Jampui-Eternal abode of Spring
By Subhasish Chanda

Tripura

The lustre of all pervasive green being unscathed by fussy men and machine, lying in the range of vision characterises the state of Tripura, which is situated at the last edge of the country’s north eastern region. Once a princely state, Tripura is endowed with a bewildering variety of landscape, lush green vegetation, diverse flora and fauna and rich cultural heritage as of a true multi-ethnic society. Despite treasures like historical monuments, archeological remains and religious domains and all such having in its stack Jampui in its something different attraction which appears to have brought a radiant healthy face lift to the state. Bizarre nature has kept herself calm and cool thereby resulting in an ideal ecology to attract outsiders who especially want a respite from the daily grind of life. What is Jampui all about? At the vortex of sylvan setting, surrounded by the green hills and verdant valleys with the murmurs of perennial rivulets and waterfalls seated mum Jampui hill at an altitude of about 3000 feet above the sea level. Lately termed as hill resort, Jampui hill remains under the ambit of Kanchanpur sub-division of Northern region-which is more or less criss-crossed by undulating terrians, narrow rivulets and makeshift trails on the hill slopes and foot hills with dense forests and rich vegetation elsewhere. The winter seems to be the ideal season for visiting Jampui hill. Just land up at the heart of the nature, take a deep breath and wink eyes for a moment and open up and at once devour the most enchanting and a never-seen-before beauty. While the sun sinks, colours change and rearrange themselves every moment in quick succession while a sweet gentle breeze flows down the valleys without a stop soothing all human pains. At the hill slopes abundant cultivation of orange, only the major means of sustenance to the inhabitants, helps to transform the colour of the world into a unique synchronization of green and orange to make it golden. In the early morning, to watch on snow-white-marvel-valley like shawl of widespread fog over the valley from the tourist lodge at Vanghmun is a spectacular view to enthrall one’s heart. May one pulsate with the first ever seen shadows of cloud silhouetting against, the hills or feel the sensation of birds at a go to destine at Mizo hills or Sakhantung hills or Chittagong hill tracts of Bangladesh seem to be placed at almost arm’s distance. These apart, one’s eyes and mind will be glued with the lifestyle, customs, songs and dances of the aboriginals mainly Lushais inhabiting 12 villages, namely Baisam, Mongchong, Mongpui, Klakchi, Vanghmun, Belianchip, Banglabari, Tlungsang, Sabual, Phuldangsei, Kompui of the hill. The most important dance of the Lushais is Chai lam, performed during the Chapchar Kut or the spring festival. The dances too called Cheraw Kan or bamboo dance and Solaki are spectacular in sight.