Nagaland Introduction

Nagaland is a world apart. Nature resplendent in all her full-bodied glory. Exquisitely picturesque, vibrantly colorful, all lush fertile, the land represents unimaginable beauty, created by nature, to take your breath away... 

It is inhabited by a variety of Tibeto-Burmese tribes, speaking more than 20 different dialects, the main one being the Aos, the Angamis and the Konyaks. They are said to belong to the indo-mongoloid stock, a race whose presence was first noted ten centuries before Christ, at the time of the compilation of the Vedas. 

Nagaland is bounded by Assam in the west, Burma on the East, Arunachal Pradesh & Assam on the North and Manipur in the South. The state consists of seven districts with sixteen tribes & sub-tribes inhabiting it. The Naga tribes are generally full of folklore. They are fond of seasonal songs, solo, duet and choric. Here man has to fight nature all the time. The people here are strongly built, simple, honest and hard working.


General information 

Fairs and Festivals

Sekrenyi Angami 
This festival is celebrate in the month of February. It normally falls on the 25th day of the Angami month of "KEZEI". This ten-day festival is also called PHOUSANYI by the Angamis. 

This festival is being celebrated annually at Touphema Village, from 25th-27th February, and has been identified by the Govt. as a festival destination. 

Chakhesang -Sukrunye 15-20 Jan 
The Chakhesang Tribe celebrates seven festivals in a year, all the festivals are based on the agricutural cycle. The Sukrunye is the most important festival, which is celebrated in the first month of the year. Traditionally the Sukrunye festival covers 19 long days, starting from Nyede to Vuta Zhongu. However it has been now restricted to a 6 day event. 

Konyak-Aoling Monyu First Week Of April
The Konyaks, a martial Tribe in the east of Nagaland, observe Aoling Monyu after completing the sowing of seeds in the new jhum fields and to mark the end of the old year and entering the New year beginning with the arrival of the Spring season and asking the Almighty God for bountiful crops. Aoling Monyu is spread over 6 days. 

Phom-Monyu 1st & 2nd April (Tuensang) 
The phom tribe have four major festivals each having unique significance. Monyu is the most popular and biggest festival, which falls in the month of April soon after the sowing season, and spreads over six days. It also marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. A few days prior to the festival the green signal of the dawn of the festival is made by beating the log drum with a distinct tune synchronized purposely for the event, known as Lan Nyangshem. 

The main feature of Monyu is the occasion when the male members of the family show love and renewal of affectionate feeling towards their married daughters and sisters by presenting them the purest rice beer and specially prepared food. 

Hornbill Festival 
The Hornbill festival which was celebrated for the first time from December 1-5, 2000 will be a yearly feature and will be celebrated around the same time. 

In this Festival, each Tribal Hoho(the apex body of each tribe) will construct their Morung-the Boys Dormitory where the values of life are imparted. In these dormitories, each tribe tries to depict their original lifestyles to the nearest possible. Though the original Totem posts and carvings are not available, you get an idea of the original Morungs and traditional houses. 

In the evenings, musical concerts and other entertainment programs keep the people in a festive mood. These concerts cater to the needs of all music lovers as it includes gospel, rock, metal, country, pop, western and what have you. 

Entry Formalities
Domestic tourists visiting Nagaland require to obtain Inner line Permits issued by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur; Deputy Commissioner, Kohima; Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung and Deputy Resident Commissioner at Nagaland House, Calcutta, Delhi and Assistant Resident Commissioner at Shillong. 

Places of interest

Kohima

Perched at 1444.12m above sea level, Kohima enjoys a temperature climate throughout the year. The panoramic view of Kohima unfolds 16 km fro your destination, nestled among the pristine hills. The lyrics of a local song says 'There is no Place in the World half as fair as Kohima". 

Kohima is the cosmopolitan head quarters of 15 major tribes. The distinctive character and identity of each tribe in terms of tradition, custom, language and dress is clearly discernible to a visitor. Many are visibly amazed by this contrast. The respective tribal festivals are celebrated at regular intervals at Kohima. It is during such a time that one gets to see a glimpse of the past animistic traditions of each tribe, being enacted in their robust best.

How to get there 

Air
Nearest airport Dimapur 74 km from Kohima. 

Rail
Dimapur ( 74 km ), the nearest railhead, is on the North-East Frontier Railway and is directly connected to Guwahati which in turn is directly connected to all the major places in India. 

Road
Kohima is connected by road to Dimapur - 74 km; Imphal - 145 km; Guwahati - 390 km; Shillong - 490 km; Calcutta - 1,516 km etc. 


In and around 

War Cemetery 
A symbolic memorial raised as citation for supreme sacrifices made by the officers and men during the World War II. A bronze plaque with a suitable epitaph supports each grave. 

The State Museum 
The historic artefacts, the log drums, the tools and implements, the ancestral weaponry, the Naga currencies of Old, the Attire of worriors, the dresses of women, the hearth of Naga kitchen, the entire Naga traditional life style et al. have been depicted in dioramas. 

The Dzukou Valley 
The Dzukou Valley is tugged away at an altitude of 2438.4m above sea level. This is a valley that dreams are made up of. From June to September, the entire valley is a carpet of wild flowers. The numerous low cluster of hillocks surrounding the vale, contains some cosy natural caves and rock overhangs, ideal for camping. 

Kohima Village
Kohima Village is one of the largest in Asia. It is here that you will see an admixture of the past and present. A traditional gate greets you on entry, with scimitar of hornbills and buffalo horns and so on. Stones of varying shapes and sizes implanted within the compound are skulls of buffaloes and mithuns adorning the portico, reminds you of the past glory and status of the great ancestors who had preformed grand fests of merit.