Serchhip district is an administrative district of the state of Mizoram in north-east India. Its headquarters is the town of Serchhip, which lies on the Aizawl–Lunglei road. The district was carved out of the older Aizawl district and is one of the smaller districts of Mizoram by population, with an economy based largely on agriculture, horticulture and small-scale trade.
| Name | Serchhip district |
|---|---|
| State | Mizoram |
| Country | India |
| Headquarters | Serchhip |
| Region | North-East India |
| Official language | Mizo, English |
Serchhip district lies in the central part of Mizoram. It is bordered by Aizawl district to the north, Champhai district to the east, Lunglei district to the south and Mamit district to the west. The terrain is typical of Mizoram, consisting of parallel north–south running hill ranges separated by narrow river valleys, with a humid subtropical to temperate climate depending on elevation. The Mat and Tuikum rivers drain parts of the district.
The district is administered by a Deputy Commissioner, who is assisted by other officers of the Mizoram civil and police services. For administrative convenience the district is divided into sub-divisions and rural development blocks, with Serchhip town serving as the principal urban centre. The notified towns within the district include Serchhip, Thenzawl and North Vanlaiphai.
The area now forming Serchhip district was historically part of the Lushai Hills and later of the Mizo Hills district under Assam. After Mizoram became a Union Territory in 1972 and a full state in 1987, district boundaries were progressively reorganised. Serchhip district was created in 1998 when the larger Aizawl district was reorganised, along with the simultaneous creation of Mamit and Kolasib districts.
Serchhip is among the least populous districts of Mizoram. The population is overwhelmingly Mizo, and Christianity is the predominant religion, reflecting the wider demographic pattern of the state. The district has consistently recorded one of the highest literacy rates in India, a trend shared with other districts of Mizoram.
The district economy is dominated by agriculture, with shifting cultivation (jhum) practised alongside settled farming. Rice, maize, ginger, turmeric and a range of vegetables are grown. Horticulture, particularly of grapes and other fruits around Thenzawl, and handloom weaving are important supplementary activities. Thenzawl is well known for its handloom cluster producing traditional Mizo textiles such as puan.
Serchhip is connected to the rest of Mizoram primarily by road. National and state highways link Serchhip town with Aizawl to the north and Lunglei to the south. The nearest airport is Lengpui Airport near Aizawl.