boltQuick Facts10-sec scan
navigationHow I Did It
- check_circleTook the overnight non-AC bus from Guwahati — leaves ~4 PM, reaches Aizawl by ~10 AM.
- check_circleGot my Inner Line Permit online a week before; ten minutes, zero trouble at the check post.
- check_circleStayed in a simple guesthouse near Zarkawt (~₹900/night); walked town and took shared sumos to Durtlang Hills.
alt_routeMy Route
- 1Guwahati ISBT → Aizawl~₹1,200overnight bus, ~₹1,200
- 2Aizawl: museum, Solomon's Temple, Bara Bazar
- 3Durtlang Hills~₹80shared sumo, ~₹80
articleMy Experience
I had put off Mizoram for years because the journey looked long on a map — and honestly, because I knew almost nothing about the Northeast beyond the usual headlines. It is long, about 18 hours, but the night bus cost me around ₹1,200 and I slept through most of it with a shawl as a blanket. By the time we climbed the last ghats in the morning, the hills were stacked with tin roofs and church spires, and I was wide awake.
Aizawl surprised me with how calm it is. My guesthouse window opened straight onto a valley. Day one I walked everywhere: the Mizoram State Museum (small entry fee, genuinely good tribal artefacts), then up to Solomon’s Temple, the huge white church visible from half the city. Day two I shared a sumo to Durtlang Hills for sunset and watched the city lights flicker on below. What stayed with me was the food and the quiet — rice, dal and smoked pork under ₹200 at a Bara Bazar eatery, shops shutting early, streets silent by nine. I started waking at six without an alarm, made tea by the window, and watched mist lift off the valley below. I slept better than I had in months.
account_balance_walletWhat I Spent
| Expense | Approx Cost |
|---|---|
| Bus Guwahati–Aizawl (return) | ~₹2,400 |
| Guesthouse, Zarkawt (3 nights) | ~₹2,700 |
| Food (4 days) | ~₹2,200 |
| Local transport + museum + ILP | ~₹900 |
lightbulbMoney Saver
Book the bus 3–4 days ahead — the evening departures fill up fast. And eat where the office crowd eats near Bara Bazar: full meals under ₹200, no tourist markup.
verified_userReality Check
What actually saved money? The non-AC night bus and the no-frills guesthouse — those two choices decided the whole budget. What wasn’t worth saving money on? A proper breakfast before the Durtlang trip. I went on tea alone and was starving by noon. Biggest mistake? Not carrying a warm layer on the bus. February nights in the hills are cold, and my shawl barely counted. Biggest surprise? How early the city sleeps. By 9 PM the streets were empty — plan your dinner before 8. Would I do this route again? Yes, but next time I’d add Reiek as a day trip. The bus journey itself is fine.
tips_and_updatesWhat I Wish I Knew
- Carry a warm layer for the night bus — February nights in the hills are genuinely cold.
- Eat dinner before 8 pm; Aizawl’s streets go quiet early and kitchens close with them.
- Sort your Inner Line Permit before the trip, not at the counter in a rush.
- Do Durtlang in the morning for the clearest views, and carry water — there are no shops at the top.
personAbout the Traveler
Zorin from Guwahati — a traveller story on Mountains Bliss. Traveller stories · fellow travellers, honest budgets.
forumZorin
Do outsiders need a permit for Mizoram? How did you get yours?
Yes, an ILP is needed. I applied online about a week before and carried a printout — the check post barely glanced at it.
Is February a good month, or too cold?
February was perfect for me — clear skies, cool evenings. Just carry one warm jacket for the nights.
forum Traveler discussion (0)
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