Day 133 - Mokokchung

Mokokchung, a town in Mokokchung district of Nagaland state is the home of the Ao Naga.The district is divided sub-divided into six ranges, that are Tzurangkong range, Japukong range, Changkikong range, Asetkong range, Langpangkong range and Ongpangkong range.With mostly inhabited by the Ao Naga tribe, Christianity is the predominant religion of this district. Around 95% of the population residing within the destination is Baptist and the Ao Naga tribe were the ones who introduced Christianity in the region in 19th century. In addition, the place is also known as the cultural and intellectual capital of the state of Nagaland.


How to reach here:

By Air: The nearest airport is situated in the city of Guwahati.The town of Mokokchung is situated at a distance of around 276 kilometers from the city of Guwahati.

By Rail: Dimapur is the nearest rail-head.


Best time to visit: October to March.


Languages spoken: English.


Places you must visit: 

Chuchuyimlang is a beautiful village renowned for the celebration of various tribal festivals. These festivals are celebrated since the birth of Ao Naga tribes. The Moatsu festival commences on 1st May and lasts for three days.



Ungma is the 2nd largest village in Nagaland. It is considered as the oldest and the largest of all the Ao villages. It is believed to be the birthplace of the Ao Naga tribes. The natives of the village follow and preserve the Ao culture and tradition.An old log drum, a beautiful park on its outskirts and a Baptist church are some of the popular attractions of the village. The Moatsu and Tsungremong festivals are celebrated in the village, during which the local people display traditional art forms and dances.





Mopungchuket is an Ao village in Mokokchung District, renowned for its historic past and romantic story of Jina and Etiben. A tower commemorating their love story and struggle is one of the prominent attractions of the village. It is believed that the monuments located on the outskirts of the village provided shelter to the Ahoms. The village museum, time-pillar and morungs are some of the other attractions of the village.





Morung, a popular Ao village, is renowned as the place of origin of Christianity in the Naga Hills, in 1872. The village lies in the Changkikong Range of the Mokokchung District and is considered as the first village of the Naga Hills.The site has an ancient leechi tree, which is believed to have been planted by Dr. E. W. Clark, the first American Missionary. The Mongsenyimti and Langpangkong are some of the nearby places visited which is on the way to Morung.








Changkikong Range is named after Changki, a resident of Changki village.  To the west of this range lies the parallel range of Japukong Range.






Ongpangkong Range derives its name from the local word ‘Ongpang’, meaning ‘higher’. The entire range forms the irregular boundary of the Ao area and is higher than other ranges in the region. Lothas, Semas and Sangtams reside in these ranges.



Tzurangkong Range is a group of small hillocks located between the valleys of Dissai and Jhanzi Rivers. It is densely covered with bamboo trees and has warm climatic conditions.



Asetkong Range is located in the centre of the district and is situated between the valleys of Melak and Menung rivers.



Langpangkong Caves are located in the Langpangkong mountain range. The caves are situated between the valleys of Dikhu and Tzula Rivers. It is believed that the caves provided shelter to an Ahom King.




Longkhum village is at a height of around 1,846 m and is surrounded by rhododendrons shrubs. Following the traditions and customs of Ao Naga, the village practices Limapur, an orthodox religion. There are numerous shrines dedicated to God Longlanpa Tsungrem in the village

Day 132 - Dimapur

Dimapur is located in the western most part of Nagaland and is surrounded by the district of Kohima in the south-eastern part, district of Karbi Anglong in the west, and Kolaghat district of Assam in the northern part. Dimapur, the most important and commercial center of Nagaland was once the capital of Kachari tribe, whose rule existed before 13th century A.D. The name of the town is derived from Kachari word “Dimasa”,‘di’ - meaning river, ‘ma’ - meaning great or big, and ‘pur’ - meaning city, together connoting ‘the city near the great river’. Reminiscences of the Kachari Kingdom that depicts about once prosperous era can be found in and around the town.The remains here mostly include temples, embankments and baths that give a glimpse of the culture prevalent here during that period, which was Hinduism. People here during the 13th century were mostly non-Aryans, who belonged to the ancient tribe that ruled here. One of the fastest growing townships in the north-eastern region of India, the town also serves as the gateway to Nagaland and Manipur.


How to reach here:

By Air: Dimapur is connected by air route with the rest of the country with daily flights to Guwahati, Kolkata and Delhi.

By Rail: Dimapur railway station connects Nagaland with the mainland.


Best time to visit: October to March.


Languages spoken: English, Hindi, Nagamese.



Places you must visit:

Chumukedima is an ancient village located in the district headquarters of Dimapur. Situated on the foothills of the Naga Hills, the complex of the village was established by the Tourism Department. It is believed that in the 19th century, during the British rule, the village served as the headquarters of the Naga Hills District. The village is popular for various waterfalls.





Zoological Park covers an area of around 434.90 acres. The park was established on 28th August 2008 with an aim to spread awareness about the fauna and flora. The park serves as the Conservation Centre for the entire region of Northern India.

Shiva Temple is located in the village of Singrijan and is believed to be established by the villagers in the year 1961. According to legends, a villager went to the Rangapahar Reserve Forest and found a stone on which he sharpened his knife. As a result of this, some liquid came out. Later, in his dream he found out that the stone was Lord Shiva. Thereafter, villagers started worshiping the stone as a Shiva Linga.

Kachari Ruins has various monoliths that reflect the rituals of the fertility cult. The scattered pieces of bricks and blocks of stone are believed to be remains of reservoirs, embankments and temples. Belonging to the ancient Kachari Capital, these ruins reflect the megalithic culture.

Triple Falls has been established by the Tourism Department of Nagaland. It is located in the Seithekima Village at a height of around 280 ft. This beautiful three-tier waterfall is believed to merge into a natural pool.

Nagaland Science Center was established with the aim to spread importance of science in the region. The center has various galleries such as the Fun Science, Children's Corner and Our Senses.

Rangapahar Reserve Forest covers an area of around 49.4 acres. The place is visited by many tourists, especially nature lovers as it is home to many birds and animals.

Diezephe Village is known for its hand-loom and handicrafts. The village is inhabited by the Tenyimei community, weavers and craftsmen. Various workshops for hand-loom and handicrafts are organised in the village. The Craft and Development Society is a community workshop that was inaugurated on 16th November 2001 in this village. A Wooden Toy Project has also been introduced in this craft village.

Day 131 - Kohima

Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland lies smugly shrouded at the eastern frontiers of the mighty Himalayas. Known earlier as Thigoma, Kohima got its name from the wild flowering plant called Kew Hi which is found in the mountains of Nagaland. The original inhabitants of the place were the Angami Nagas and the Rengma tribes, but in recent times people from other parts of the region and country have come and settled here.Kohima is known for its virgin beauty and the amazing views of the Naga Hills. The place holds historical importance as the site of the battle between the British and Japanese troops during the World War II. Verdant forests provide a perennial green cover to the entire region and make way only to provide some space to their lesser fierce siblings of rhododendrons and multihued orchids.


How to reach here:

By Air: Nearest airport is Dimapur which is at distance of 74 km from Kohima.

By Rail: Nearest rail-head is also Dimapur, which is connected to Kolkata (Kamrup Express) and Guwahati (Dbrt Rajdhani Exp).


Best time to visit: October to May.


Languages spoken: Nagamese, Hindi, English, Angami.


Must eat: Axone, Vunenuo, Ga.


Famous Restaurants: Bob Marlin Restaurant and Grill, Maki Yaki The Japanese Restaurant, Red Platter, Bigg's Diner.


Places you must visit:

War Cemetery is a historic site, which reminds of the brave warriors, who died during the Japanese Invasion at the time of World War II. This cemetery comprises around 1420 commonwealth funerals, which have stone markers on them. Commemorative inscribed bronze plate is placed over the burial of every warrior. This cemetery comprises around 1,100 British burials, 5 Canadian and 330 Indian burials. This cemetery preserves two prominent crosses at its highest and lowest points.The upper cross states “Here, around the tennis court of the Deputy Commissioner lies men who fought in the battle of Kohima in which they and their comrades finally halted the invasion of India by the forces of Japan in April 1944”. The other cross reads “When you go home, tell them of us and say for your tomorrow, we gave our today”. This cemetery is located in Kohima, on the battle grounds of Garrison Hill and Commonwealth War Graves Commission is the in-charge for its maintenance.

Catholic Church is considered as one of the biggest churches in the north-east region of India and is one of its kinds in the entire Kohima. In 1948, Sisters of the Missionaries of Christ Jesus came to Kohima to facilitate services at one of the civil hospital of the region. At the same time, this church began to spread Christianity, which produced substantial results. As a result of this attempt, separate diocese for the states of Manipur and Nagaland were created.The church has experienced steady growth because of the missionaries and its believers. Since then, various services offered by this church like educational and social services have spread in the whole region. Located on the Aradhurah Hill, this church is also known for its architecture, which reflects the blend of indigenous and creative art.

Dzukou Valley is renowned for its trekking trails and is frequented by adventure seekers visiting Kohima. This valley is located at an altitude of 2,438 m above sea level. This entire valley is adorned with lilies, aconitum, euphorbia and multi-colored rhododendrons.

Zoological Park or The Kohima Zoo  is home to the rare bird specie, tragopan bird, which is the state bird of Nagaland. Wild buffalo, popularly known as Mithun, can also be seen in this zoological park. Besides, golden langur is another animal species that can be seen in this park.This zoo is famous for various other activities like bird watching and nature trips.

Tuophema is promoted as the Ancient Heritage Village by the state Government. This village is known for its calm and beautiful surroundings, which attracts many visitors. Tuophema presents a different perspective of social system of the Nagas and offers a beautiful ambiance as of the ancient village charm.

Japfu Peak, located at an elevation of 3048 m from the mean sea level, is the second highest peak in Nagaland. The famous rhododendron tree, which is around 130 ft tall with an 11 ft girth, is situated at this peak. This tree is registered in the Guinness Book of World Records.This peak attracts adventure seekers, as it is famous for its trekking trails. 

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. 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 artifacts of all the 16 tribes that inhabit the state. Some of the artifacts exhibited in this museum are clan motifs, precious stones, necklaces, traditional attires and inscriptions.This art gallery also showcases the Naga Morung, which are the hut models that display variance of architecture between the tribes. Musical instruments made of bamboo and buffalo horns are also on display in this museum. 

Kohima Museum presents the display of diverse tribal habitats and cultures of Nagaland. It is known for the preservation of some of the antique creations, which belong to the tribes inhabiting the region.This museum holds exhibit of the traditional dresses of the diverse tribes of Kohima, farm implements, gadgets for kitchen and beer mugs. Besides all these, it also displays carnelian, tourmaline and coral, which are the authentic precious stones.Furthermore, the clan motifs, dialect and practices are also presented in this museum. A collection of hut models and musical instruments like log drum can also be seen. Traditional instruments that are fabricated from buffalo horns and bamboo are also showcased at the museum.












Intangki Wildlife Sanctuary preserves several species of wild animals like tiger, elephants, mithun and many more. Major attraction of this sanctuary is hoolak gibbon, which is only one of its kinds found in India. The sanctuary is surrounded by thick cover of green forests and has various hills and mountains.Spread over an area of 202 sq km, this sanctuary is home to various species of flora and fauna, which are rarely found elsewhere. Renowned as a birdwatcher's paradise, this sanctuary is home to various species of birds like hornbill, common pheasant, khaleej, black stork and many others.

Dzulekie is among the beautiful picnic spots around Kohima that is surrounded by lush evergreen sub-tropical forests. This stream flows from a sleek and narrow gorge and appears to seep underground at some places.Abounded by beautiful hills, this forest preserves the rarely found blythe's tragopan, which is a species of pheasant. Various domesticated bisons and mithuns are also found at this place.It is located at an elevation of about 2133 m above the sea level and is 40 km away from Kohima.

Khonoma Village is known for being the last base of the Naga warriors, who rebelled against the British Empire. Renowned as one of the most famous villages of Nagaland, this hamlet is situated at a distance of 20 km from Kohima. A traditionally carved gate provides access to the highest point of the village. This village also comprises carved terraces on the hills that are used for cultivation of 20 different types of paddy.

Naga Bazzar is counted among one of the famous tourist attractions in Kohima. It is famous for the trading of livestock, which attracts many visitors. Trading of livestock means that it is the market where all living things area available including the black dog, which is the integral part of Naga Cuisine.Dressed in the traditional Naga outfit, women of the Naga tribes can be seen selling variety of handicrafts, poultry and fishery products in this market.