Saiha

Saiha (officially Siaha) is a hill town in southern Mizoram and the administrative headquarters of Siaha District. It is also the headquarters of the Mara Autonomous District Council, a key institution of local self-governance for the Mara people. The district lies on Mizoram’s southern frontier—bounded by Lunglei to the north/north-west, Lawngtlai to the west, and Myanmar to the south and east—so the town’s character developed as a small but important borderland centre for administration and local trade.

The name “Siaha” comes from the Mara words sia (elephant) and ha (tooth). Local tradition says a large quantity of elephant teeth were found here; while locals use “Siaha,” many Mizos popularly call it “Saiha,” a translated form in the Mizo language.

Historically, the area was part of the larger Chhimtuipui District. In 1998, Chhimtuipui was split in half and the eastern portion became what is now Saiha/Siaha District (briefly using the old name Chhimtuipui). With an area of about 1,399.9 sq km, it is Mizoram’s least populous district; its population decreased from 60,823 (2001) to 56,574 (2011), reflecting sparse settlement across rugged hills.