A Trip To Hmuifang And Sialsuk: Two Offbeat Tourist Destination In Mizoram
In my last article on my ride to North-East India and Mizoram, I shared my journey from Riek to Thenzawl. My previous article dealt mostly with my ride and the sites I crossed en route. After finishing my article, I decided to write a separate post on two places I covered in my trip, i.e., Hmuifang and Sialsuk. Hmuifang and Sialsuk are some of the famous places to visit in Mizoram as they are easily reachable and offer a picturesque view. While hills and forest cover most of the Mizoram, the landscape offered by these two sites is contradictory. In the case of Hmuifang and Sialsuk, the area is vastly covered by grasses, and there is little of the forest. During my ride, I explored both the sites and enjoyed a different type of view in Mizoram for the first time. If I was not running on a tight schedule, I would have stayed longer at one of these sites. Hmuifang and Sialsuk are a perfect tourist destination for someone traveling the state for a short period and not willing to explore the length and breadth of the state. Due to these reasons, I decided to come up with an article, especially for Hmuifang and Sialsuk. In this article, I would be sharing important information related to these two sites in Mizoram. Information like my trip to Hmuifang and Sialsuk, how to reach there and why to visit Hmuifang and Sialsuk. I will also share information like accommodation facility, and other basic amenities in the area. I hope this article would help travelers in making a successful trip to Hmuifang and Sialsuk.
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Why Visit Hmuifang And Sialsuk?
Also Read: A List of Places To Visit In The Aizwal City
The state of Mizoram has less to offer in terms of ancient architecture, historical places, and forts. Yet, when it comes to the natural scenery, it gives a stiff competition to any other state of India. As the majority of the state falls under dense forest, one can see the hills and trees everywhere in Mizoram. Yet in the case of Hmuifang, the landscape comprises of both mountains and green meadows. Hmuifang lies at an elevation of 1619 meters above sea level, and If we exclude the peaks, it is one of the highest points in Mizoram (Champhai 1678 is the highest). Due to its elevation, it has different weather and offers a better view of the hills and valleys and offers patches of meadows.
Similarly, Sialsuk is a Village in Aibawk Block in Aizawl District of Mizoram. Like Hmuifang, Sialsuk also lies at an elevation higher than the average altitude of the state. Sialsuk has a substantial area under the grass cover and a viewpoint to see the sunrise and sunset. Anyone visiting Mizoram would like to explore a few places far from traffic and chaos. Though Reiek provides this option, Hmuifang and Sialsuk are the best options to escape the traffic and chaos of Aizwal city. Both sites lie close to the state capital and are accessible after a ride of 2-3 hours. Since most of the tourist destination in Mizoram doesn’t have the privilege of being close to the capital, these two sites compensate for it. For example, Champhai lies more than 180 kilometers from Aizwal, Rih-Dil (215 Km ), and Thenzawl (100 Km). So anyone is visiting the state with a limited number of days, Hmuifang and Sialsuk are the best destinations to enjoy the easternmost state of India.
Also Read: A Detailed Travel Guide On How To Explore Kaziranga National Park
Where Is Hmuifang and Sialsuk Situated?
Both Hmuifang and Sialsuk lies in the Aizwal district in Mizoram. Aizwal is one of the eight districts of Mizoram, and Hmuifang lies 50 kilometers from Aizwal. In the case of Sialsuk, the distance is 66 kilometers from the state capital. Both these sites lie in the southern part of the district near Thenzawl. Thenzawl is the next big town after Aizwal, which lies near Hmuifang and Sialsuk. Hmuifang and Sialsuk lie close to each other, and a mere distance of 14 kilometers separates them.
How To Reach Hmuifang and Sialsuk From Aizwal
Reaching Hmuifang or Sialsuk is straightforward and requires minimum effort. Both places lie on one of the main highways of Mizoram, i.e., the Aizwal-Lunglei Road. The condition of the road is good, and a two to three hours ride will take you to these two beautiful hill stations of Mizoram. In case one is relying on public transport, the state government buses run on this route every day in the morning. One can find the bus at the main bus stand in Aizwal city. Any bus going to Thenzawl or Lunglei will take you to Hmuifang and Sialsuk. In case someone is traveling in the afternoon, sumos ply on this route at a frequent interval. To commute between these two sites, the best option is to rely on Sumo services as there are fewer chances of getting a bus at any time of the day.
Also Read: A Trek To Reiek Peak In Aizwal
Accommodation Facility in Hmuifang and Sialsuk
The accommodation facility is limited at Hmuifang and Sialsuk since both are small towns. The nearest big city to both places is either Aizwal or Thenzawl, which are more than 40 kilometers away. Since Hmuifang is a more popular tourist spot compared to Sialsuk, the Mizoram State Government has built a Tourist Resort at Hmuifang. The tourist rest house at Hmuifang is the best accommodation the area can offer. If you are planning to visit Hmuifang, I would strongly recommend booking the rest house in advance. The tourist rest house at Hmuifang lies at a perfect location with Mizo Hills in the background and green meadow in the front.
In the case of Sialsuk, it lies near to the Sialsuk market, but I didn’t notice any excellent accommodation facility there. When I visited Sialsuk, it started getting dark, and I was in a hurry to reach Thenzawl. Yet there are fewer chances if I missed any good accommodation facility there. The best accommodation facility at Sialsuk is again the Tourist Rest House at Hmuifang. Moreover, as both the sites lie nearby, one can easily explore Sialsuk while staying at Hmuifang.
Also Read: Bike Ride To Reiek From Aizwal City
What To Do In Hmuifang and Sialsuk
Owing to its location and the altitude, both sites offer a fantastic view of the virgin forest and hills of Mizoram. One can enjoy the sunrise and sunset from the area and go for a small trek into the nearby woods. There is a short trek by the name “Hmuifang Reserve Forest,” which will give a good idea of the density of forest in the state. In the early morning, one can see the entire valley engulfed by dense fog, as I witnessed throughout my ride in Mizoram. The area has beautiful spots to clicks phots of the hills and woods. Hmuifang Watch Tower erected by the tourism department allows a better view of the area, and one good shot can make your day. The Tropic of Cancer passes through S.Maubuang, which is only ten kilometers from Hmuifang, and one can go there and click a few more phots with the signboard.
Thalfavang Kut, a local Mizo festival, is organized in November. The festival is also known as the harvest festival in the state, and if you are visiting in November, you can get a good idea of rich Mizo culture and traditions. I also read somewhere that Tuirial River, a major river of the state originates from Hmuifang, but due to the time constraints, didn’t inquire much about it. Spending time with the staff of the tourist lodge and visiting the nearby market are a few more things one can do in Hmuifang.
In the case of Sialsuk, the area offers a spectacular view of the Lushai Hills and the nearby forest. I would strongly recommend watching the sunset from Sialsuk as I experienced the sky filled with different colors during the evening. Sialsuk has a more extensive meadow compared with Hmuifang and requires a short walk to reach the end of the trail. One can visit the local market and get to know more about the local Mizo family and their way of living. If you visit the area during or after the monsoon season, you can witness a greener landscape, which is a boon to eyes.
What To Do Next After Visiting Hmuifang and Sialsuk
After exploring both sites, one can return to Aizwal or explore other places in Mizoram as per the budget and the number of days. Thenzawl, a town close to Sialsuk, has two spectacular waterfalls, namely Vantawng and Tuirihiau waterfalls. Vantawng waterfall is the biggest waterfall in Mizoram and one of the biggest in India. Visiting waterfall is a must to do a thing while exploring Hmuifang and Sialsuk. One can also visit the Lengpui District or Tam Dil Lake or return to Aizwal.
I hope this article on Hmuifang and Sialsuk is informative for any traveler visiting the Mizoram and looking for sites outside of the bustling streets of Aizwal city. In case any additional info is required, do let me know via comment or message, and I would love to help. Continue reading my ride to the north-east India, where currently I am narrating my journey in Mizoram.
