Mizoram is one of the seven sisters of the North-East. Located at the extreme corner of the country, Mizoram shares international borders with Myanmar in the east and south and Bangladesh in the west and regional borders with its sister states Tripura in the west and Assam and Manipur in the north. The state is perched like a lone sentinel on the tip of the north - eastern border of India. Mizoram occupies an important strategic position having a long international boundary of 772 kilometres. The state covering an area of 21,087 square kilometres is situated between 21O58’- 24O35’N latitude and 92O15’ - 93O29’ E longitude. It has a population of 8,91,058 persons, out of which 4,59,783 are males and 4,31,275 are females with a density of 43 per square kilometres. There are 938 females as compared to 1000 males in the state. Its literacy rate is 88.49 per cent, the second highest in the country.

As a sequel to the signing of the historic Memorandum of Settlement between the Government of India and the Mizo National Front on June 30, 1986, Mizoram was granted statehood on February 20, 1987 and it became the 23rd State of the Indian Union. Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram situated nearly 4,000 feet above sea level, is a religious and cultural centre of the Mizos. The Mizoram state legislative assembly has 40 seats. Mizoram is now represented at the Parliament by two members, one in Lok Sabha and the other in Rajya Sabha. The state is divided into eight districts, namely, Aizawl, Champhai, Saiha (Chhimtuipui), Kolasib, Lawngtlai, Lunglei, Mamit and Serchhip.

Mizoram is the land of Mizos or highlanders. The Mizos belonging to the Mongoloid race are original settlers of the state. Two of the tribes, the Lushai and Himar, migrated to India and occupied the Lushai hills. The Mizos are divided into several tribes; the Lushais, Pawis, Paithes, Raltes, Pang, Himars, Kukis etc. Previously believers of the good spirit called Pathian, the Mizo community today is greatly influenced by Christianity. Mizos have accepted English as their medium of instruction, but the Mizo language is still widely spoken.

Mizo society is close-knit with no class distinction and no discrimination on grounds of sex. The entire society is knitted together by a peculiar code of ethics which revolves around ‘tluwmnguihnu’, an untranslatable term which means that every Mizo is duty bound to be hospitable, kind, unselfish and helpful to the poor and needy. Although Christianity brought about a near total transformation in the Mizo lifestyle and outlook, some customary laws have stayed on.

The combination of varied physical features in the state has its own charm and fascination. It has a pleasant climate. It is generally cool in summer and not very cold in winter. During winter, the temperature varies from 11OC to 21OC and in the summer it varies between 20OC to 29OC. The entire area is under the direct influence of the monsoon. It rains heavily from May to September and the average rainfall in Aizawl is 208 cm. Winter in Mizoram is wonderfully blue. Mizoram has great natural beauty and endless variety of landscape and is very rich in flora and fauna. Almost all kinds of tropical trees and plants thrive in Mizoram. The hills are marvellously green. Mizoram has the most variegated hilly terrain in the eastern part of India. It is a land of rolling hills, rivers and lakes. As many as 21 major hills, ranges or peaks of different heights (average height is about 900 metres) run through the length and breadth of the state with the highest peak being Phawngpui (Blue Mountain) towering 2,065 metres above the sea level. The terrain has perhaps the most variegated topography among all the hilly areas in this part of the country. The hills are extremely rugged and steep.

Although many rivers and streamlets drain the hill ranges, the most important rivers are Tlawng (also known as Dhaleswari or Katakhal), Tut (Gutur), Tuirial (Sonai) and Tuivawl. These rivers flow through northern territory and eventually join river Barak in Cachar. The Koldoyne (Chhimtuipui) which originates in Myanmar is an important river in the south Mizoram. It has four tributaries. The Western part is drained by Karnaphuli (Khawthlangtuipui) and its tributaries. A number of important towns including Chittagong in Bangladesh is situated at the mouth of the river.

Lakes are scattered all over the state. The most important of them are Palak, Tamdil, Rungdil and Rengdil. The Palak lake situated in Chhimtuipui district in southern Mizoram is an important lake which covers an area of 30 hectares.

Agriculture is the main source of income to the majority of the population. The state government has taken a number of steps to improve the area under cultivation and also the yield per hectare with a view to become self-sufficient. With a suitable climate and soil, the farmers in the state produce one of the finest quality of horticulture produce. The main pattern of agriculture followed in Mizoram is ‘jhum’ shifting cultivation. Mizoram is famous for the fibreless ginger. On an average, the state exports nearly 70,000 quintals of ginger and the growers are now awaiting trade with Bangladesh and Myanmar. Paddy, maize, mustard, sugarcane, sesame and potatoes are the other prominent crops. Concerted efforts have also been made to accelerate the growth of industries with priority being given to agro and forest based industries, handloom and handicrafts, electronics and consumer industries.

The state has been making headway in increasing the production of fish by making best use of 4750 fishponds in a water area of over 1800 hectares by setting up five units of Fish Farmers Development Agencies. With almost every house in the state engaged in weaving, the importance of sericulture is felt all the more for improving the rural economy. It is felt that sericulture could be the meeting place of agriculture, arts and industries as it involves in distinct phases of cultivation, rearing of silk worm and silk reeling/weaving and marketing. A project is being prepared for plantation of mulberry in 1000 hectares.

The people of Mizoram are today proud to be on the path of prosperity and development and set example for other states. Mizoram has been awarded the peace incentive for being the most peaceful state in the north-east region. Peace, as has often been said, is a pre-requisite to progress and development and Mizoram is the best proof of this. The Mizoram government is setting up State Institute of Rural Development at Thingsulthliah besides providing corrugated aluminium sheets for the roofless. The Union Government has declared three new National Highways in the state totalling a length of 328 kilometres.

The state has undertaken a large number of projects to use the vast hydro potential of its own. This includes a 3 MW Tuipanglui Hydel Project and 3 MW Kau Tlabung project is waiting for commissioning this year. Those in the pipeline include 20 MW Bairabi Thermal Plant using heavy fuel oil at a cost of rupees 83 crore besides 120 MW Mat Hydel project at Kolodyne costing rupees 804 crore, 80 MW Bairabi Hydel project at a cost of rupee 540 crores and 12 MW Serlui medium project at a cost of rupees 80.89 crores. All this projects will not only make the state power surplus but also provide the state with much needed funds.

Since Mizoram has the second highest literacy rate in the country, it is obvious that Mizoram would be one of the largest contributors of IT professionals in the country. Therefore, the state can play an important role in the global competition. The state has introduced some of the basic infrastructures required to establish Silicon Valley of the north-eastern region. In order to achieve this target, thrust has been given to many areas like development of information infrastructure, manpower development, IT education, electronics governance, electronics commerce and internet proliferation.

The hill people have kept alive their rich cultural heritage, colourful customs and lively traditions. Festivals and dances of the Mizos have a unique tribal flavour. Besides, christmas and new year’s day, there do exists many more traditional festivals which are celebrated with much gusto. Chapchar Kut is celebrated after clearing of jungles for cultivation of the jhum crop during February-March. Pawl Kut is celebrated after the harvests when the granary is full in December and Mim Kut is dedicated to departed souls after the September maize harvest.

The most popular dances of Mizoram are Cheraw (bamboo dance), Khuallam (dance for visitors or guests), Chheih Lam (at the end of a day’s work) and Solakar or Sarlamkai (prevalent among the Mara and Pawl tribes).

Wooded hills, swift flowing rivers, quicksilver streams, still lakes and the natural beauty of the state having most picturesque sights and varied climatic conditions and peaceful climate makes it an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists. Be assured of a warm and a straight-from-the-heart hospitality if you intend to visit there.