Khuangchera Puk

Khuangchera Puk is a 162-metre cave at Ailawng, close to Reiek and about 30 km west of Aizawl, and the longest known cave in Mizoram. It is named after Khuangchera, a Mizo warrior. In the late 1800s his village drew water from a spring flowing out of a narrow opening that no one dared enter, and people argued over whether it joined another cave across the hill. Carrying a torch of split bamboo, Khuangchera went in and came out at the far side, proving both openings belonged to one passage. He fell gravely ill soon after, which deepened local fears.

The cave was left alone until a local club explored it in the early 1980s. Inside, stalagmites give the dark chambers unusual acoustics. The surrounding hills suit hiking, camping and birdwatching, with the Long-tailed Broadbill, White-bellied Heron and Rufous-bellied Hawk among the species seen.