Nagaland

      Nagaland is bounded by Assam in the West, Myanmar (Burma) on the east, Arunachal Pradeshand part of Assam on the North and Manipur in the South. The State consists of seven Administrative Districts, inhabited by 16 major

tribes along with other sub-tribes. Each tribe is distinct in character from the other in terms of customs, language and dress. Nature could not have been kinder to Nagaland, the exquisitely picturesque landscapes, the vibrantly colourful sunrise and sunset, lush and verdant flora, this is a land that represents unimaginable beauty, moulded perfectly for a breath taking experience. Nagaland is blessed with salubrious climate throughout the year and one can visit it anytime. If one is looking for a quiet getaway, from the hustle and bustle of city life, it provides the right ambience; as life here is laidback and slow. For the adventure seekers, Nagaland is an ideal place for trekking, rock climbing, jungle camping and offers limitless exploration possibilities in its lush and verdant sub-tropical rain forests.

Pulie Badze Hill

Nagaland has so many tourist attraction places for the visitors. Kohima, the capital city of the state, itself has a number of sites that are worth visiting to get an insight of the place's rich history. The World War II Cemetery that lies in a beautiful surrounding, the Cathedral of Reconciliation with its striking red roof, the Kohima Museum, Naga Haritage Village, Japfu Peak, Pulie Badze, Naga Bazar, Shilloi Lake and Dzukou Valley are some of the attractions of Kohima.
      Another important city which also serves as the main entry point into Nagaland is Dimapur. This is also the commercial center of the state. While nature lovers are enthralled by the scenic landscape of the place, history lovers are attracted to the 10th century Kachari ruins found here. Some of the leading destinations here, apart from Kachari Ruins, are

Doyang Hydro Project

Honkong Market, Nagaland Science Centre, Dimapur Jain Temple, Triple Falls and Nagaland Zoological Park.
      The other places to lure and enchant you are Zanibu Peak, Longwa Village, Veda Peak, Ungma, Changkikong Range, Langpangkong Caves, Doyang River & Hydro Project, Tutsu Wozhu Lake, Mount Tiyi, Intanki National Park, Saramati Peak, Caves of Salomi & Mimi, Iakim Wildlife Sanctuary, Wawade Waterfall and Mihki (the river of salt).

      Visitors from the Indian mainland require an inner line permit to visit Nagaland, which may be obtained from the Nagaland House in Kolkata, Guwahati or Dimapur. Foreign visitors need to register themselves at a local state government office in either Dimapur or Kohima.

Kohima War Cemetery
   

The Kohima War Cemetery is located in the center of Kohima city, capital of Nagaland. It is a memorial dedicated to soldiers of the 2nd British Division of the Allied Forces who died in the Second World War in April 1944. The soldiers died on the battleground of Garrison Hill in the tennis court area. There are 1,420 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War at this cemetery, and a memorial to an additional 917 Hindu and Sikh soldiers who were cremated in accordance with their faith.


Cathedral of Reconciliation
      A religious and architectural landmark in Kohima, Cathedral of Reconciliation is the main church

of the bishop of the diocese of Kohima. The church is noted for its architecture which incorporates many elements of traditional Naga houses, including its facade which resembles that of a Naga house. The architecture of the cathedral blends into the hill on which it is situated. The 16 feet high carved wood crucifix is one of Asia's tallest wooden crosses. One of the interesting features of the church is the uniquely designed transparent roof that lead to “Natural Light System” in the church.
      Interestingly, the construction of the cathedral was mostly funded by Japanese people who wanted to build a monument and dedicate the same to those Japanese soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the battle of Kohima during World War II. The cathedral was used as the venue for reconciliation meetings between the Japanese and British veterans who fought each other during the war.

Nagaland State Museum
 

Nagaland State Museum, which holds exhibit of the evolution of Naga culture, is known as one of the major attractions in Kohima as well as Nagaland. Located at Bayavu Hill, this museum is at a distance of 2 km from the main town. Tourists visiting this museum can see the tribal habitats that are pre-dominant in the eastern territories of India. One of the major attractions of this museum is the collection of rare artefacts of all the 16 tribes that inhabit the state. The artifacts displayed here include traditional dresses, jewelries, carved gateposts, inscriptions, ancestral weapons, ceremonial drum, musical instruments and sculptures of birds and animals. The tourists can also see the necklaces made up of the precious stones, beads and silver worn by the Naga tribes. One can also get to know about the lifestyle of the tribes by seeing Naga Morung (hut models). Musical instruments made of bamboo and buffalo horns are also on display in this museum. For the ardent art lovers, there is also an art gallery that exhibit stunning paintings of the local people or artists.

Naga Heritage village
      Naga Heritage Village also known as Kisama Heritage Village is only one in Nagaland. The place is wrapped in breathtaking scenic views at the foothills of the lustrous and evergreen hills on the borderline of this village. It is surrounded by all types of flora. Naga Heritage village is rich in its tradition and cultural activities. Being one of the prime tourist attractions, the village sees hundreds of tourists round the year. Visiting this place is an experience of one of its kind and probably different from any part of the country. On visiting, you will see the unique thatched roofs on the traditionally built houses, its wooden walls and delicately and neatly done carvings of different designs – all of it has an age old rural essence.
      This village comprises of Morungs or 16 different houses that are designed and made in such a way that it symbolizes 16 communities of the population residing here. These communities have restored the artifacts of World War II, its food courts, traditionally bamboo made halls and a stadium which is famous for its Hornbill Festival. The scenic beauty of the village itself mesmerizes the tourists, and thus tourism has flourished in leaps and bounds in the region over the years.

Hornbill Festival
      The Hornbill festival is a celebration held every year from 1st - 10th December. The festival is held at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, located around 12 kilometers from the capital city Kohima. This eagerly awaited festival, is one of the most cherished festivals of Nagaland and celebrated by locals with much enthusiasm and zeal. The festival is named after Hornbill, one of the most venerated bird species in the state whose importance is reflected in a number of tribal cultural expressions, songs and dances. It is the largest celebration in Nagaland and there is huge gathering and much merrymaking in the form of drinking, eating, singing and dancing.
      Hornbill festival, also known locally as the “Festival of Festivals, is organized by State Tourism
and Arts and Culture Department, Government of Nagaland to encourage inter-tribal harmony and promote colorful local culture and traditions, display its unique customs, rituals and practices as well as preserve its heritage. Tourists are warmly welcomed and are treated well. The celebrations are attended by all the major tribes of Nagaland who present themselves with various arts, folk songs, dances and games. There are numerous displays of handicrafts, handloom, multi-cuisine, local food stalls while a rich amount of rice beer always at hand to indulge in. Evenings are lighted by the thrilling Hornbill National Rock Concert in which bands from all over the country and abroad participate to compete. This is followed by the amazing Night Market in the town. But the most attractive event at the festival is Naga chilly eating competition and pork eating festival which draws a lot of crowd and evokes much fanfare and excitement.
   
It begins at 9 am each day. You can reach the venue by booking a taxi. Purchase the tickets at the entry gate and pass through the security check however make sure you have a valid pass to park the vehicle at the site. The festival is one of the top tourist attractions in the state, thus draws a lot of tourists from in and around the Nagaland State. Thus, make sure to have your bookings well in advance to avoid any last minute hassles and inconvenience.

Dzükou Valley
      The Dzukou Valley is situated right at the border of Nagaland and Manipur, just behind the

magnificent Japfu peak. It is located at an altitude of 2438m above sea level. Two of the most beautiful rivers run through the valley – the Dzukou and Japfu rivers. It is popularly known as “Valley of Flowers of the North-East”. This entire valley is adorned with lilies, aconitum, euphorbia and multi-coloured rhododendrons. The ideal time to visit Dzukou Valley is from the month of June to September. It is at this time that the valley is carpeted with various stunning and vibrant flowers.
      To reach Dzukou Valley one can hire a taxi

from Kohima to Viswema Village which is about 25 Kms away. Zakhma is another base for the Dzukou Valley which is about 20 Kms from Kohima. The trekking from either route itself is the best

part of visiting the Dzukou Valley. As you walk through the cleanest tracks, breathing the rejuvenating air, basking in the glow of the bright sunlight, crossing the small streams in your way, you will know at that moment that there is no other place on the planet you would rather be at. There are two small resting camps situated at a distance of around 3-4 Kms from each other for the purpose of an overnight rest if one is starting a bit late in the evening. One should carry a good amount of food as there is no provision for providing food at the top. One can buy fire woods and kitchen utensils for preparing the meals at the top. In spite of the difficult terrain and non-availability of facilities, this is one of the most frequented trekking spots in the entire North East India.

Japfu Peak
      The Japfu Peak standing tall at 3048 meters is the second highest peak in Nagaland and provides

the perfect vantage point for admiring the heavenly beauty of the Dzukou Valley with the backdrop of snow- clad Himalayas. The peak is not only an attraction for trekkers, but also for photographers and nature lovers who want to witness and capture the panoramic view of nature. Mostly bestowed with subtropical vegetation, those visiting the peak can enjoy the sweet murmur of various hill birds. The lush forest of 130 ft tall and 1 ft circumference rhododendron trees is home to the unique Blythe Tragopan bird. Japfu Peak can be reached directly from the nearest transit points via local transportation.

Kachari Ruins
   

Kachari ruins are situated in Dimapur and it is one of the important sites of megalithic culture. Most of the ruins appear to be contemporaneous with the Kachari civilization. Dimapur contains ruins of temples, reservoirs and other monuments of which the most notable are their monolithic structures. The monoliths represent the elaborate rituals of the cult of fertility. The Kachari Ruins dates back its existence to 10th century and today stands as an epitome of historical tourism in the state. The ruins are a series of mushroom domed pillars created by the Kachari Kingdom. Though the pillars have lost most of their glory because of gradual crumbling, yet those who wish to explore the past era of Nagaland still find a reason to pay a visit.

Nagaland Science Centre 
      Nagaland Science Centre is an amazing place where different concepts of science are introduced to people in an interesting and miraculous way so that it can attract people to know and learn more.

The centre is located in Dimapur behind Naga Arcade and is one of the most interesting tourist attractions of Nagaland. It promotes learning through triumphant approaches. The Science Centre has three galleries, one is Our Senses, second is Children’s Corner and third is Fun Science. There is a Tara Mandal which has an inflatable dome that lets you peek deeper into the sky at the night. There is a science park as well which has some especially designed exhibits that increase the learning tendencies.