Travel to Nagaland

Nagaland does not offer the staple of ordinary tourist itineraries like monuments, wildlife sanctuaries, forts, etc. Its main attraction is the pristine scenic beauty with rolling hills and lush forests, and pollution and stress free atmosphere.

The Nagas a confederacy of 16 different tribes, each with its own language, attire, cuisine, kinship norms and system of governance, are distinct from other Indians.

Travel to Nagaland
How to reach Nagaland
Shopping in Nagaland
Top Cities of Nagaland
Tourist Attractions in Nagaland
Where to stay in Nagaland

Nagaland is a little difficult of access. There is an airport in the town of Dimapur but flights are not so frequent. The best way to reach is to take a flight to Guwahati in Assam (from any of the big cities in India) and then a bus ride to Kohima or bus/train ride to Dimapur. Accommodation should be booked in advance as far as possible.

The state enjoys pleasant weather throughout the year, but the best time to visit is between October and March.

• Kohima: The capital of the state houses a typical village of the Nagas with a ceremonial gateway adorned with motifs of weapons, warriors and folk prosperity-symbols. The houses mirror the local architecture and are decorated with ethnic objéts d’art. Kohima also has the Ao-Naga Baptist Church, one of the largest in Asia.

World War II Cemetery: During the World War II, the combined troops of the British and the Indians stopped the Japanese in Kohima. The martyrs lie buried here.

• Shangnyu Village: An 8ft high and 12ft wide wooden monument believed to have been constructed by heavenly angels stands in the village.

• Japfu Peak: The second highest peak in the state boasts of the world’s tallest Rhododendron measuring over 130 ft. in height. The girth at the base is around 11 ft. The peak offers a breathtaking view of Kohima town.

• Other tourist attractions in Nagaland include: Nagaland State Museum, Dzukou Valley, Intangki Wildlife Sanctuary and Fakim Sanctuary.

In the recent years, the Government of Nagaland has been promoting eco tourism in a big way. Interested travelers are hosted by a village community, given a slice of the traditional life and cuisine and taken trekking and fishing by guides in the environs.

An interesting event in Nagaland is the Hornbill Festival, held in the 1st week of December. This showcases the crafts, dances and cuisines of all the tribes. The most famous craft items in Nagaland are the exquisitely woven, colorful shawls. Each of the 17 tribes has a distinctive pattern and color combination and in the villages, the ethnicity of the wearer can be understood from her/his shawl, often from a distance of hundreds of meters. The shawls are both light and very warm.

Nagaland has got only one airport, it’s located at Dimapur, this airport has got flights from Delhi and Kolkatta mainly and from all throughout the country as well, hence travel to Nagaland by air is possible but a little difficult since you’ve to adjust your schedule as per the flight timings, especially if you are traveling from places other than Delhi or Kolkatta but the number of tribal communities and their cultures and festivals makes your travel to this state worthwhile. As it’s said, the more pains who take to achieve a particular goal, the more you’ll enjoy the thing, so traveling to Nagaland may prove a little tough but once you reach this state you’ll find it was worth all the effort.