Nagaland Tourism

Nagaland-"Gateway to the heart of India"

Temperature:

Summer: 31°C to 16°C; Winter: 24°C to 4°C

Best Time to Visit:

From May to September. Hence the ideal time to visit is from November to March.

Kohima

Kohima, is a hilly district of India's North Eastern State of Nagaland, sharing its borders with Assam State and Dimapur District in the West, Phek District in the East, Manipur State and Peren District in the South and Wokha District in the North. Originally known as Kewhira, it was founded in 1878 when the British Empire established its headquarters of the then Naga Hills. It officially became the capital after the state of Nagaland was inaugurated in 1963.Kohima is the land of the Angami Naga tribe. It is situated in the foothills of Japfu range located south of Kohima District and has an average elevation of 1261 metres (4137 feet).

Khonoma village - Khonoma village lies 21 kms away from Kohima town. This is the first "green village" of Nagaland. The village is well known for the legendary leader Angami Zapu Phizo who was the founder of the Naga movement. It is in this place where the Naga warriors made their last endeavor against the British aggression in 1879. Khonoma village houses nature’s pristine beauty in the form of its alder trees, terraces carved out of its hilly slopes and the Khonoma Nature Conservation Tragopan Sanctuary (KNCTS). KNCTS conserves a large variety of rare species of plants and animals within its 25 sq km area. This is almost a virgin territory for birdwatchers, animal watchers and botanists who have the entire area to explore and discover.

Kohima War Cemetery - Kohima War Cemetery constructed in the memory of the officers and soldiers who made supreme sacrifices during World War II, the war cemetery attracts hundreds of visitors every year including the relatives of those martyrs. Maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the cemetery witnessed more than 2000 graves, on each grave there are beautiful epitaphs carved in bronze. A fitting prelude to a British soldier who died here reads: “When You Go Home, Tell Them of Us and Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today”.

Dzukou Valley - Dzukou Valley is the lesser known (but no less beautiful and bio-diverse) valley of flowers in India after Nandan Kanan in Uttarakhand. An altitude of 2438.4m, rivulets shaped like the curves of Venus, flowers, herbs and shrubs are the elements that constitute the vibrant diversity of this valley. It offers some of the best trekking circuits in the country, while housing ‘communitised’ villages.

State Museum - For the tourists, there are historical artifacts, log drums, tools & implements, old Naga currencies, attire of warriors, dresses & costumes all preserved here. This museum provides a bird's eye view of the fifteen colourful tribes at close quarters.

Kohima Zoo - The Kohima Zoo or the Zoological Park is one of the most well-maintained zoos in the country and serves as a great attraction for tourists coming to Nagaland. Built on a hill, the natural landscape offers a comforting habitat to the animals and birds. The hill has been innovatively utilized creating free spaces where the animals have been housed. It is an ideal place to trek and enjoy the magnificent flora and fauna of Nagaland.

The biggest attraction in the zoo is the rare Tragopan bird which is the state bird of Nagaland. It is a highly endangered species with an estimated 500 remaining. Apart from the Tragopan bird other attractions in the Kohima Zoo include 'Mithun' a species of the wild buffalo which is also the state animal. Tourists can also catch a glimpse of the Golden Languor and Asiatic Black Bear in this zoo apart from many other wild animals.

Dimapur

Dimapur is the ancient capital of the Kachari tribe, whose rule existed before the 13th century AD. Reminiscences of the glory of this kingdom can be found in the ruins that are scattered in and around the town. These ruins give evidence of a culture that probably had a touch of Hinduism, but were predominantly Non-Aryans. Besides monoliths, Dimapur contains other ruins of temples, embankments and baths. The District draws its name from the Kachari dialect; ‘di’ - meaning river, ‘ma’ - meaning great or big, and ‘pur’ - meaning city, together connoting ‘the city near the great river’. That the Kachari kingdom flourished in Dimapur in the days of old is evident from the existence of the Kachari Rajbari Fort ruins, housing the ancient stone monoliths, and the many excavated tanks dug by the royalty known even today as the Rajpukhuri, Padampukhuri, Bamunpukhuri, Jorpukhuri etc. to name a few. The monoliths represent the elaborate rituals of the cult of fertility.