Aizawl

Aizawl (Mizo: ) is the capital of the state of Mizoram in India. Aizawl was officially established on 25 February 1890. 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.
Etymology
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.
The post had been established by Suakpuilala, the Chief of Reiek and it was only 14 kilometres from Sairang from where one could travel by flat bottomed boat. 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 into a larger town and then a city. Aizawl has become the centre for the road network in Mizoram connecting the north and south, east and west. More than 25% of Mizoram's population resides in Aizawl.
Geography
Aizawl is located in 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.
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 five years.
Demographics
As of 1910, there were 777 army personnel in Aizawl from different parts of North India as well as Nepal. The Gurkha's among the soldiers eventually settled in Aizawl.
As of the 2011 Census of India, 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 include Hinduism 4.14%, Islam 1.52%, Buddhism 0.45%, Others 0.09%, Sikhism 0.03% and Jainism 0.02%. and 0.11% of 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 smaller Christian denominations. Hinduism and Islam are also represented in very small numbers in the city population.
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). In summer, temperatures are moderately warm, averaging around . In winter, daytime temperatures are cooler in comparison to the rest of the year, averaging around . Rainfall is mostly concentrated between April and October, with the heaviest rainfall occurring in May, July, August and September. The remainder of the year is notably drier.
Cityscape
Economy
The economy of Aizawl is basically sustained by government services as it is capital of Mizoram. The major banks are also located in the city.
A 3-star category hotel, Hotel Regency, has recently been launched 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.
Transport
Air
Aizawl is connected by air transport through Lengpui Airport which it is situated near Aizawl. The airport provides connectivity to Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Shillong and Imphal, operated by Air India, Go First and IndiGo. 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 to the national network by a railway up to Bairabi; the government has also begun constructing 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 540, 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 minibuses are on regular service as city buses.. For local conveyance 2 wheeler taxi are also available.
Media
Newspaper: The major media in Aizawl in the Mizo and English languages are:
Vanglaini,
The Zozam Times
The Aizawl Post.
Khawpui Aw
Virthli
The Mizoram Post
Zoram Tlangau
Mizo Arsi
Zalen
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.
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. Paul's 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, it has 57 teaching staffs with 22 non-teaching staffs and more than 2,000 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, Government Aizawl North College, J. Thankima College also provides undergraduate 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. Zoram Medical College is inaugurated on 7 August 2018 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, with a seating capacity of 20,000, is located at Mualpui in 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.
Aizawl hosted the third edition of Xchange North East Youth NGO summit from October 3 to 5, 2018.
Neighbourhoods (Vengte)
Aizawl Venglai
Armed Veng
Bawngkawn South/Chhim Veng
Bethlehem Veng
Bethlehem Vengthlang
Bungkawn
Bungkawn Vengthar
Central Jail Veng
Chaltlang
Chaltlang North/Lily Veng
Chawlhhmun
Chanmari
Chanmari West
Chawnpui
Chhinga Veng
Chite Veng
College Veng
Dam Veng
Dawrpui
Dawrpui Vengthar
Dinthar
Durtlang
Durtlang Leitan
Durtlang North
Electric Veng
Edenthar
Hunthar
Hlimen
I.T.I. Veng
Kanan
Khatla
Khatla East
Khatla South
Khatla West (New Secretariat Complex)
Kulikawn
Laipuitlang
Lawipu Veng
Luangmual
Maubawk
Melthum
Mission Veng
Mission Vengthlang
Muanna Veng
Nursery
Phunchawng
Ramhlun Venglai
Ramhlun North
Ramhlun South
Ramhlun Vengthar
Ramhlun Sports Complex
Ramthar
Ramthar North
Rangvamual
Republic Veng
Republic Vengthlang
Saikhamakawn
Sakawrtuichhun
Salem Veng
Saron
Selesih
Tanhril
Thakthing
Tlangnuam
Tlangnuam South
Tuikhuahtlang
Tuikual South
Tuikual North
Tuithiang
Tuivamit
Upper Republic
Vaivakawn
Venghlui
Venghnuai
Zarkawt
Zemabawk
Zemabawk North
Zonuam
Zotlang
Zuangtui
See also
Tourism in North East India
Advanced Research Centre for Bamboo and Rattan, Aizawl, Mizoram
References
External links
Aizawl Official Website
Hill stations in Mizoram
Cities and towns in Aizawl district
Populated places established in 1890
Tourism in Northeast India
1890 establishments in India