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Mizoram, a mountainous region is sandwiched between Myanmar in the east and the south and Bangladesh and Tripura in the west with its northern frontiers touching Assam and Manipur states. Located in a strategic position, it has an 1100 km international boundary with Myanmar and Bangladesh. It was one of the districts of Assam until 1972 when it became a Union Territory.
After being annexed by the British in 1891, for the first few years, Lushai Hills in the north remained under Assam, while the southern half remained under Bengal. Both these parts were amalgamated in 1898 into one district called Lushai Hill District under the Chief Commissioner of Assam.
With the implementation of the North- Eastern Reorganization Act in 1972, Mizoram became a Union Territory and as a sequel to the signing of the historic memorandum of settlement between the Government of India and the Mizo National Front in 1986, it became the 23rd state of the Indian union on 20 February 1987. Mizoram literally translated means "Land of the Highlanders". The hills are steep with an average height of 900 metres. The highest peak in Mizoram is the Blue Mountain (Phawngpui) with a height of 2210 metres. The tropical forests of Mizoram abound in a wide variety of flora and fauna. The thick bamboo groves strewn with wild plantations dominate the lower altitude, slowly giving way to dense woods festooned with creepers and canes as the hills rise higher. Orchids of various hues, pinkish- white bauthinia, sparkling rhododendrons, yellow sunflowers and many other colourful wild flowers, add a touch of delightful tonal contrasts to the greeneries. Besides being an ornithologist's delight, the jungles are home to tigers, wild boars, leopards, monkeys, barking deers, sambars and elephants.
Climate
Mizoram has a mild and very pleasant climate of 11deg C-21 deg C in winter and 20 deg C-30 deg C in summer. The entire area is under the influence of south west monsoon. It rains heavily from May to September and the average rainfall is 254 cm per annum.
Flora and Fauna
The state has thick bamboo forests. Rivers run in narrow ribbons that seem to be challenging onlookers to plunge in for some adventure and excitement. The hill ranges running in north-south direction are resplendent with green vegetation throughout the year. The highest peak, Phawngpui Mountain (meaning vast meadow) known as Blue Mountain, a garden of rhododendron of arboreum and veitchianum species is 2,065 mts. There are a number of hilly streams and rivers which murmur through idyllic scenario.
Inhabited by swamp deer, tiger, leopard, elephant and hoolock gibbon, Mizoram can boast of a variety of wild life in the Dampa Sanctuary, established in 1976 at the north-western tip of Mizo hills. Best season to visit the sanctuary is from November to March.
Faith & Culture
The majority of the Mizos are Christian by faith. The literacy percentage is 88 percent the second highest literacy rate in the country. The people are mainly non-vegetarian and their staple food is rice. The Mizo people are a close knit society with no discrimination on grounds of sex, status or religion. They are hospitable, sociable and love music, singing and dancing.
Handicrafts
The traditional handicrafts of Mizoram include the Khumbeu ceremonial hat that is made of waterproof wild Hnahthial leaves. Other handicrafts include items such as shawls, textiles, bags and fine bamboo. |
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