| Tuivai Tuyai, Tipai | |
|---|---|
 Tuivai river inChamphai district, Mizoram | |
    | |
| Location | |
| Country | Myanmar,India |
| State | Chin State,Manipur,Mizoram |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Chin Hills |
| • location | Chin State,Myanmar |
| • coordinates | 23°43′08″N93°31′52″E / 23.719°N 93.531°E /23.719; 93.531 |
| • elevation | 1,594 metres (5,230 ft) |
| 2nd source | Thangjing Hills |
| • location | Manipur,India |
| • coordinates | 24°25′19″N93°38′49″E / 24.422°N 93.647°E /24.422; 93.647 |
| • elevation | 1,594 metres (5,230 ft) |
| Mouth | Barak River |
• location | Sipuikawn/Tipaimukh |
• coordinates | 24°14′07″N93°01′23″E / 24.2354°N 93.0230°E /24.2354; 93.0230 |
• elevation | 60 metres (200 ft) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Barak River |
| River system | Brahmaputra |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Tuivel, Tuilak, Tuikui, Tuibum |
| • right | Tuila, Tuili, Tuiliam |
TheTuivai River (also calledTipai River andTuyai River) originates inChin Hills inMyanmar and flows through the states ofManipur andMizoram inIndia. It is the longest tributary of theBarak River, into which it flows atTipaimukh near the villageSipuikawn.[1][2] Sections of the river and its tributaries were used to define the southern border of Manipur facing Mizoram and Chin Hills.
Tuivai means curvy river inKuki-Chin languages (tui meaning water andvai meaning curved or horizontal).[3]The name has been rendered Tuyai inMeitei language and Tipai inBengali.
The upper course of the river in theChin State of Myanmar is called "Cikha stream",Cikha also being the name of the border town by which it flows.British Raj officials also used "Chikoo nullah" for the name of the river.[4]
The Tuivai River originates inChin Hills in Myanmar, near the Zampi village in theTonzang Township.[5] It flows north and enters theManipur state of India near theChivu salt spring (east ofBehiang town). It then follows a zig-zag course winding its way around the longitudinal mountain ranges ofChurachandpur district in Manipur andChamphai district in Mizoram, tending west throughout. It joins the Barak River at one of its great bends atTipaimukh ("mouth of Tipai"). Parts of the course of river as well as those of its tributaries are used as the southern border of Manipur facingMyanmar andMizoram.
Numerous tributary streams flow into the Tuivai river from both the north and the south. The basin of these rivers essentially defines the western part of the Churachandpur district (the eastern part being in the basin of theManipur River).[6]
After entering Manipur near Behiang, Tuivai flows north for 28 km and then makes its first 90-degree bends near Zabellei and turns west.[5] At the turning point, it receives a tributary called Tuila River from the north, which originates south of theThangjing Hills.[5] Tuila was once considered the "Manipur source of Tuivai",[7] but now it is regarded as a tributary. After this junction, Tuivai receives another large tributary called Tuivel from the south, which flows parallel to the northward course of Tuivai itself.
In its westward couse, Tuivai for about 30 km till Dyalkhai, and makes a second 90-degree bend towards south.[5] The location of this bend was also called Tuyai Yirok in the Manipur court chronicleCheitharol Kumbaba. The Manipur rulerBhagyachandra (also called Ching-Thang Khomba and Jai Singh) erected a stone here in 1786, to commemorate his victory over the Khongchai village of theKuki people.[3][a]
The southward course runs for about 28 km. The last 10 km of this course forms the boundary of Manipur withChin State (part of India–Myanmar border).[5] Then the river makes it third 90-degree degree bend turning west. At this bend, it receives the Tuisa River from the south, which also marks the boundary between Mizoram and Chin State for 28 km.
The westward course runs for about 28 km, forming the state boundary between Manipur and Mizoram. After this, Tuivai makes its fourth 90-degree bend to turn south into Mizoram.[5] For about 20 km, it forms the district boundary between theChamphai district (to the east) and theSaitual district (to the west). After this, it makes a soft U-turn and flows back north towards Manipur.
Another 90-degree bend makes Tuivai turns west, where it forms Manipur–Mizoram state boundary for about 18 km. After this it makes its last 90-degree bend turning north towardsTipaimukh. This course, about 14 km long, also forms the state boundary between Manipur and Mizoram.[5]
Tipaimukh is at the southern tip of theVangaitang range, which forms the western periphery of the Manipur state. TheBarak River attempting to flow west is blocked by the range, and forced to flow around it. At Tipaimukh, Barak makes an almost U-turn and flows northwest.
Most of the course of the Tuivai river was not under the control ofManipur state until 1894. KingGharib Niwaz conquered theVangaitang range (called "Mangaitang" in Manipur chronicles) from north and is said to have erected a victory stone at Tipaimukh in 1734.[3] KingBhagyachandra conquered the "Khongjai hills" in 1786, erecting a victory stone at Tuyai Yirok.[3] According to the Kuki Research Forum scholars, the ancient trade route of Manipur known as the "Khongjai route" which went between Tipaimukh to Bishnupur via Khongjai hills, formed the border between Manipur and "Kuki Hills".[3]
During the BritishLushai Expedition (1871–1872), the Manipur state, which was then a British protectorate, was asked to station troops atTseklapai in order to guard against theKamhau-Suktes. The Manipuris exceeded this instruction and stationed troops at Chivu. They also erected a memorial stone of KingChandrakirti at Chivu, which was considered part of the Kamhau-Sukte domain at that time.[3][8]