Across Asia Journal

Saiha to Lunglei: Lawngtlai’s “Cement Queen”

Micah Hanson — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:03:33 +0000

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I had planed to stay a night in Lawngtlai (pronounced long-cly) and proceed to the town of Chongte the following morning; however I had to change my route after I found out the only place I knew of to stay in Lawngtlai, the tourist lodge, was full. I decided to [...]

Phawngpui: Climbing the “Blue Mountain”

Micah Hanson — Mon, 02 May 2011 13:51:20 +0000

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Phawngpui, literally “blue mountain” in Mizo, at rather lowly 2158 m (7078 ft) is the highest point in the state of Mizoram. The mountains or hills of Mizoaram make up for what they lack in height with shear quantity making it the state with the fewest acres of flat [...]

Saiha: Land of the Mara

Micah Hanson — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:55:49 +0000

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After spending Easter in Aizawl I headed south to explore the southern reaches of this hill covered state. Prior to removal of the restricted area permit for foreigners visiting Mizoram on the first of the year, tourists who did obtain a permit were only allowed to visit the region [...]

Valley views from Reiek

Micah Hanson — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 04:50:39 +0000

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My first excursion from Aizawl was to the village of Reiek. This prosperous village is perched on a slope beneath a peak of the same name, opposite a deep valley which separates this rural village from the congested ridge of shops and houses that is Aizawl. The “trek,” or [...]

A “Sap” in Mizoram: Aizawl

Micah Hanson — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 06:23:27 +0000

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Mizoram is not an easy place to get to, even from the relatively nearby state of Nagaland. I spent the better part of the first day, of my three day journey, packed in like a proverbial sardine in an Indian Railways general class compartment, there-always-room-for-one-more class, aboard the painfully [...]