[//M]

Wonderful travelogue gunin.

There is serious lack of information available on the web about these hidden hamlets. So I am taking the liberty to ask you a few questions regarding the accessibility to Mizoram.

• Are there any permits required to visit Mizoram? If yes, can they be obtained online?
• Any specific areas around the international border where ILP (Inner Line Permit) is required?
• Any specific permits required for self-drive rental cars (read Zoom Cars / Revv / Voler / Myles / etc)?
• Any specific permits required for two-wheelers?
• Is general availability of fuel a concern on the highways?

I will be really glad if you can help me with these queries !

[gunin]

Originally Posted by Red Liner

This trip log is nothing but magic! You have cast a spell on all of us!

Your comment made me go . Thank you.

Originally Posted by aah78

Lovely Travelogue!

Looks like your friend & you had an exciting adventure exploring Mizoram. The landscape looks beautiful.

Thank you for the kind words. Yes, this trip has been one of my best so far.

Originally Posted by BlackPearl

Superb travelog Gunin! Rated 5 stars. North East has so many places that we need to visit. Please keep traveling and sharing!

Thanks a lot Blackpearl. I will definitely keep posting more.

Originally Posted by vijayols

Simply Awesome Gunin.How are the road conditions generally?

Thank you. Road conditions are acceptable for a hill state. The roads are better than those in Arunachal Pradesh. Some routes like N. Vanlaiphai to Biate (on the way to Champhai) and Champhai to Zokhawthar are in bad condition. The rest of the route should be manageable in a hatch.

[prince0407]

Oh what a beautiful travelogue!! The seven sisters have so much to offer and yet remain in oblivion. Have heard a lot about the simplicity and generosity of the people there and your TL endorses the same. The landscapes are mind boggling. Roads too are quite decent for a state nestled amongst hills.

Another place added to my bucket list.

Cheers!!
Pratyush

[rmonie]

What a brilliant photo travelogue!! Read through it in one shot! Does one require any permit/ visa type documents to cross over the border into Myanmar?

[Michael_Fanai]

Originally Posted by //M

Wonderful travelogue gunin.

There is serious lack of information available on the web about these hidden hamlets. So I am taking the liberty to ask you a few questions regarding the accessibility to Mizoram.

• Are there any permits required to visit Mizoram? If yes, can they be obtained online?
• Any specific areas around the international border where ILP (Inner Line Permit) is required?
• Any specific permits required for self-drive rental cars (read Zoom Cars / Revv / Voler / Myles / etc)?
• Any specific permits required for two-wheelers?
• Is general availability of fuel a concern on the highways?

I will be really glad if you can help me with these queries !

Nice travelogue Gunin.

As a resident of Aizawl, Mizoram I wiill answer some of the queries.

*Are there any permits required to visit Mizoram? If yes, can they be obtained online?
Ans : Inner Line Pass is required for entry into Mizoram and can be obtained from Liaison Officer, Government of Mizoram from the following cities Kolkata, Silchar, Shillong, Guwahati or New Delhi. Government employees travelling for official purposes are exempted from obtaining ILP but are required to carry a photo identification card with them at all times.

Tourists arriving by air can obtain passes from the Security Officer on arrival at Lengpui airport.

http://mizoram.nic.in/more/ilp.htm


*Any specific areas around the international border where ILP (Inner Line Permit) is required?
Ans : As long as you are within the state and have the ILP no other permit is required.

*Is general availability of fuel a concern on the highways?
Ans : You will find many fuel stations along the Mizoram highway.

[roy_libran]

Great travelogue and an interesting style of writing too. Really enjoyed reading this. Mizoram has been on my list for a long time now, but crazy flight prices have been stopping me from visiting during winters. But, I might now follow in your footsteps - land up in Guwahati, get permits and hire a self-drive for this trip.

However, I also have a request that may make me sound crazy, biased and what-not -

Please take down this thread.
Let this gem of a place, remain hidden from the Rest-of-Indians, and especially us North-Indians, because the next thing you know we are going to descend here in droves and you know what happens next. Litter, Hawkers, Thieves, Agents etc. etc.
Every time I have been to any remote location in North-East, I can't help but wonder, what did these simple, lovely people do wrong, to be bunched up with the rest of us.

I know this post is biased, but hope it leads to some introspection. Apologies to all those that I upset.

[gunin]

Originally Posted by //M

So I am taking the liberty to ask you a few questions regarding the accessibility to Mizoram.

• Any specific permits required for self-drive rental cars (read Zoom Cars / Revv / Voler / Myles / etc)?
• Any specific permits required for two-wheelers?

I will be really glad if you can help me with these queries !

Thanks a lot for reading. I believe Fanai has cleared most of your queries. I will just add that no separate permit is required for vehicles- bike, car or rental. Please feel free to ask any question you might have. I will be happy to help.

Originally Posted by prince0407

Oh what a beautiful travelogue!! ...

Another place added to my bucket list.

Cheers!!
Pratyush

Thanks a lot

Originally Posted by rmonie

What a brilliant photo travelogue!! Read through it in one shot! Does one require any permit/ visa type documents to cross over the border into Myanmar?

Thank you. Apart from making an entry at the check-post on the Indian side, we did not get any permits done.

Originally Posted by Michael_Fanai

Nice travelogue Gunin.

Thanks Fanai.

Originally Posted by roy_libran

Great travelogue and an interesting style of writing too. Really enjoyed reading this. Mizoram has been on my list for a long time now, but crazy flight prices have been stopping me from visiting during winters. But, I might now follow in your footsteps - land up in Guwahati, get permits and hire a self-drive for this trip.

However, I also have a request that may make me sound crazy, biased and what-not -

Please take down this thread.
Let this gem of a place, remain hidden from the Rest-of-Indians, and especially us North-Indians, because the next thing you know we are going to descend here in droves and you know what happens next. Litter, Hawkers, Thieves, Agents etc. etc.
Every time I have been to any remote location in North-East, I can't help but wonder, what did these simple, lovely people do wrong, to be bunched up with the rest of us.

I know this post is biased, but hope it leads to some introspection. Apologies to all those that I upset.

Thank you and I understand where you are coming from. I myself am wary of rampant commercialisation of a place. For example, on my last trip to Tawang, I felt the place had lost a little bit of its earlier charm what with its taxi unions etc.
But this log of mine is only a small attempt to show a little bit of the beautiful place and its equally beautiful people. I also think the people of Mizoram are a proud bunch and will manage just fine. After all, they have not let bitterness creep in to their outlook despite a difficult and painful past .

[Lone Ranger]

Really enjoyed both the pictures and the words. It was amazing to read about the no honking and 'self service' shops. Goes to show that culture and respect for your fellowman has nothing to do with things like income/education levels and is really a function of the environment in which you are raised.

On one level, it makes me happy to see places like this within our own country. But on the other, it saddens me to see how the rest of the country is now starting to resemble an open world version of the Hunger Games arena, as far as our road manners and general civility goes.

A couple of things I was curious about a) does hindi not work at all as a language in these areas? b) can a vegetarian survive a seven day trip in this region?

[gtonsing]

Amazing travel, narration and pictures! What an eye opener even for a person who is from a neighbouring state! Five Stars!

Originally Posted by Lone Ranger

A couple of things I was curious about a) does hindi not work at all as a language in these areas? b) can a vegetarian survive a seven day trip in this region?

a) Hindi might work in places closer to Assam and in Aizawl. But the deeper you get into the state, hindi would be less useful.
b) You can survive. While it may not be easy to find vegetarian food, there are places that serve vegetarian food (not just "remove the non-veg/chicken/pork pieces, viola, vegetarian food" type)

[siddarthab]

Splendid !!!

Beautifully written with simply amazing photographs. There is so much to see in the North East. Thank you for taking us on a guided tour !!!

Warm regards,

Siddhartha

[yuv1th]

Thank you so much Gunin for the detailed information on your road trips. Definitely added to my list of to do road trips. Awesome photos!!

[gunin]

Originally Posted by Lone Ranger

On one level, it makes me happy to see places like this within our own country. But on the other, it saddens me to see how the rest of the country is now starting to resemble an open world version of the Hunger Games arena, as far as our road manners and general civility goes.

A couple of things I was curious about a) does hindi not work at all as a language in these areas? b) can a vegetarian survive a seven day trip in this region?

Thank you for the kind words. Tell me about road manners elsewhere in the country. After driving for a week in Mizoram, I tried driving in the same manner in Assam. It soon became clear to me that expecting the same courtesy in return is foolish and even dangerous.

I will not place my bet on hindi even in the capital city of Aizawl. You will do just fine with english at least in Aizawl. Regarding veg food, if you look at the local menu you will find that it consists of rice, dal and boiled vegetables which i feel should be sufficient. In tourist lodges, you can always request the authorities to cook some vegetarian meal for you. So, a vegetarian can definitely survive a seven day trip in the state given one is ready to taste the local food.

Originally Posted by gtonsing

Amazing travel, narration and pictures! What an eye opener even for a person who is from a neighbouring state! Five Stars!

Thank you and I am glad you enjoyed the log. I believe you are from Manipur.

Originally Posted by siddarthab

Splendid !!!

Beautifully written with simply amazing photographs. There is so much to see in the North East. Thank you for taking us on a guided tour !!!

Thanks Siddhartha!

Originally Posted by yuv1th

Thank you so much Gunin for the detailed information on your road trips. Definitely added to my list of to do road trips. Awesome photos!!

Thanks a lot for reading

[Secretariat]

Wonderful travelogue of one of the prettiest states in the country. Excellent narrative and lovely photos. Bravo.

Yes, it has the politest driving culture in the country. Everywhere in the hills in the North East, drivers tend to be polite, but even by those standards Mizoram is special.

Salivating over your trip to Rih Dil. Great experience it must have been.

Your trips are always interesting and your travelogues even more so. Hoping you'll bring more and more places in the North East to life as you have done here.

[docmoya2007]

Beautiful narration and captivating pictures! I have spent a better part of my youth(undergraduate + post graduate+ 1st contractaual job)in Delhi and bought my first car there. I used to enjoy riding on the wide roads of Delhi.

Ever since I returned back home to Mizoram in 2013, I have been grumbling about the poor road conditions and the incessant rain. Going through your travelogue made me realise how patience you are and how mature your outlook in life is.

I too love photography & recently videography. I had owned the Canon EOS 60D DSLR(which was sold off) and presently possess the Sony A6500 mirrorless camera. I must say, a lot of your picture says a thousand words. And thank you for captivating my home state in such a beautiful manner. This is my land. This is my home. This is Mizoram.

[gunin]

Originally Posted by Secretariat

Wonderful travelogue of one of the prettiest states in the country. Excellent narrative and lovely photos. Bravo.

Your trips are always interesting and your travelogues even more so. Hoping you'll bring more and more places in the North East to life as you have done here.

Thanks a lot Secretariat! With encouragement like this I will definitely keep posting more. I believe you need to make another longer trip here .

Originally Posted by docmoya2007

Beautiful narration and captivating pictures!


Ever since I returned back home to Mizoram in 2013, I have been grumbling about the poor road conditions and the incessant rain. Going through your travelogue made me realise how patience you are and how mature your outlook in life is.

I too love photography & recently videography. I had owned the Canon EOS 60D DSLR(which was sold off) and presently possess the Sony A6500 mirrorless camera. I must say, a lot of your picture says a thousand words. And thank you for captivating my home state in such a beautiful manner. This is my land. This is my home. This is Mizoram.

Thank you. You are not alone in criticising one's native place and I am guilty of the same many times. Sometimes, we take the good things for granted.

I graduated from a point and shoot last year and using the Nikon D3300 now. I am glad that you liked the pictures of your home. I really appreciate it. Thanks again!