Palak Dil

Last updated

Pala Tipo
Palak Dil
India relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Pala Tipo
Location Saiha district, Mizoram
Coordinates 22°20′25″N92°56′33″E / 22.34028°N 92.94250°E / 22.34028; 92.94250
Type Lentic
Primary inflows Two mountain streams
Primary outflows Pala lui
Catchment area 18.5 km2 (7.1 sq mi)
Basin  countries India
Max. length0.87 km (0.54 mi)
Max. width0.7 km (0.43 mi)
Surface area1.5 km2 (0.58 sq mi)
Average depth17 m (56 ft)
Max. depth27 m (89 ft)
Surface elevation270 m (890 ft)
Settlements Phura, Tongkolong, Saiha
Official namePala Wetland
Designated31 August 2021
Reference no.2484 [1]

Palak Dil or Pala Tipo (Mara language for "swallowing lake") is the largest and biggest lake in Mizoram, northeast India. It is located near Phura village in Saiha district, within the Mara Autonomous District Council in the southern most district of Mizoram. 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 Palak Wildlife Sanctuary, [2] and it supports the major biodiversity of the sanctuary. [3]

Contents

Pala is derived from a mythical Mara story for the name of the lake while tipo means "lake"; it is called Palak Dil in Mizo ṭawng. The lake gives the name of the region Palak Assembly Constituency under Election Commission of India. [4] [5]

Origin

According to oral history Palak 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 Dil is a well known folktale among Mizo 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 livestock 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:

  1. 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. [6]
  2. 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". [7]

Hydrology

Palak Dil is oval in shape with a length of 870 meters, width of 700 meters, and depth of 17 to 25 meters. [8] It is believed that a village exists below the lake, some people believes that the lake is haunted by ghosts and demons. [9] 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 too drunk to return. [10] The lake is fed by two main streams from the nearby mountains. Its drainage is through a small river called Pala Lui. This drainage area creates a stretch of valley, which remains the main agricultural area of the Mara people. [7]

Wildlife

Palak Dil 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. [7] 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. [11] In addition aquatic birds and wild ducks in Palak Dil are found nowhere else in Mizoram. [12]

Conservation

Palak Dil and its surrounding area covering 15 km2. is declared by the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests as a protected area under the Palak Wildlife Sanctuary. [13] The surrounding forest is extensively exploited due to shifting cultivation. It has been designated as a protected Ramsar site since 2021. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mizoram</span> State in northeastern India

Mizoram is a state in northeast India, with Aizawl as its seat of government and capital city. The name of the state is derived from "Mizo", the endonym of the native inhabitants, and "Ram", which in the Mizo language means "land." Thus "Mizo-ram" means "land of the Mizos". Within India's northeast region, it is the southernmost landlocked state, sharing borders with three of the Seven Sister States, namely Tripura, Assam and Manipur. The state also shares a 722-kilometre (449 mi) border with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Myanmar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kolleru Lake</span> Lake in Andhra Pradesh, India

Kolleru Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in India located in state of Andhra Pradesh and forms the largest shallow freshwater lake in Asia, 15 kilometers away from the Eluru and 65 km from Rajamahendravaram, it is located between Krishna and Godavari deltas. Kolleru Lake is located in Eluru district. The lake is fed directly by water from the seasonal Budameru and Tammileru streams, and is connected to the Krishna and Godavari irrigation systems by over 67 major and minor irrigation canals. This lake is a major tourist attraction. Many birds migrate here in winter, such as Siberian crane, ibis, and painted storks. The lake was an important habitat for an estimated 20 million resident and migratory birds, including the grey or spot-billed pelican. The lake was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in November 1999 under India's Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, and designated a wetland of international importance in November 2002 under the international Ramsar Convention. The wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 308 km2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mara Autonomous District Council</span> Autonomous district council in Mizoram, India

Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC) is one of the three Autonomous District Councils within Mizoram state of India. It covers Siaha subdivision and Tipa subdivision of Siaha district. Primarily, an autonomous administrative government meant for the Mara people living in the state. It is situated at the southern tip of Mizoram state bordering Myanmar. Its autonomy was established and carved out from the erstwhile Pawi-Lakher Regional Council on 29 May 1971 and separated the next year as Lakher Autonomous District Council, and renamed to its current name in 1988. It covers 1445 square kilometres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phawngpui</span> Mountain peak in Mizoram, India

Phawngpui, also known as Blue Mountain, is the highest mountain peak in the Mizo Hills and in the state of Mizoram, India, with an elevation of 2157 m. It is in Lawngtlai district, in the southeastern region of Mizoram near the Myanmar border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maharana Pratap Sagar</span> Reservoir in India

Maharana Pratap Sagar, also known as Pong Reservoir or Pong Dam Lake is a large reservoir in Fatehpur, Jawali and Dehra tehsil of Kangra district of the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. It was created in 1975, by building the highest earthfill dam in India on the Beas River in the wetland zone of the Siwalik Hills. Named in the honour of Maharana Pratap (1540–1597), the reservoir or the lake is a well-known wildlife sanctuary and one of the 75 international wetland sites declared in India by the Ramsar Convention. The reservoir covers an area of 24,529 hectares, and the wetlands portion is 15,662 hectares.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Andhra Pradesh</span>

Andhra Pradesh is a state in India. Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) is a state government agency which promotes tourism in Andhra Pradesh, describing the state as the Koh-i-Noor of India. Andhra Pradesh has a variety of tourist attractions including beaches, hills, caves, wildlife, forests and temples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harike Wetland</span> Largest wetland in northern India

Harike Wetland also known as "Hari-ke-Pattan", with the Harike Lake in the deeper part of it, is the largest wetland in northern India in the border of Tarn Taran Sahib district and Ferozepur district of the Punjab state in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Asian Flyway</span>

The Central Asian Flyway (CAF), Central Asian-Indian Flyway, or Central Asian-South Asian Flyway is a flyway covering a large continental area of Eurasia between the Arctic Ocean and the Indian Ocean and the associated island chains. The CAF comprises several important migration routes of waterbirds, most of which extend from the northernmost breeding grounds in Siberia to the southernmost non-breeding wintering grounds in West Asia, India, the Maldives and the British Indian Ocean Territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests</span>

The Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests is a subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion which occupies the lower hillsides of the mountainous border region joining India, Bangladesh, and Burma (Myanmar) and China's Yunnan Province. The ecoregion covers an area of 135,600 square kilometres (52,400 sq mi). Located where the biotas of the Indian Subcontinent and Indochina meet, and in the transition between subtropical and tropical regions of Asia, the Mizoram–Manipur–Kachin rain forests are home to great biodiversity. The WWF rates the ecoregion as "Globally Outstanding" in biological distinctiveness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tam Dil</span> Reservoir in Mizoram

Ṭam Dil is a reservoir lake situated 6 km from Saitual, the nearest town, and 64 km from Aizawl, the capital city of Mizoram, India.

Mizoram is a land of rolling hills, valleys, rivers and lakes in Northeast India. As many as 21 major hills ranges or peaks of different heights run through the length and breadth of the state, with plains scattered here and there. The average height of the hills to the west of the state are about 1,000 metres. These gradually rise up to 1,300 metres to the east. Some areas, however, have higher ranges which go up to a height of over 2,000 metres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phawngpui National Park</span>

Phawngpui National Park or Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park is one of the two national parks of India in Mizoram, the other and the larger being Murlen National Park. It is about 300 km from the main city Aizawl, located in the Lawngtlai district, towards the southeast of Mizoram and relatively close to Burma. It bears the name of the mountain Phawngpui, often called the Blue Mountain of Mizoram, which is the highest mountain peak in the state, reaching 2,157 m asl. The national park covers the entire mountain along with the surrounding reserve forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Christianity in Mizoram</span> Christianity in Mizoram

The history of Christianity in Mizoram covers the origin and development of all forms of Christianity in Mizoram since the British occupation at the end of the 19th century. Christianity arrived as a consequence of tribal warfare, raids of British plantations, and the ensuing punitive British military expedition called the Lushai Expedition of 1871. The subsequent annexation of the erstwhile Lushai Hills to the British Empire opened the gateway for British Christian missions to evangelise the Mizo people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary</span> Wildlife Sanctuary in Haryana, India

Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary Ramsar site is located in Jhajjar district, which is about 15 km from Jhajjar in Haryana. On 3 June 2009, it is also declared as bird sanctuary by the Indian Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary</span>

Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Saitual district in eastern Mizoram, northeast India. It is an alpine forest and contains the second highest peak in Mizoram. It is specially a conservation interest on rare species of birds. It was declared a protected area in 1999, and a national wildlife sanctuary by the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests on 31 May 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Northeast India</span> Overview of tourism in Northeast India

Northeast India consists of the eight states Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. Tourism in this area is based around the unique Himalayan landscape and culture distinct from the rest of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Mizoram</span> State in Northeast India, India

Mizoram is a state in the northeast of India. Mizoram is considered by many as a beautiful place due to its landscape and pleasant climate. There have been many attempts to increase revenue through tourism but many potential tourists find the lack of amenities to be a hurdle. However, the State continues to promote itself and many projects have been initiated. The tourism ministry continues to maintain or upgrade its tourist lodges throughout the state. Foreign tourists are required to obtain an 'inner line permit' under the special permit before visiting. The permit can be obtained from Indian missions abroad for a limited number of days or direct from Mizoram Government authorities within India. The state is rich in bird diversity, which has the potentiality to make it a major birding destination. Mizoram is a stronghold for Mrs. Hume's pheasant. There is also a rare record of the wild water buffalo from the state. There are several past records of the Sumatran rhinoceros from Mizoram, then Lushai Hills. The small population of wild elephants can be seen in Ngengpui and Dampa Sanctuaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Mizoram</span> Overview of and topical guide to Mizoram

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Mizoram:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in India by state</span>

Tourism in India is economically important and ever-growing. The World Travel & Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated 14.02 lakh crore (US$180 billion) or 9.6% of the nation's GDP in 2016 and supported 40.343 million jobs, 9.3% of its total employment. The sector is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 6.8% to 28.49 lakh crore (US$360 billion) by 2027. Various states and union territories of India attract tourists from all over the world, mainly due to the cultural diversity.

References

  1. 1 2 "Pala Wetland". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  2. "Mizoram Wildlife". North-East India Tourism. Indo Vacations™. Archived from the original on 28 October 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  3. Lalramanghinglova, H; Lalnuntluanga; Jha, LK (2006). "Note on Ngengpui and Palak Wildlife Sanctuaries in South Mizoram". The Indian Forester. 132 (10): 1282–1291.
  4. "Palak (ST) Constituency 2013 Election Results". Compare Infobase Limited. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  5. "40-Palak- Mizoram". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  6. "Palak Lake". Department of Tourism, State Government of Mizoram. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 Dr John (12 March 2012). "Palak Dil – Mizorama Dil Lian Ber" [Palak Dil – The Largest Lake in Mizorama]. www.misual.com (in Mizo). Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  8. B. Lalthangliana. Mizoram Encyclopedia.
  9. Sajnani, Manohar (2001). Encyclopaedia of Tourism Resources in India, Volume 1. Kalpaz Publication. ISBN   9788178350172.
  10. N.E. Parry (1932). The Lakhers. Firma KLM Pvt.
  11. Birand, Aysegul; Pawar, Samraat (2004). "An ornithological survey in north-east India" (PDF). Forktail. 20 (1): 15–24.
  12. Lalmuansangi; Lalramnghinglova, H (2014). "Preliminary assessment on water quality and biodiversity in and around Palak Dil in southern Mizoram, India" (PDF). Science Vision. 14 (1): 39–45. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  13. "Resource and Biodiversity Base Mizoram". ENVIS CENTRE ON ECO - TOURISM. Retrieved 11 April 2014.