Calm-Sojourner: Three large natural rocks in Sialsuk village

Sialsuk village (Aizawl District, Mizoram, India) has different natural rock structures and formations. I am not geologist nor expert so that i cannot explain in its technical terms and specific categories like metamorphic, sedimentary or igneous rocks etc. Many large and long rocks formation are there within the village and its nearby streams, some are flats and some are having smooth structures. Out of many rock structures available in our Sialsuk village the below mentioned rocks are well known for their largeness amongst the denizens.

1. Lungding: It is located at Daithlang forest area which can be reached within 40 minutes by walk from Sialsuk. Its location is not very far from Aizawl-Lunglei World Bank road but needed to walk down below from the main road. When we visited along with four friends in last January this rock was hugely covered up by wild vegetation and nearby tree branches, it's uppermost structure is also seen in broken apart that might be happened in few years back. It's size can be surmise by seeing the below image where a friend of mine standing close on base of the rock.

Lungding - a large natural rock structure at Sialsuk village, Mizoram

2. Chana lungpui: This natural rock is located before reaching Lungding, both Lungding and Chana lungpui can be reach by following same forest path and the distance between them are not so far away. Unlike Lungding this rock is in rounded and smooth shape. It is named after Mr.Chana who was known as skilled hunter. His story was often told in our village by older generations whom they believe him as having affairs or connection with Lasi (the spirit which presides over hunting) and was branded him as Lasi zawl ("A man who has received a sign in a dream from Lasi, the spirit of hunding, and has thenceforth become such a skilled hunter that he is looked upon as being possession of the spirit" Def. Pu Buanga Dictionary). We did not measured the size of the rock with scale but one friend surmised it as around 24 sq.ft (this needed proper proof). Before we set out to this place my parents told me about the existence of stone inscription on this rock i.e. "Thingtam kumim zo neih a tha" (When there is Bamboo flowering it is better to have cultivation in highland). It was one of the popular Mizo sayings in olden days. As the rock was having wild vegetation coverage for many years we could not found out such inscription on the rock. Due to this insanitary of its features we barely identify few names and dates carved by some of our older village folks. Before we left we removed the vegetation coverage from the rock structure, you may recognize before and after of it from the below images.

Chana lungpui - Natural rock structure at Sialsuk village (Before clean)

Chana lungpui - Natural rock structure at Sialsuk village (After clean)

3. Thlangkhamphei lunglian: This huge natural rock is located inside Zongaw Reserved Forest at Sialsuk. It's basement has juxtapose rock structures which formed a short cave with high ceiling, because of this short cave the local people also called it as Tlangkhamphei Lunglian puk (Puk means cave in Mizo tawng). If this rock is properly measure it may be listed in one of the largest semi-solid rock structures in Mizoram. It can be reach with light vehicles or two wheelers, even by walk also it will take only 20 minutes from the Village. This huge rock provides nice nature view as it is located inside village reserved forest area. From the top of this rock you can view many distant villages and forest coverage areas till the western end of Mizoram. The large trees on the top of this rock provides good shade for visitors, while sitting under these trees beautiful birds songs and sounds can be heard. The structure of this rock is slant to lower sides, visitors can be walk down till the last perch. When you visit to our village please don't exclude this rock in your list of must seeing places.

In our school days this rock is well preserved and maintained by Young Mizo Association (YMA), Sialsuk Branch but in my last visit there was no such kind of proper maintenance and care. Even the waiting/viewing shed also no longer existed. There are stone quarry near to this rock, if our Village council authorities does not stop stone extractions from these sites it can damage the foundation of this rock. If the stone workers do blasting regularly we cannot say that it will not worsen the structure of Tlangkhamphei lunglian, so preventive measure is needed in order to keep it safe. It is not easy to get such huge rock image in single frame, please check out the below pictures to have a clear imagination of this gigantic rock.