Chhimtuipui Wildlife Division, Lawngtlai

1          Name of the Division:        Chhimtuipui Wildlife Division, Lawngtlai

2          Brief note      :           

A. Area :        Covers two Protected Areas- Phawngpui National Park (50 Sq.Km ) and Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary (110 Sq.Km)

B. Location :  Phawngpui National Park as located at about 12 Km from Sangau,        which is   about 230 Km from Aizawl via Hnahthial.

Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary is located at about 290 Km from   Aizawl via Lawngtlai

C. History of the Division : Chhimtuipui Wildlife Division has been established since 2003 in order to look after two Protected Areas within the jurisdiction of Lai Autonomous District Council.

3          Name of Ranges :

4          Protected Areas : 

(a)       Phawngpui National Park : Phawngpui National Park, also known as Blue Mountain National Park, is known for the unique flora and fauna in the state. It is an abode for nature lovers, researchers and photographers. Phawngpui is a local (Lai-Pawi) dialect signifying ‘Place of bamboo grass’ as large part of the area is covered with bamboo grass named Eulalia trispicata ( meaning Thang in mizo ). The geographical location of Phawngpui National Park is 22^o 36’ 45” – 22^o 41’ 56”N and 93^o 01’ 08” – 93^o  04’ 13” E. The area falls under Lawngtlai District within Lai Autonomous District Council.  Phawngpui National Park is located at about 230 kms to the south of Aizawl (State Capital) and 160 km North East of Lawngtlai Town (The District Headquarter).

The area has been notified as National Park since 1997 vide Govt. Notification No. B. 12011/5/91-FST dt 22^nd July, 1997 with an area extending to 50 sq.Km.  The altitude ranges from 1400m - 2157m.   The highest peak (also the highest  point in Mizoram) measures 2157 m above mean sea level.

Phawngpui National Park has various significance Ecologically, Culturally and   Historically. The Forest type of the area is Sub Tropical Montane and Tropical Evergreen Forest with flora like Rhododendron species – the red flower (Rhododendron arboreum) and the white flowers (Rhododendron Parryae, Rhododendron kingianum, Rhododendron inaequale, Rhododendron veitchianum)., Quercus species, Pinus kesiya, Buahinia variegata, etc,. Beside cliff specialists like Ghoral and serow, It also hosts rare and endangered bird Blythi’s tragopan. A wide range of Orchids are also found in the area. Some of the interesting sites in Phawngpui NP are –

a)     Far Pak (The great meadow) : A lush-green grassland which turns golden brown during dry season. Sporadic growth of rhododendrons and pine add the natural beauty to this 20 Ha grassland.

b)     Thlazuang kham : A great vertical cliff to the west of Far Pak.

c)     The Peak : It is the highest point in Phawngpui NP as well as in the state, reaching 2157 m above mean sea level. 

d)     Tialpari Puk : This rock cave has been named after a die-hard lady from Cheural, who spent the night after letting the tiger stay outside.

e)     Rhododendrons : It is worth seeing flowering of rhododendrons (red flowers during February – March and white flower during April – May) in and around Far Pak, on the way to peak etc., which are not usually found 

 in other parts of the state. 

There is one Forest Rest House at Far Pak, which can accommodate 10 – 15 persons at a time.

Sangau, one of the fringe village of the National Park is about 230 Km from Aizawl via Hnahthial and about 160 Km from Lawngtlai where there is Tourist Lodge. From Sangau, LMV (Four wheel drive) can reach upto Far Pak Forest Rest house which is about 12 Km.

The national Park is opened for visitors during November – April every year and the best time to visit is during February – March.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS, CONTACT:

1.      Chief Wildlife Warden, Mizoram, Aizawl

2.      Deputy Conservator of Forests, Chhimtuipui Wildlife Division, Lawngtlai, Mizoram

3.      Range Forest Officer, Phawngpui Wildlife Range, Mizoram

(b)              Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary : Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 110 Sqkm and is located  at about 40 kms to the west of Lawngtlai town. Geographically it lies between longitude 92°44’30’’to 92°50’37’’ E and latitude 22°21’18’’ to 22°30’01’’ N. The altitude varies from 120m to 200m above mean sea level. It was notified as Wildlife Sanctuary vide Notification No.B.12012/4/01-FST Dt.22.7.1997. The whole area is covered by very dense virgin forests with bamboo brakes and few patches of grassland on the low lying area.

The forest type is sub-tropical semi-evergreen forest and the dominant trees are Dipterocarpus species, Terminalia species, Artocarpus species. The middle storey includes Messua ferrea, Eurya japonica etc,. It is an area with one of the best dense forests in the State. The average girth class of the dominant trees are 3.50m to 4.50m. The river Ngengpui (the sanctuary is named after this river) flows through the entire Wildlife Sanctuary from North to South, and is the crucial lifeline for flora and fauna. 

The important wild animals and birds found inside the PA include Elephants, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Marbled Civet, Wild dog, Bears, Bison, Sambar, Barking deer, Serow, Hoolock gibbon, Rhesus macaque, Capped langur, Wild boar, Porcupine, Pigmy hog, Python, Badgers, Jackal, Sun-bear, Leaf monkey, Pied hornbill, Great hornbill, Khalij pheasant, Imperial pheasant, Jungle fowl, Green pigeon, Wood pigeons, Bamboo partrigde, Eagle etc.

The Sanctuary is about 290 Kms from Aizawl (The State capital) via Lunglei and Lawngtlai and 40 Kms from Lawngtlai (District Headquarters). There is one Forest Rest house at Khawmawi, adjacent to the sanctuary which can accommodate 6-10 persons at a time. The sanctuary is located just beside Lawngtlai – Parva road. LMV four wheel drive can enter upto 1 Km inside the Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary is opened for visitors during November – April every year and best time to visit is February – March.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS, CONTACT:

4.      Chief Wildlife Warden, Mizoram, Aizawl

5.      Deputy Conservator of Forests, Chhimtuipui Wildlife Division, Lawngtlai, Mizoram

6.      Range Forest Officer, Ngengpui Wildlife Range, Mizoram

5          Incumbency of DFO :