Aizawl (English: ; Mizo: [ˈʌɪ̯.ˈzɔːl] (listen)) is the capital of the state of Mizoram
in India.
With a 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.
Aizawl has hosted the third edition of Xchange North East Youth NGO summit from October 3rd
to 5th, 2018.
== 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 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).
== Cityscape ==
== 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 legislative 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
councillor from that ward, and two members each from all the local council within the
ward.
There are 78 local councils having a term of 5 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 forms majority of the city population about 93.63%.
Other minority religions are Hinduism 4.14, Islam 1.52, Buddhism 0.45, Others 0.09%, Sikhism
0.03% and Jainism 0.02%.
0.11% peoples did not state their religion.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.
There are several other hotels apart from Hotel Regency.
Those include - Hotel Sangchia located in Zarkawt, Hotel Grand located in Zarkawt, Hotel
Floria located in Dawrpui, Ritz Hotel located in Canteen Kual, Tourist Lodge located in
Chaltlang, Chawlhna Hotel located in Zarkawt, Riakmaw Inn located in Zarkawt, Hotel Ahimsa
located in Zarkawt, and other numerous affordable hotels.
== Inner Line Permit (ILP) == Domestic tourists require the Inner Line Permit
(ILP) for entry into Mizoram, for persons other than Government employees.
ILP can be obtained from the Liaison Officers in New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Guwahati, Shillong,
and Silchar.
It can also be obtained on arrival at the Lengpui Airport (nearest airport to Aizawl).Foreign
nationals have to register themselves at the office of the Superintendent of the Police
(CID/SB) of Mizoram within 24hours of arrival.
However, citizens of China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan require prior approval of the
Ministry of Home Affairs before entering the state.
== Transport ==
=== Air ===
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, Shillong Airport and
Imphal Imphal International Airport.
Air India, Jet Airways are the three 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 has also started 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:
Radio: All India Radio also has a studio that host
programmes at scheduled hours.
FM Zoawi is a popular radio station in Aizawl.
== Education ==
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(St. Pauls Higher Secondary School, Mary Mount School,
St. Lawrence School, St. Mary's School) religious orders 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, Mount Carmel School, Oikos Higher Secondary
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.
Hrangbana College was established in 1980, located in Chanmari, Aizawl with Pu Lalrinawma
as the Principal, it has 57 teaching staffs with 22 non - teaching Staffs and more than
2000 students in Commerce and Arts Departments.
Mizoram University established in 2001 provides affiliation to all the Colleges in Mizoram.
Mizoram University also provides post - graduate education as well as B.Tech education and
other departments.
ICFAI University, Mizoram located in Durtlang, Aizawl West College, Aizawl North College,
J.Thankima College also provides Under Graduate courses.
Mizoram Law College provides education to people who seek profession in Law.
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 ==
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:
Rajiv Gandhi Stadium Mualpui, with a seating capacity of 20,000, is currently being constructed
at Mualpui, Aizawl.
Hawla Indoor Stadium is the largest indoor stadium with basketball, badminton and boxing
facilities.
Lammual stadium is a single tier stadium.
The stadium under construction will have a seating capacity of about 5,000 spectators.
== Neighbourhoods ==
== See also ==
Tourism in North East India Advanced Research Centre for Bamboo and Rattan
Aizawl