Vonolel expanded his influence over the Sukte and Poi tribes in the east and attempted incursions into Naga territories in Manipur.

[3] After the North-South War between his uncle Vuta and the Southern Chief Lalpuithanga, Vonolel left Saitual to Tualte.

[6] Vonolel's leadership in Tualte is accompanied by legendary figures in Mizo history known as Pasaltha, which he inherited from his father, Lalsavunga.

The settlement boasted 12 heroic personalities namely: Vanapa, Chawngduma, Keihawla, Tawkthiala, Zampuimanga, Chhunkeuva, Darbuta, Chalkhenga, Darruma, Darphawka, Darkuala and Zabiaka.

[8] A pasalṭha named Tawkthiala proposed to Vana Pa for him to catch any guard in the fields and for him to shoot them.

However Vana Pa instead professed that many Pawis had died and their party was unharmed, as a result they returned back.

Vonolel sent an upa to confess that the men were robbers not under his control but the Sukte refused to listen.

A non-aggression pact was made with agreements to surrender captives and return runaway slaves escaping to enemy territories.

[13] Hostilities with the Western Lushai chiefs erupted due to Khalkam's wish to take a maiden named Tuali who was betrothed to Vonolel's son, and migrations of settlements becoming too close during jhum cultivation.

Vonolel succeeded in driving out the previous tribes of the Manipur frontier, namely the Khongjai and Kom Kukis.

Brown failed to control the warring hill tribes in their internal disputes which escalated conflict into raiding once more.

Vonolel repeated his policy of resettling conquered chiefdoms into his newly expanded territory.

However, the expansion of tea estates on the borders of the Lushai Hills deteriorated the relations of the two parties with the British.

Vonolel questioned whether Stewart had demanded tributes from Eastern Lushai chiefs such as Mulla.

Vonolel's meeting with Stewart was seen as a sign of goodwill to continue conciliation and cooperation with the Lushai chiefs.

The tomb was decorated with a large mithun skull with horns impaling and carrying a human head and arm recently cut off.

[23] The expedition burned down Vonolel's settlement but left his tomb intact, changing only the headhunted remains into a proper burial place.

[25] Frederick Sleigh Roberts who participated in the Lushai Expedition named his horse, an arab charger, Vonolel in honour of the chief and his prestige.

[26][27] In 2021, the discovery of a new snake species in Mizoram was named Stoliczkia vanhnuailianai in honour of Vanhnuailiana.