Aizawl

This article is about the municipality in Mizoram, India. For its namesake district, see Aizawl district.

Aizawl आइजोल
Capital
Montage of Aizawl City Clockwise from top left: Pachhunga University Entrance gate, Solomon's Temple in Aizawl, Aizawl Bazar, Night View of Aizawl, Lengpui Airport Building
Aizawl Location of Aizawl in India
Coordinates:
Country	India
State	Mizoram
District	Aizawl
Area
• Total	457 km2 (176 sq mi)
Elevation	1,132 m (3,714 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	293,416
• Density	234/km2 (610/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Mizo
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	796001
Telephone code	0389
Vehicle registration	MZ
Sex ratio	1024 females per 1000 males ♂/♀
Website	aizawl.nic.in

Aizawl (English pronunciation: /aɪˈzɔːl/; Mizo: [ˈʌɪ̯.ˈzɔːl]) is the capital of the state of Mizoram in India. With a resident population of 293,416, it is the largest city in the state. It is also the centre of administration containing all the important government offices, state assembly house and civil secretariat. The population of Aizawl strongly reflects the different communities of the ethnic Mizo people.

History

In 1871-72, the disorderly conduct of Khalkom, a Mizo chief, compelled the British to establish an outpost that later became the Aizawl village. In 1890, officer Dally of the Assam Police and his 400 men arrived at Aizawl to support Colonel Skinner's troops during a British military operation against the Mizo tribals. On Dally's recommendation, Aizawl was selected as the site of a fortified post that Colonel Skinner had been ordered to construct. The troops constructed stockades and buildings at the site. In 1892-95 Aizawl became accessible from Silchar by fair weather road under the supervision of Major Loch. The Indian Air Force carried out air strikes on the town during the March 1966 Mizo National Front uprising, following which the MNF withdrew to Lunglei. Until 1966, Aizawl was a large village but the regrouping of Mizo villages after the uprising made it become a larger town and then a city. Aizawl has become the centre of Road network in Mizoram connecting the north and south, east and west. More than 25% of the Mizoram population reside in Aizawl.

Geography

Aizawl is located north of the Tropic of Cancer in the northern part of Mizoram. It is situated on a ridge 1,132 metres (3715 ft) above sea level, with the Tlawng river valley to its west and the Tuirial river valley to its east.

Climate

Aizawl
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     13     20 11     23     22 13     73     25 16     168     27 18     289     26 18     406     26 19     320     25 19     321     26 19     305     26 19     184     25 18     43     23 15     15     21 12 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm Source: WMO
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.5     69 53     0.9     71 55     2.9     77 60     6.6     80 64     11     79 65     16     78 66     13     78 66     13     78 66     12     78 67     7.2     76 64     1.7     73 59     0.6     70 54 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches

Aizawl has a mild, sub-tropical climate due to its location and elevation. Under the Köppen climate classification, Aizawl features a humid subtropical climate (Cwa) but very rainy. In the summer the temperature ranges from 20–30 °C (68–86 °F), and in the winter 11–21 °C (52–70 °F).

Climate data for Aizawl
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	20.4 (68.7)	21.7 (71.1)	25.2 (77.4)	26.8 (80.2)	26.3 (79.3)	25.5 (77.9)	25.3 (77.5)	25.5 (77.9)	25.7 (78.3)	24.7 (76.5)	23.0 (73.4)	21.0 (69.8)	24.3 (75.7)
Average low °C (°F)	11.4 (52.5)	12.8 (55)	15.6 (60.1)	17.5 (63.5)	18.1 (64.6)	18.9 (66)	19.1 (66.4)	19.1 (66.4)	19.2 (66.6)	18.0 (64.4)	15.1 (59.2)	12.2 (54)	16.4 (61.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	13.4 (0.528)	23.4 (0.921)	73.4 (2.89)	167.7 (6.602)	289.0 (11.378)	406.1 (15.988)	320.4 (12.614)	320.6 (12.622)	305.2 (12.016)	183.7 (7.232)	43.2 (1.701)	15.3 (0.602)	2,161.4 (85.094)
Average precipitation days	0.5	2.1	5.0	8.4	12.8	19.4	19.3	19.6	17.2	10.6	1.8	0.4	117.1
Source: World Meteorological Organization

Cityscape

A panorama of Aizawl taken from Zemabawk

Civic administration

The Aizawl Municipal Council is the authority of civic administration of Aizawl city. It was formed in 2010 with 19 Members when the Congress-ZNP party coalition was voted to power in the state legisative assembly. The AMC office is being administered by one council Chairman, Vice Chairman and three executive members. It consists of 19 elected members representing 19 wards of the city and others appointed by the Governor of Mizoram. One-third of the total membership is reserved for women, these six seats shall be rotated after every five years. The tenure of the council is five years. There is a Ward Committee in every ward that consists of a Chairman, who is an elected councilor from that ward, and two members each from all the local council within the ward. There are 78 local councils having a term of 3 years.

Demographics

As of 2011 India census, Aizawl had a population of 293,416. Females constitute 50.61% of the population and males made up the remaining 49.39%. Mizos from various tribes make up the majority of the population. Christianity is the dominant religion in the city. Other religions include Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism

See also: List of cities in the North East and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Presbyterians make up the majority of the population. However, there are also significant numbers of the Salvation Army, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, United Pentecostal Church and Roman Catholics in the city. There are also some cultural based Christian sects. Hinduism and Islam are also represented in very small numbers in the city population.

Economy

The economy of Aizawl is basically sustained by government services as it is capital of Mizoram. The major banks are also located within Aizawl. A 3-star category hotel, Hotel Regency, has recently been inaugurated at Zarkawt, a central location within the city. It provides a much-needed hospitality service for tourists and business visitors to Aizawl.

Transport

Air

Lengpui Airport

Aizawl is connected by air transport through Lengpui Airport which it is situated near Aizawl. The airport provides connectivity to Kolkata Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Guwahati Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport and Imphal Imphal International Airport. Air India, Jet Airways are the two regular airlines which operate flights to and from Lengpui Airport. A helicopter service by Pawan Hans was started in 2012 and connects the city with Lunglei, Lawngtlai, Saiha, Chawngte, Serchhip, Champhai, Kolasib, Khawzawl, Ngopa and Hnahthial.

Rail

Mizoram is connected by railroad up to Bairabi, there are plans to connect Bairabi with Sairang with broad gauge railway track, near Aizawl. The government is now planning to start a broad gauge Bairabi Sairang Railway connection for better connectivity in the state. There is also the plan for 5 km long Aizawl Monorail running between Zemabawk to Kulikawn.

Road

Aizawl is connected by road with Silchar through National Highway 54, with Agartala through National Highway 40 and with Imphal through National Highway 150. The yellow-and-white taxis are widely available; Maruti cars are most widely used. Privately owned blue-and-white mini buses are on regular service as city buses.

Media

Newspaper: The major media in Aizawl in Mizo and English Language are:

• Vanglaini,
• The Zozam Times
• The Aizawl Post.
• Khawpui Aw
• Virthli
• The Mizoram Post
• Zoram Tlangau

• Mizo Arsi
• Mizo Express
• Zawlaidi
• Zozam Weekly
• Zoram Thlirtu
• Sakeibaknei
• Entlang

Radio: All India Radio also has a studio that host programmes at scheduled hours. FM Zoawi is a popular radio station in Aizawl.

Places of interest

The main places of interest in Aizawl are:

Aizawl Bazar Zion Street

• Bara Bazar is the main shopping centre of Aizawl in Dawrpui Veng locality. The steep Zion Street is lined with stalls selling garments. The main bazar is where the people are best seen in their traditional costumes selling produce from the farms as well as imports from China brought through Myanmar border area. The Millennium Centre in the same locality is a popular shopping Mall.
• Mizoram State Museum is located in the centre of the town at Zarkawt. This museum gives a good insight into Mizo traditions, culture and history.
• Reiek Tourist Resort a tourist spot 12 km from Aizawl, is a beautiful place at an elevation of 1548 metres with a traditional Mizo Village.
• Durtlang Hills situated on the northern side of Aizawl offers a fine view of the hill station from either Durtlang Hospital or Aizawl Theological College.
• Hmuifang is about 50 km from Aizawl with an elevation of 1619 metres, the mountain is still covered with virgin forests reserved since the Mizo Chief's time
• Berawtlang Tourist Complex situated 7 km from Aizawl is a recreational centre that hosts cultural activities. It is also considered a popular picnic spot.
• Baktawng Village 70 km from Aizawl is the place where Pu Ziona lives with the "worlds largest existing family" with 39 wives, 94 children, 14 daughters-in-law and 33 grandchildren.
• Solomon's Temple, Aizawl Mizoram, India located in Kidron Valley, Chawlhhmun is a grand temple complex operated by Kohhran Thianghlim of Mizoram.
• Khuangchera Puk is a cave in Ailawng near Reiek, about 30 km from Aizawl.

Education

Mizoram University Entrance

There are both state and private schools. Parochial schools are run by the Baptist Church of Mizoram, the Presbyterian Church of India (Synod), several Roman Catholic religious orders (St. Paul's, run by the Gabrielite Brothers) and the Seventh-day Adventists (Helen Lowry). Kendriya Vidyalaya, Aizawl, is another school run by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, the school situated close to Zembawk. Other schools include Home Missions School.

Tertiary

Pachhunga University College was among the earliest colleges founded in 1958. Aizawl College, the second oldest college in Aizawl City was established in the year 1975. Mizoram University established in 2001 provides affiliation to all the Colleges in Mizoram. Indian Institute of Mass Communication and National Institute of Technology Mizoram has already started operations. Plans are being made to start a medical college in Falkawn.

Sports

Lammual

Football is the most popular sport in Mizoram with a number of footballers playing in national leagues in different parts of India. Some of the more important playing facilities in Aizawl are:

1. Rajiv Gandhi Stadium Mualpui, with a seating capacity of 20,000, is currently being constructed at Mualpui, Aizawl.
2. Hawla Indoor Stadium is the largest indoor stadium with basketball, badminton and boxing facilities.
3. Lammual stadium is a single tier stadium. The stadium under construction will have a seating capacity of about 5,000 spectators.

Club	Sport	League	Venue
Dinthar Football Club	Football	Mizoram Premier League	Lammual/Vaivakawn field
Chanmari .F.C.	Football	Mizoram Premier League	Lammual
Mizoram football team	Football	Santosh Trophy	Rajiv Gandhi Stadium Mualpui
Aizawl F.C.	Football	I-League	Lammual

Neighbourhoods

Armed Veng Armed Veng South Bawngkawn Bethlehem Veng Bethlehem Vengthlang Bungkawn Bungkawn Vengthar Chaltlang Chanmari Chanmari West Chawnpui Chhinga Veng Chite College Veng Dam Veng Dawrpui Veng Dawrpui Vengthar Dinthar Durtlang

Electric Veng Edenthar Hunthar I.T.I. Kanan Khatla Khatla East Khatla South Kulikawn Laipuitlang Lawipu Veng Luangmual Maubawk Mission Veng Mission Vengthlang North Tuikual Nursery Ramhlun Veng Ramthar

Republic Veng Republic Vengthlang Salem Saron Veng South Tuikual Tanhril Thakthing Tuikhuahtlang Tuithiang Upper Republic Vaivakawn Venghlui Venghnuai Zarkawt Zemabawk Zonuam Zotlang Zuangtui

See also

• Tourism in North East India
• Advanced Research Centre for Bamboo and Rattan Aizawl

External links

• Aizawl travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Aizawl Development Authority
• Aizawl Official Website
• Regency Aizawl Official Website