Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Midum Kham - scary road in Mizoram

Midum kham , Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road, Mizoram
Midum kham (or Midumkham as written by someone) is located between Thiak and Sumsuih villages which is passing through Aizawl - Lunglei road (World Bank road) in Mizoram, India. This steep rocky cliff road has many stories since British period in the then Lushai Hills. The road construction through this scary cliff or treacherous terrain was initiated in 1880 under the supervision of an English Engineer Mr.Green {Mizo called him as 'Sapsakeia' (literally means 'Mr.English-Tiger'), he was remembered with his self-willed manner}. This infamous English Engineer left stone inscription on this cliff, local older people often used it as a landmark or mentioning in their storytelling "Sapsakeia Lungdah", but this stone inscription was destroyed during World Bank road project was done. It was said that during the time when British begun road construction in this site labourer were brought from Dumka area (Jharkhand), and after it this place is called Midum Kham which literally means 'Dumka Cliff", many Dumka labourer lost their lives in this project.

When National Highway No.54 was constructed on the other side of Mizoram this rocky cliff road was abandoned and served a mere link road for nearby villages. In 2006 this road was widened and reconstructed by Mizoram government under World Bank funded road project, Telegraph reporter nicely wrote about the story in detail when the engineers had interesting and life offering dedication works: Dhanbad helps connect Mizoram - State technology for road project in the hilly terrain of Lunglei. 

You may be a tourist or first time visitor to Mizoram, your tourist guide may suggested you to travel farther south or giving you a list of places to visit beyond Aizawl city. When you set out from Aizawl to Hmuifang Tourist Resort, Sialsuk Tlang (hill) or Thenzawl/Lunglei/Saiha/Lawngtlai etc and more farther in south, you have to pass through this scary cliff road. When you see roadside signboard with green colour "Welcome to Thiak" be ready to face this breathtaking zone:-). Check the following landscape pics for precaution before you pass through this scary road:-
Midum kham (Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road)
Midum kham (Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road)
Midum kham (Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road)
Midum kham (Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road)
Midum kham (Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road)
Midum kham (Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road)
Midum kham (Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road)
Midum kham (Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road)
Midum kham (Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road)
Midum kham (Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road)
Midum kham (Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road)
Midum kham (Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road)
Midum kham (Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road)
Midum kham (Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road)
Scary road on Midum kham, Hmuifang tlang terrain
Midum kham, Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road
Midum kham, Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank Road
Midum kham, Aizawl - Lunglei World Bank road
Midum kham view from Thiak Village, Mizoram

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