Mizoram's Lunglei wins ‘Promising Swachh Shehar’ award for cleanliness - Here's your travel guide to this cultural gem

Lunglei in Mizoram wins ‘Promising Swachh Shehar’ award for cleanliness (Image: Canva)

As global tourism increasingly values destinations that combine ecological stewardship with cultural richness, Mizoram’s Lunglei has quietly distinguished itself. Honoured with the ‘Promising Swachh Shehar of Mizoram’ award at the Swachh Survekshan 2025, this highland town exemplifies urban cleanliness while preserving a profound heritage of tradition, architecture, and pristine natural landscapes.

Lunglei: Mizoram’s Cultural Capital with a Clean Slate

Meaning “rock bridge” in Mizo, Lunglei received its latest accolade at a ceremony held by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in New Delhi. This marks the town’s sixth recognition since 2016, highlighting innovation, citizen participation, and sustained regional cleanliness.

Yet beyond accolades, Lunglei offers an enduring experience—a harmonious blend of cultural pride and breathtaking vistas, inviting travellers to explore its unique legacy amid tranquil surroundings.

Must-Visit Attractions in Lunglei

Lunglei, Mizoram’s cultural hub, features lush wildlife sanctuaries, tranquil waterfalls, historic monuments, and vibrant cultural centres—offering visitors a glimpse into the region’s rich heritage and natural beauty.

1. Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary
Home to tigers, elephants, leopards, barking deer, and vibrant birdlife, this sanctuary is a sanctuary in the truest sense—dense with biodiversity and buffered by misty hillscapes.

2. Saza Wildlife Sanctuary
Equally compelling is Saza, where one can spot endemic flora and fauna while trekking through undisturbed wilderness. The sanctuary is a haven for photographers and nature lovers alike.

3. Chhingpui Thlan Waterfall
Only 15 km from Lunglei town, this verdant cascade is a cooling retreat surrounded by myth and mossy tranquility. Ideal for a contemplative pause amid nature.

4. Thangliana Lung
A historical site commemorating the Mara chief Thangliana, this monument offers insight into the region’s resistance-era legacy and serves as a symbol of cultural defiance.

5. Saikuti Hall
Named after a renowned Mizo poetess, this cultural complex hosts traditional music, dances, and exhibitions that bring Mizo heritage vibrantly to life.

6. Serkawn and Khawnglung Villages
Just beyond the urban centre, these villages offer authentic glimpses into rural Mizo life. Khawnglung in particular—once the Mara dynasty’s seat—invites archaeological curiosity with its ruins and oral traditions.

Architecture and Urban Heritage

Lunglei’s cityscape is defined by vivid Mizo-style homes, adorned with intricate carvings and traditional colours. The Thuruk Vanmawi Memorial Hall stands as a jewel of Mizo architecture—graceful, stoic, and emblematic of the town’s layered past.

District Museum

A visit here offers further context—showcasing tools, textiles, and artefacts that narrate the region’s anthropological and artistic evolution.

Culinary and Cultural Immersion

Lunglei’s Zobawk and Kawlkulh markets are sensory theatres—rich with the aroma of Vawksa Rep (smoked pork), Bai (vegetable stew), Sawhchiar (meat and rice), and traditional Zu (rice beer). These bustling hubs are ideal for picking up handmade textiles or sampling street fare under canopies of laughter and barter.

Festivals like Chapchar Kut and Mim Kut punctuate the calendar with tribal dances, music, and community rituals. Visitors during these times are welcomed not as spectators but as honoured participants in a living tradition.

Sustainability Meets Spirituality

That Lunglei continues to earn national accolades for cleanliness speaks to the town’s grassroots civic pride. Clean streets, well-maintained public areas, and eco-conscious infrastructure reflect not merely compliance but a lived ethic of environmental stewardship.

For travellers seeking more than transient beauty—for those drawn to clean, culture-rich, and community-driven travel experiences—Lunglei presents a compelling proposition. It is a place where the past breathes through every carved panel, where nature is both scenery and sanctuary, and where the future of responsible tourism in Northeast India is quietly being written.

(With inputs from PTI)