Zunheboto Travel Guide

How would you like to spot some of the Khalij Pheasant hopping or flying around in the wild? Wouldn't you love to spot an endangered bird like the bright red Blyth's Tragopan by a gurgling river or stream? How would you like to walk just a few miles to spot the glistening snow of the Mount Everest peak in the morning sun? Surely, these are not some things that words can express, but a visit to the district of Zunheboto in Nagaland would grace you with these sights. Surrounded by major districts and hilly terrains on all side, the district of Zunheboto is just as protected like the white flower that its name suggests. The name Zunheboto comes from the Sumi language, in which Zunhebo means the white flowering shrub and 'to' means the hill top. So, Zunheboto is the lovely shrub that grows on the hill top. Isn't just the mere name enough to get you excited?

A trip to Zunheboto would be a thrill for the anthropologists who would get their fill of rich martial tribal festivals and culture of the Sumi tribes and the ornithologists who have plenty and more reasons to go bird watching. The village of Lumami is the center for Nagaland University in this district of Zuhneboto. Reaching the district is possible from Kohima or Tuensang and it has even got accessibility from Port Blair.

The outdoor and adventure loving ornithologists and wildlife photographers do make sure that they visit the lush and evergreen dense forests of the Satoi Range. The range has hill slopes lined with rhododendrons and other plants and native vegetation apart from housing the Blyth's Tragopan. The Ghosu bird sanctuary is a big draw for migratory birds and so photographers troop in to Zunheboto during the season every year between June and September.

The bright and colorful Sumi tribes are known for their hunting and fighting skills, however these days, they have settled down to agriculture and a rather peaceful way of life. A major percentage of the population has got converted to Christianity.