– Source (www.oyorooms.com)
Do you often find yourself thinking about big travel plans, family outing, friend’s getaway trips, and countless adventure-filled experiences, like me? Well, the best of the journeys are possibly those that are least planned. This strikes me as the mini bus we are travelling in rides on the state highway passing by quaint hamlets, exotic flora, tropical landscapes, and small hills of Mizoram into Sangau village, which is about 226 kilometres from Aizawl, the closest settlement to Phawngpui. This is how we began our exhilarating adventure in Mizoram to take on the stunning Phawngpui Trek.
The Phawngpui Peak is the highest mountain peak in Mizoram, towering about 2,157 metres high near the Myanmar border overlooking the Chhimtuipui River. The peak is positioned within the Phawngpui National Park and oversees a breathtaking landscape full of deep crevices and amazing cliffs. Trekking to the summit of Phawngpui is an experience no adventure lover can let miss. Being here amidst the mighty mountains and the sky will make you feel reinvigorated, happy and peaceful at the very least.
Our journey in this part of India began once we took off from our hotel in Aizawl and headed to Saiha. From Saiha we travelled 3 hours to the northeast to the village of Sangau, from where we would start our hike over Phawngpui, and add the “The Blue Mountain” to our list of peak conquests. The path passes through a couple of villages before the steep forested accent to Farpac a flat meadow about an hour and a half from the summit bound by steep-sided cliffs, which provides a dizzying view of the valley below.
Sangau, the base camp of the trek, looks spectacularly beautiful and serene in the fading evening light. It is well connected by road from Aizawl, Lunglei, and Saiha. We stayed at the Tourist Lodge in Sangau which is the default accommodation for most Phawngpui visitors. The other decent option is the Forest Rest House. Though the accommodation is not luxurious, these are good enough to provide you a comfortable stay.
Next morning we visited Tiau Chhuah where two rivers Tiau and Tuipui converge to form the mighty Kaladan aka Kolodyne aka Chhumtuipui and is a nice spot for a picnic. The locals say that the wave created by two strong currents in monsoon at Tiau Chhuah is quite a sight, and we couldn’t agree more. The sky is clear and the mood upbeat as we begin the trek to Phawngpui, the Blue Mountain of Mizoram which is a highly revered peak among the tribes, considered as the abode of the Gods. While trekking to the top of Mizoram we passed varied landscapes such as the famous orchids and rhododendrons flowers, the spectacular deodar and pine trees and flowers of all colours. All this together presents a fairytale view of the blue-hazed hills, and valleys unfolding below. We stopped for a lunch break near the river, and our guide informed us that water is normally clear and clean, so none of us had any hesitation in quenching our thirst here.
After lunch, we headed to the other attraction of Phawngpui Peak which provides the most enchanting view of Mizoram from the hill top. On the western side, there is a semi-circular beautiful cliff with a sharp and deep fall called Thlazuang Khamm. This cliff is said to be haunted by spirits. On the peak, we came across a level ground that is believed to be about 200 hectares in area. The sight that welcomed us here is of hundreds of matted bamboo groves and other alluring vegetation. We were also lucky to come across a variety of butterflies, including some rare species native to this region. Walking slowly through the groves is an ethereal experience especially with the presence of the colourful butterflies and birds. There is so much to see, appreciate and soak in. From the top, we got a 360-degree view of breathtaking cliffs and beautiful flower gardens. Although the area is known to be home to a rich variety of wildlife such as Leopard Cat, Serow, Goral, Asiatic Black Bear, Stump-tailed Macaque, and Capped Langur we, unfortunately, were unable to spot any on the route. But we did come across birds such as Blyth’s Tragopan, Falcon, Sunbirds, Dark-rumped swift, Oriental pied hornbill, large-billed crow, Warblers and Woodpeckers, among other birds.
Though this region is pleasant throughout the year, travelling between the months of October to April is supposed to be the best. The period is a good time for trekkers and adventure seekers as the route is usually dry and well-marked out due to animal movements. It is this time that we decided to choose for our adventure to this part of the country as well. As projected the weather was nice and temperate, and we were able to get a clear, vibrant, and scenic view of the Blue Mountain enveloped in green valleys. The magnificent sights and sounds of the mountain are enhanced during this period providing you an ethereal experience to cherish.
In the evening, our trek was a tiring, arduous downhill trudge but the sights were equally rewarding. From the peak, we descended to the village of Vonbuk on the south-eastern base of Phawngpui peak, not far from the Burmese border. Vonbuk was a pleasant village at an hour’s walking time from the peak and we spent the evening wandering about taking pictures of the amused kids and having tea with the locals, before spending the night at the newly constructed forest tourist lodge at Vonbuk, to enjoy the sunset and early morning views from there. The next morning we left at 8:00 am and reached Sangau at 1:00 pm, after stopping at multiple places for capturing beautiful pictures, looking around and interacting with the humble Li people. Again a diverse array of stunning flowers, high, narrow waterfalls in the distance, a bewildering variety of mushrooms, brightly plumed sunbirds hovering over colourful flowers, peregrine falcon swooping down on fleeting cliffs followed us.
This has undoubtedly been one of the best weeks of my life. No internet, limited phone connectivity, no TV and of course, no office work. The absolute company of nature and new friends, hills, brooks, lakes and above all, meeting the locals. An adventure that brings you closer to yourself, its serenity enlightens your soul, challenges you physically and mentally, and takes you as high as the mountains to witness the real beauty of the life from the top. Trekking on the top of Mizoram is that perfect adventure. I can’t wait to get back to the hills again!
