For most of its history, reaching Aizawl meant either a flight into a small hilltop airport or a long, winding drive from Assam. That changed in September 2025, when the Bairabi–Sairang railway line opened and Mizoram's capital was connected to the Indian Railways network for the first time.
There are now three genuine ways in. Here is how they compare.
By air: Lengpui Airport (AJL)
Lengpui is the state's main airport, sitting on a ridge about 32 km from Aizawl — roughly a 1.5-hour drive on a winding hill road, so do not let the short distance fool you.
It has direct flights to Kolkata, Guwahati, Delhi and Imphal, flown mainly by IndiGo and Alliance Air. The Delhi service is a genuine nonstop of just under three hours, which is worth knowing — plenty of "Delhi to Aizawl" fares you will see quoted route through Guwahati instead. The runway is spectacular on approach, built along a ridge with valleys falling away on both sides.
Practical notes:
- Schedules change seasonally and the airport is not large. Confirm your flight before booking connecting travel.
- Fog can affect winter morning departures. If you have a tight onward connection, build in a buffer.
- You can obtain your Inner Line Permit from the Security Officer on arrival — carry your ID and photographs in your hand baggage.
This is the fastest route and the one most visitors use.
By train: Sairang, the new railhead
The Bairabi–Sairang line opened on 13 September 2025 after years of construction, and it is a genuinely remarkable piece of engineering: 51 km of track carrying 48 tunnels and 142 bridges through some of the steepest terrain in India. One of the piers stands 104 m tall — higher than the Qutub Minar.
Sairang is roughly a 40-minute drive from Aizawl, about 20 km by road, and by far the closest railhead the capital has ever had. There are now direct trains from Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati, plus a passenger service up from Silchar.
The services
| Route | Train | Runs | Journey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi (Anand Vihar) ↔ Aizawl | Rajdhani Express 20507/20508 | Weekly | ~42 hrs · 2,515 km |
| Kolkata ↔ Aizawl | Kolkata–Sairang Express 13125/13126 | 3 days a week | ~31 hrs · ~1,500 km |
| Guwahati ↔ Aizawl | Guwahati–Sairang Express 15609/15610 | Daily | ~13.5 hrs · 494 km |
| Silchar ↔ Aizawl | Silchar–Sairang Passenger 55669/55670 | 5 days a week | ~5.5 hrs · 154 km |
How the timings fall:
- Rajdhani (Delhi): leaves Sairang on Friday afternoon and reaches Anand Vihar on Sunday morning. The return leaves Delhi on Sunday evening and arrives Tuesday afternoon.
- Kolkata Express: leaves Kolkata late morning and arrives at Sairang the following evening. The return leaves Sairang early morning and reaches Kolkata the next afternoon.
- Guwahati Express: leaves at 19:00 from either end and arrives around 08:30 the next morning — a clean overnight in both directions.
- Silchar passenger: an afternoon departure, into Sairang in the early evening the same day.
The Rajdhani is fully air-conditioned (1AC, 2AC and 3AC). The Kolkata and Guwahati expresses carry sleeper class alongside 2AC and 3AC, so they are the cheaper option if you are not in a hurry. The Silchar passenger is unreserved only — fine for a short daylight hop, less so with luggage.
The Guwahati overnight is the one most visitors find useful: board after dinner, wake up at Sairang. It also pairs well with a flight into Guwahati if Lengpui fares are high.
You can get your Inner Line Permit at the station
Sairang is an official on-arrival ILP point, and the counter is busy: 20,914 permits were issued there between the line opening on 13 September 2025 and the end of that year, with staff reporting 100 to 200 per train arrival and around two trains most days.
So if you are coming by rail you do not need the permit sorted in advance. Carry your photo ID and passport-size photographs in your hand luggage and collect it before you leave the station.
Why consider the train:
- The approach through the tunnels and over the viaducts is a genuine highlight, not just transport.
- It removed the long road slog from Bairabi that used to be the only rail option.
- For travellers who dislike small-airport flying, it is a comfortable alternative — and a Delhi or Kolkata connection without a change of mode.
The network here is new and timings have already been revised at least once, with different booking sites still quoting different departure times. Check IRCTC or NTES for the exact times before you book rather than relying on the shape given above.
By road: NH-306 from Silchar
The classic overland route runs from Silchar in Assam along NH-306. It is around 180 km, but budget 6 to 8 hours — this is hill driving, with switchbacks most of the way.
Shared Sumo services run this route daily and are how most locals travel. They are cheap, frequent and crowded. A private taxi costs considerably more and is much more comfortable, particularly if you are carrying luggage or travelling with family.
Travellers entering by road usually complete Inner Line Permit formalities at Vairengte, on the Assam border.
Be realistic about the road. During the monsoon, landslides can close sections at short notice. If you are travelling June to September and have a fixed onward booking, do not make the road your only plan.
Which should you choose?
Flying if you are short on time. Lengpui to your hotel in Aizawl is under two hours all in.
The train if the journey is part of the appeal, or if you want a Delhi, Kolkata or Guwahati connection without flying. It is the newest option and, on the overnight Guwahati run, the most efficient use of a night.
The road if you are already in Assam, travelling on a budget, or want to see the landscape change from plains to hills — which it does, dramatically, over about an hour.
Getting around once you are here
There is no rail or air network inside Mizoram. Everything is road, and the roads are slow — not because they are bad, but because the terrain is vertical. As a rough guide from Aizawl:
| Destination | Distance | Realistic driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Reiek | 29 km | 1–1.5 hours |
| Tamdil | 85 km | 3–4 hours |
| Thenzawl | 91 km | 3–4 hours |
| Champhai | 188 km | 7–9 hours |
| Phawngpui | ~300 km | 2 days with an overnight halt |
Plan fewer places than you think you can fit. A day spent driving is a day not spent anywhere.
We arrange transfers
Lily Tours & Travels handles airport and railway pickups, and vehicle hire with a local driver for the length of your trip. Drivers who know these roads make a real difference — both to how long a journey takes and to how it feels.
Tell us how you are arriving and we will meet you.