Aizawl

The word Aizawl is a combination of two Mizo words: "ai" meaning "cardamom" and "zawl" meaning "flatland" or "plain." Therefore, "Aizawl" could roughly translate to "the field of cardamom." This name may have historical significance or could refer to the characteristics of the area before urbanisation.

Before the British, Aizawl was a village founded by Chief Lalsavunga around 1810. When the British found the site it had been abandoned. During his reign at Aizawl, Lalsavunga summoned the properties of the Zadeng chiefs as a ransom for Ngurpuilala, the son of their chief Lalchungnunga. Lalsavunga freed the Zadeng bawi and gave them better rights. He lived in Aizawl around 1810–1820. Situated a mere 14 kilometres from Sairang and accessible via flat-bottomed boats, it served as a strategic location, with the Li Bial stream for the British to establish their headquarters. In 1889, Officer Dally of the Assam Police, accompanied by 400 men, arrived in Aizawl village to assist Colonel Skinner's troops during a British military operation against the Mizo natives. …

Aizawl lies at approximately 23°43′N, 92°43′E and is perched on the ridge of a hill at an average elevation of 1,132 meters (3,714 feet) above sea level. The topography features steep slopes, with elevations ranging from 60 meters to 1,509 meters, making the city a mix of rugged terrains. Aizawl is surrounded by lush greenery and is part of the Eastern Himalayan foothills. The city is located at the north of the Tropic of Cancer in the northern part of Mizoram, with the Tlawng river valley to its west and the Tuirial river valley to its east. Aizawl experiences a humid subtropical climate (Cwa) under the Köppen classification. Summers are moderately warm with temperatures averaging between 20–30 °C (68–86 °F), while winters are cooler with temperatures ranging from 11–21 °C (52–70 °F). …

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. The Sairang Railway Station of Aizawl was developed as part of the Bairabi–Sairang railway line, a 51.38 km broad-gauge project connecting Bairabi in Assam to Sairang, approximately 15 km from Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram. Initially proposed in 1998, the project received formal approval from the Indian government in 2008–09 and was declared a National Project to expedite its completion. …

As per the 2011 census of India, Aizawl recorded a population of 293,416, with females constituting 50.61% and males accounting for 49.39%. The sex ratio stands at 1,025 females per 1,000 males, reflecting a favourable balance. Among children aged 0–6 years, the child sex ratio is slightly lower, with 983 girls per 1,000 boys. Christianity is the dominant religion, with 93.63% of the population adhering to it. Among the minority religions, Hinduism accounts for 4.14%, Islam 1.52%, Buddhism 0.45%, Sikhism 0.03%, and Jainism 0.02%. Additionally, 0.11% of the population did not specify their religious affiliation. 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. Aizawl is home to regional and national television broadcasting. Channels such as Zonet Cable TV Pvt. Ltd. …