India Travel

Nagaland.

Nagaland is bound by Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam in the North; Manipur in the South; Myanmar (Burma) on the East and Assam in the West. It offers rich incomparable traditional and cultural heritage. The Distinctive character and identify of each tribe in terms of Tradition, custom, language and dresses is clearly discernible to the visitors.

Tourism

Nagaland is rich in flora and fauna. About one-sixth of Nagaland is under the cover of tropical and sub-tropical evergreen forests - including palms, bamboo and rattan as well as timber and mahogany forests. If you are looking for a quiet getaway, from the hustle and bustle of city life, Nagaland provides the right ambience; as life here is laidback and slow - providing a tension free life.

Weather

Nagaland is blessed with a salubrious climate throughout the year. The temperature from June to September is between 16 to 31 deg Celsius and from October to February it is between 4 & 24 degree Celsius.

Places of Tourist Interest

Dimapur : Dimapur, 74 km away from Kohima is the commercial town of Nagaland. The places to visit in Dimapur are the Ruins of Medieval Kachari Kingdom, North East Zone Cultural Centre Museum, Chumukedima and Intangki Wildlife Sanctuary.

Kohima : Kohima is a beautiful town known to the world for halting the Japanese forces during the Second World War. In the middle of the town lies The War Cemetery with beautiful epitaphs engraved on each graves of officers and men who laid down their lives in the battle of Kohima. Apart from war memorials, one can also visit Museum, Cathedral and Kohima village.

Mokokchung : Mokokchung is 162 km from Kohima via Wokha, 70 km from Zunheboto, 115 km from Tuensang, 102 km from Amguri (Assam) and 103 km from Mariani in Assam, Mokokchung is home of the Ao tribes. The main festivals of the Aos are Moatsu and Tsungrem Mong celebrated during the first week of May and August respectively. Places of tourists interests are Longkhum, Ungma, Langpangkong Cave, Molung, Chuchuyimlang and Peren.

Mon : Home of the Konyak tribe of Nagaland, Mon is 357 km from Kohima via Dimapur and 280 km from Dimapur, 275 km from Kohima via Mokokchung, Tamlu and Wakching. Konyaks are known for their skilled craftsmanship especially in woodcarvings, making of daos, guns, gunpowder, headbrushes, headgears, necklaces etc. The most colourful festival of the Konyaks is the Aoling festival celebrated in the first week of April. Places to see in and around are Shangnyu Village, Longwa Village, Chui Village, Veda peak and Naganimora.

Tuensang : Tuensang is about 269 km from Kohima via Wohkha and Mokokchung and 235 km via Zunheboto. Six different tribes of the state namely the Changs, Yimchungers, Khiamniungans, Sangtams, Phoms and Semas, inhabit the district. Having inhabited by different tribes, the district is rich in cultural heritage and their traditional dresses are very colourful. Places of tourists interests are Kiphere and Longtrok.

Zunheboto : Zunheboto is 150 km from Kohima via Chazouba and 70 km from Mokokchung. The district is home to the Sema tribe of Nagaland. The Semas are a martial tribe and are known for their fighting skills. Their main festival is Tuluni, which is celebrated during the second week of July. Satoi Range and Ghosu Bird Sanctuary are attraction of Zunheboto.

For the adventurous and the intrepid, 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 which are also a treasure trove of a plethora of medicinal plants

Festivals & Events

Nagaland is a land of festivals. Almost all the tribes have their own distinct seasonal festivals which they celebrate with a pageantry of colour and a feast of music. Most of these festivals revolve round agriculture, it being the main-stay of Naga society. Over 85% population of Nagaland is directly dependent on agriculture and lives in a thousand and odd villages situated on high hill tops or slopes overlooking verdant valleys humming with murmuring streams.

All the tribes regard their festivals sacrosanct and participation in celebration is compulsory. Although some religious and spiritual sentiments are inter woven into secular rites and rituals, the pre- dominant theme of the festivals is offering of prayers to a Supreme Being having different names in different Naga dialects. At these festivals, the spirit of Gods are propitiated with sacrifices by the Village Shaman for a good harvest either before the sowing or on the eve of harvest. The dance and songs are a part and parcel of all their festivities. Most of their dances are performed with a robust rythm.

When to Go

The best time to visit Nagaland is between October to May.

Interesting Fact

Nagas are excellent woodcarvers. Making using of simple rudimentary tools and implements such as the local dao, hand drill and chisel, skilled craftsmen produce great works of art that local adorn village gates and house posts as well as objects of utility like the common wooden dish.

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