PALÂ TIPO : You Will Experience A Little Piece of Heaven Here

PALÂ TIPO (lake) is the largest lake in Mizoram, northeast India. It is located near Phura village in Siaha district, within the Mara Autonomous District Council. Its geographical location falls under the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, and is therefore rich in animal and plant species. The lake is a major component of the Pala Wildlife Sanctuary and it supports the major biodiversity of the sanctuary.

The Lake is oval in shape with a length of 870 meters, width of 700 meters, and depth of 17 to 25 meters.

According to one legend, It is believed that a village exists below the lake, some people believes that the lake is haunted by ghosts and demons. Another Legend also believes that a British Officer once dropped his sword in the middle of the lake and ordered one of his men to retrieve it, the men dived to retrieve it but came back only after 3 days explaining that he had feasted and was to drunk to return.

According to oral history Pala Dil is said to be formed around 800-1200 CE. It coincided with the period of westward migration of Mara people from Burma. The origin of Palak Tipo is a well known folktale among Mara people. According to Mara legend the location area was originally a big village called Hnychao. There were about 300 families. At the center of the village was a large rock, underneath of which was a cave inhabited by a giant serpent. Villagers soon noticed that children playing around the rock frequently disappeared. At night their livetock animals were missing too. The village hunters caught the serpent using a gigantic fishing pole, and using a goat (or dog in other version) as a bait. From this point there are two versions:

They killed the snake and the meat was distributed to all families. A widow with two children happened to get a share of the head. When she cooked it, the eyes were blinking and rolling, staring at her. Frightened, she threw the cooking pot into the street. When she looked out, their doorstep was being flooded and fled for life with her children. The pool rose to a lake submerging the entire habitation and drowning the rest of the villagers. The lake was eventually called Pala Tipo. 

In an alternate version, when they caught the snake they could not completely haul out its body and cut it in the middle. The bottom half fell back into the cave with massive thunder. It created an upsurge of water from the cave, submerging the whole village. This became a permanent lake and was called Pala Tipo, literally meaning a "swallowing or submerging lake".

The lake is fed by two main streams from the nearby mountains. Its drainage is through a small river called Pala Chavah. This drainage area creates a stretch of valley, which remains the main agricultural area of the Mara people. Pala Tipo is home to a number of resident and migratory animals. It is particularly rich in a variety of birds, including endemic bird species. The water is inhabited by common and unique species of fishes. Different species of prawns, snails, crabs, turtles and tortoises. More than 70 species of birds have been recorded from the lake and its shore. Among unique species are Nepal fulvetta, white-bellied yuhina, little spiderhunter, streaked spinderhunter, yellow wagtail, black-capped kingfisher, hooded pitta, spot-breasted scimitar babbler, and white-rumped munia, which are rarely seen in other parts of the region. In addition aquatic birds and wild ducks in Pala Tipo are found nowhere else in Mizoram.

It is about 76 km away from Siaha, the headquarters of MADC. It can be reached by small/light vehicles only. Phura is the main route for visitors.

Forest Department, MADC had now constructed Rest Houses with a five star hotel accommodation at Phura Village, from where the lake is just a minute away.

It is said that Pala Lake is ‘the hidden treasure of the Maras’ as it has the potential to be the major tourists hotspot in this region. With its unique appearance and richness in flora and fauna, it is a must place to visit for nature lovers and advanture lovers.

Here, you will find the peace that you’ve been looking for, the answer from the nature that you’ve been searching for, the beauty of the nature that you’ve been longing for, the rare species that you’ve been longing to see and finally, you will find yourself the best place on Earth that your eyes have been looking for.