Mizoram is gaining attention in the eyes of Indian travellers like never before, and for all the right reason. However, contrary to suggesting a long list of things to do in the state, we selected the capital city to be our base for a week as digital nomads in Aizawl.
While planning our trip to Aizawl, we couldn’t find any resources to help us decide whether it would be conducive to digital nomads. This article is our attempt to bridge the gap and share our honest review of travelling and working as digital nomads in Aizawl.
Our days in Aizawl weren’t rushed, nor were they loaded with a checklist of things to do. We arrived in Aizawl on an uneventful Wednesday afternoon. We set up camp in a quiet residential neighbourhood of Chaltlang.
The roughly hour long drive from Lengpui Airport to the city was good enough to give us a taste of what lay ahead of us.
Early impressions of Aizawl
We were famished by the time we landed at Lengpui Airport. We kindly requested our driver to stop at a nearby shop to stock up on a few snackibles. Seeing a lady sell fresh coconuts right opposite the shop tempted me to buy a pair in the hope to hydrate ourselves.
But God had other plans. Soon after paying for the coconuts, the lady told us she only sold the tender coconuts as they come and couldn’t help us slicing it open. Without any hopes and helpless smiles, we tucked the coconuts in the taxi and drove away.
Suddenly, our driver stopped at another shop, got out of the car and demanded us to give him the coconuts. Before we could grasp, he chopped off the top and thrusted a straw to offer us the refreshment.
It may not have been a lot for him, but this simple act of kindness imprinted on our minds. Despite having travelled to so many places in India, this was perhaps the first time that a stranger that we had only met had showed us empathy unconditionally.
Digital Nomads in Aizawl
We checked-in at our airbnb at Chaltlang and spent the first two days getting a grip of the new base. We found a convenience store to stock up on supplies like rolled oats, chia seeds, and whatever yogurt option that we could find.
Even though Aizawl was the capital city, it was not developed in the quintessential city way. We observed that everything was available but it demanded a certain local-level knowledge or for one to look intently. After staying for a week and walking through the bazaars, we found two well-stocked supermarkets – K-Mart in Bara Bazaar and Curio Enterprise in Upper Bazaar. The latter was perhaps one of the most premium supermarkets where one could get everything from premium Nutella biscuits to skincare from all the famous Korean brands.
As for sourcing fresh fruits and vegetables, shopping in Bara Bazaar or near Millennium Centre from the local women vendors was the most fun.
On days we were too lazy to step out, the availability of Zomato delivery was a much-appreciated convenience. We ended up enjoying deliveries from The Loft and The Twisted Sisters Pizzeria quite a lot.
What was worth noting was that despite being one of the busiest and crowded cities in the Northeast, we found a unique rhythm that didn’t force us to do anything. Instead, we found ourselves slowing down. Not once did we feel the urge to visit the most commonly visited tourist attractions. The only thing we would feel enticed to do was to spend hours in a quiet cafe and stare at the view from the window.
Our Favourite Cafes for Digital Nomads in Aizawl
We spent a lot of our time looking out of the window at 1964, a hole in the wall cafe and evidently, our favourite in Aizawl. We also ventured down to 14Beans and while it was strikingly affordable and well-lit, it was a student favourite and constantly abuzz with locals and tourists. Both the cafes had an excellent network connectivity and soothing music playing in the background, making it perfect for digital nomads in Aizawl.
Although the city was walkable, one of my favourite memories from Aizawl emerged while sitting on the back of a moto-taxi driver zooming across the winding roads. Contrary to the Rapido driver and horror-incidents blotching the moto-taxi culture in other cities in India, this was a safer and more enjoyable experience. I remember how intently I observed everything from the market places to the only mall in the city to the endless vistas served on every corner, all while sitting comfortably at the back a scooter taxi.
Quick Getaway to Thenzawl and Falkawn Village
While we spent the first couple of days catching up on work and settling in, the second half of the trip started with a guided tour to Thenzawl, Vantawng and Reiek. It was a welcomed change as we decided to go with the flow and let someone else decide our itinerary and execute it for us. This gave us the rare chance to relax and play tourists, which felt refreshingly good. On our way to Thenzawl, we stopped by the Tropic of Cancer point and two other viewpoints for a panoramic view of the valley before arriving at Vantawng Village Resort.
Thenzawl was a small town south of Aizawl with a town centre where everyone seemed to know everyone. Since we visited during the shoulder season, the waterfalls were dry but it was also less crowded. We had the unique opportunity to learn about the Mizo textile production and the use of bamboo to make everything from traditional skirts to colourful bags and pouches. I even tried my hand at traditional weaving and it was almost comical to watch me fail miserably.
The highlight of the day was the quick stopover at Dil Pui. The lake was simply serene and invited us to talk a stroll along the banks. If we would have had some more time, we would have liked to venture further and enjoy the views. We called it a day with the visit and decided to rest as there wasn’t much to do with the sparse network availability in Thenzawl.
The following day we embarked on a boat ride to the top of the Vantawng Falls. The shoulder season and fairly dry waterfall proved optimal for the boat ride and seeing the massive drop from the top was exhilarating.
We concluded the day with a visit to Falkawn Village where we saw the locals enact in the live museum and give us a taste of Mizo culture, dance and history. I enjoyed learning a few steps of the dance form the most. The visit also gave us a chance to interact with the kids and immerse ourselves in the culture.
Sunrise at Reiek
Unintentionally, we ended up saving the best for the last. A sunrise hike to Reiek. We embarked on our journey from Aizawl city to the starting point of the hike at about 2 in the morning. After driving on a rocky road with endless switchbacks, we arrived at the parking lot at 4 AM.
We were determined to hike for the next 30 minutes to the top and ditch the readily available taxis. It was dark and silent with only a taxi or two passing us by in the early morning hours. However, we had an unwanted guest accompanying us – loud lightning at sporadic intervals. What we feared turned into our reality. The moment we arrived at the top, all the clouds let loose and it began raining cats and dogs.
Ironically, we took a taxi back to the parking lot to wait out the rain. After about an hour, the rain subsided and we went back to the ridge. What we saw next blew our minds. A sea of clouds gently swayed along the ridge. The sun was shy to come out of the clouds but the view was breathtaking, regardless.
I could only imagine how stunning it would be during the winter season. Reiek was the highlight of our trip despite being damp and rainy.
What Would we do Differently
On our next trip as digital nomads in Aizawl, we would prefer to pick a more naturally-lit AirBnB with a dedicated work station. Even though Aizawl is arguably un-commercialised with limited number of homestays and hotels, there are a few better suited for longer stays.
We would also plan our next visit during the Cosmos Festival to visit Champhai and see the waterfalls in all their glory.
Enjoyed reading about our experience as digital nomads in Aizawl? Check out our complete travel guide to Aizawl and the ultimate itinerary for first-timers visiting Aizawl.
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