of instability along this section. It drops down the other side across another escarpment

The local chook population is high as is the rivalry between roosters

The first rains started with a roar on the first of April

The flowers started to come out

And the rockfalls started all over again


To the south the country opens out and the relief is a lot less.


Local lads at Thezawl, Breakdown of our Mahindra vehicle, Lab staff at Sialsuk, With Mizoram Principal Geologist


Working in the field, M7 road & Mizo Hills, Principal Geologists (pride and joy) Ambassador car, Local Carrier (God is my refuge)

Mizoram - India