Thursday, June 23, 2016

Holiday trip to Reiek Hill, Mizoram

Reiek hill (Reiek tlang), Mizoram, India.
June 15, 2016 (Wednesday) was holiday in Mizoram, me and my friends - Sawmtea, James, V.Lura and Lani decided to visit the famous interesting place of Reiek hill (Locally known as Reiek Tlang, Tlang means a Hill/Mountain in Mizo language). Reiek hill is stretching over at the top of Reiek village which is located at around 35 Kms from Aizawl main city. By car or light vehicle it can be reached at one and half hour drive, by two wheeler it can be reached around one hour drive. The day when we were ahead to Reiek was bit dull and cloudy, we went with our own two wheeler each so that we can managed with the weather without troubles. We had lunch at roadside restaurant at Tlawng river. After that we were stopped for about 45 minutes at Vaipuanpho waterfall which was located at the roadside. Before reaching Ailawng village we had to take shelter for a while at the roadside waiting shed because of rain. From the shed we proceeded again to our destination place without having anymore weather hindrances.

We left our two-wheelers at parking area maintained by Mizoram Tourism Department, then we started our hiking to Reiek hill. I think we had spent around 30 minutes to reach the hill top. We have seen many other visitors in that day too. When we passed trough the forest area around 20 minutes, the famous Reiek hill was just appeared before us then we could not remembered our physical tiredness and started shouting with continuous "wow" here and there.
Trekking in Reiek hill, Mizoram, India

Trekking in Reiek hill, Mizoram, India
 At the edge of the hill we have to climb up stone  covered steps, this is one of the hardest paths to reach the hill top, but within ten minutes we passed through the hard climb then it were easier to reach the hill top by and by.   The hill is quite impressive, greenish and peaceful. For the lovers of nature this hill is suggested to visit for having experience nature thrills. I am sure that the scenic landscape and natural topography of Reiek hill will give you full satisfaction even when you come back from its hill top. Even us when we reached home from Reiek trip our satisfaction marked with this short line "Holiday well spent at Reiek hill."
Reiek hill, Mizoram, India

Reiek hill (Reiek tlang), Mizoram, India.
Visitors of Reiek hill posing at the hill top
Reiek hill (Reiek tlang), Mizoram, India

Reiek hill (Reiek tlang), Mizoram, India
Reiek hill (Reiek tlang), Mizoram, India

Trekking route at Reiek hill (Reiek tlang), Mizoram, India

Reiek hill landscape, Mizoam, India. (Reiek tlang)

Roadside monument constructed by YMA Reiek Branch, "Mangtha le" means "Good Bye"
This is a video taken about Reiek Hill if you have time please watch it:

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Chapchar Kut 2016, Aizawl

Khuangchawi show by Zemabawk YMA branch, Chapchar Kut 2016, Aizawl
'Chapchar Kut' is the biggest cultural festival in Mizoram. It is usually celebrated annually in the month of March. Our Mizo history books traced back the origin of "Chapchar Kut" at around 1450-1700 AD when our Mizo ancestors were living in a Suaipui village, most probably Lentlang area in Myanmar. The purpose of this festival is when the Mizo villagers finished their slashing of jungle for their agricultural field and left it to be dried for burning for almost two and half months. During this layoff period they could have leisure time as they were awaiting the new agricultural sites to be burnt out when it completely dried up, they could make use of that free time for the celebration of their spring festival called "Chapchar Kut" (Mizo - Kut is 'Festival'). If you want to know more details about Chapchar Kut please click this link: CHAPCHAR KUT DETAILS
Chapchar Kut 2016, Aizawl
I had been to outside Mizoram in the past decade, I could hardly had a chance to be seen live celebration of Chapchar Kut. In yesterday Chapchar Kut was held all over Mizoram, I was lucky to be taken part again in its main celebration that was held  in Assam Rifles Ground (Lammual), Aizawl. The participants were quite number and lively. The ground and galleries were also filled with joyous people dressing in their best Mizo traditional attire. The programme was mainly mixed cultural dances and songs items, but it was interesting. When I was taken picture from the front gallery I could felt that the festive mood overwhelmed from the participants and audience. My mind was also refreshing when I viewed the arena that was filled with  diverse colourful Mizo traditional dresses worn by each and everyone which I had not seen so many years in live. For the Mizo people Chapchar Kut will always remain an important cultural festival in future as well. If you want to know how to say greetings for this festival, say "Chapchar Kut Chibai" then people will smile you back with saying "Nang pawh le." If you want to see the exotic cultural festival in Mizoram, don't miss the 'Chapchar Kut' celebration.

The pictures that I have taken from Chapchar Kut 2016 are below:
Khuangchawi show by Zemabawk YMA branch, Chapchar Kut 2016, Aizawl, Mizoram
Chapchar Kut 2016, Aizawl, Mizoram
Mizo cultural dress, Chapchar Kut 2016, Aizawl, Mizoram
Zorimawi by Govt. Mizo Higher Secondary School students, Chapchar Kut 2016, Aizawl, Mizoram
Chapchar Kut 2016, Aizawl, Mizoram
Mizo girls with traditional dress, Chapchar Kut 2016, Aizawl, Mizoram
Mizo old man with cultural dress, Chapchar Kut 2016, Aizawl, Mizoram
Mizo little girls with traditional attire, Chapchar Kut 2016, Aizawl, Mizoram
Mizo mother and child with traditional attire, Chapchar Kut 2016, Aizawl, Mizoram
PC Girls School performing Mizo Naupang pawn to, Chapchar Kut 2016, Aizawl, Mizoram
Mizo man with traditional attire, Chapchar Kut 2016, Aizawl, Mizoram
Mizo men with traditional dress, Chapchar Kut 2016, Aizawl, Mizoram