21-03-2017
Today we proceed to Aizawl – the scenic capital of Mizoram. Until 1966, Aizawl was a large village but the regrouping of Mizo villages after the uprising made it become a larger town and then a city. Aizawl has become the centre of road network in Mizoram connecting the north and south, east and west. More than 25% of the Mizoram population reside in Aizawl.Mizo people are believed to have come from China and settled here around 300 years ago. The village of Aizawl was marked as an outpost by the British officials in 1871-1872 due to the recalcitrant behaviour of the then Mizo chief, Khalkom. Almost 95% of the entire population was forcibly converted to Christianity when British missionaries started settling there and preaching the religion. Tribes that followed Buddhism and other religions that did not opt to follow Christianity were driven out of the state. Aizawl was still only a large village up until the year 1996, and it was during this time that a consolidation of various Mizo villages sprouted up. This was due to an uprising (March 1996, Mizo National Front Uprising) that took place when Mizos aimed to establish Mizoram as a sovereign state. Today, Aizawl is home to almost 25% of the entire state’s population.
The Solomon’s Temple – a one-of-its-kind church opened its doors to the public recently.Located in a forested region, in Kidron Valley, Chawlhmun, towards the western side of Aizawl, the magnanimous church held its inaugural ceremony lately and witnessed the arrival of hundreds of visitors from across the world. Mass prayers and ceremonies were organized in view of the inaugural program.Solomon’s Temple has been made by the efforts of KohhranThianghlim (Holy Church), a religious group. “In 1991. Solomon’s temple looks similar to the namesake church of Jerusalem spoken of in the Old Testament. The courtyard of the church, which has been named as the ‘Porch of Solomon’s Temple’, is large enough to accommodate 10, 000 people at a time. The majestic church has 12 doors. For these reasons, Solomon’s Church has earned the epithet Mizoram’s biggest church.
