Phawngpui
Phunpi Klang
Phawngpui Farpak
Highest point
Elevation2,157 m (7,077 ft)
ListingList of Indian states and territories by highest point
Coordinates22°37′53.4″N 93°02′19.68″E / 22.631500°N 93.0388000°E / 22.631500; 93.0388000[1]
Geography
Phawngpui is located in Mizoram
Phawngpui
Phawngpui
near the Myanmar border in Lawngtlai District
Phawngpui is located in India
Phawngpui
Phawngpui
Phawngpui (India)
Parent rangeMizoram, India
Topo map"NF 46-7, Gangaw, Burma"[2]

Phawngpui (Pron: /ˌpʰɔ:ŋˈpʊɪ/), also known as Blue Mountain, is the highest mountain peak in the Mizo Hills (Lushai Hills) and in the state of Mizoram, India,[3] with an elevation of 2157 m.[4] It is in Lawngtlai district, in the southeastern region of Mizoram near the Myanmar border.

Geography

Phawngpui is the highest peak of the Lushai Hills. There is a semicircular series of cliffs on the western side called Thlazuang Khàm, which have a sharp and deep fall; mountain goats live there. These cliffs are believed to be haunted by spirits.[5] On the peak, there is a level ground of about 2 km2 in area.

Etymology and origin

A highly revered peak, considered to be the abode of local deities, Phawngpui was a major centre of folk religion and location for folklore stories. The name is derived from the Lai language, phong, meaning "grassland" or "meadow", and the suffix -pui meaning, "great". This was because the mountain was mostly covered with all types of meadows, hence appropriately the "great meadow". The mountain was, according to the belief of the natives, the abode of several spiritual races. The most important folktale, perhaps, is that of a deity king named "Sangau"; the actual town at the base of the mountain has become Sangau. Sangau had a son who married the princess of another royal family called Cherian. At the wedding was an exchange of gifts, a couple of hoolock gibbons from Sangau and a pine tree from Cherian. The base area, the main entrance of the mountain bears that name Farpak (meaning "pine only").[6]

Conservation

Since 1992 the mountain has been included in the protected area of the Phawngpui National Park, one of only two national parks of India in Mizoram.[7] The Government of Mizoram allows ecofriendly visit to the mountain only during November to April.[8]

Flora and fauna

The area is encircled by matted bamboo groves and other alluring vegetations. There are varieties of butterflies, including some rare species found in this region. The Farpak area in Phawngpui is a huge grassland adjacent to a cliff area where one can sight birds like peregrine falcon, Blyth's tragopan, sunbirds, grey sibia, golden-throated barbet,[9] Mrs. Hume's pheasant, hornbill, dark-rumped swift, mountain bamboo partridge, black eagle and other birds.[10] The very rare clouded leopard has been recorded in the Farpak area since 1997.[11] There have been instances of wild orchids being stolen from Phawngpui, efforts are being taken to protect and conserve it.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Phunpi Klang (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  2. ↑ "NF 46-7, Gangaw, Burma" topographic map, Series U542, U.S. Army Map Service, April 1958, listed as Blue Mountain
  3. ↑ "Phawngpui". MizoTourism. Archived from the original on 3 March 2013.
  4. ↑ Pachuau, Rintluanga (2009). Mizoram: A Study in Comprehensive Geography. Northern Book Center. p. 30. ISBN 8172112645.
  5. ↑ SC Bhatt; Gopal K Bhargava, eds. (2006). Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories: Mizoram. Vol. 19. Delhi: Kalpaz Publications. p. 153. ISBN 9788178353753.
  6. ↑ Property Direction (18 April 2013). "Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park, Mizoram, in Bairro Santo Angelo at Nimruz". Property and Real Estate in Bairro Santo Angelo. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  7. ↑ World Wildlife Adventures. "Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park, Mizoram". world-wildlife-adventures.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "Thla 6 chhungin Rs. 10,190/- hmu" [Rs. 10,190/- collected in 6 months]. Zothlifim (in Mizo). 15 May 2013. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  9. ↑ Shivaram, Shivaram. "Phawngpui (Blue Mountain) National Park". The Jungle Book. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  10. ↑ CHOUDHURY, ANWARUDDIN (2006). "Notable bird records from Mizoram in north-east India". Oriental Bird Club. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  11. ↑ Ghose D (2002). "First sighting of the clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa from the Blue Mountain National Park, Mizoram, India" (PDF). Current Science. 83 (1): 20–21.
  12. ↑ "Naubân rutute an man". Vanglaini. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  1. Mizoram Tourism
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