Nagaland Travel Guide

Inhabited by different tribes, Nagaland is a beautiful hill station. The place is rewarded with cool fresh air, huge mountains and lush green stretches of land. The early history of the state is associated with the Naga tribes.

Nagamese, Hindi and English are the languages spoken here. One must visit the City to experience the panorama of nature, the warmth and hospitality of people, lavish blossoms and coy rivers making their way through the rugged terrains. If you are the victim of hectic monotonous lifestyle and then a tour to Nagaland is for you.

Colourful life and culture are an integral part of the 16 officially recognized Naga tribes of Nagaland. These 16 tribes are different and unique in their customs and traditions. These customs and traditions are further translated into festivals which revolve around their agricultural cycle. Songs and dances form the soul of these festivals through which their oral history has been passed down the generations

• Trek to Dzukou valley located at an altitude of 2438 mt above sea level.
• Attend Hornbill festival the biggest festival of Nagaland, which held on the 1st week of December every year.
• Witness Ruins of Kachari kingdom at Dimapur.
• Visit Mon, the land of Konyak head hunter tribe.
• Witness, Aoleong Monyu Festival(the harvest festival of Konyak Nagas) held in the month of April on Mon.
• Visit Kohima War Cemetery, a memorial dedicated to soldiers of the world war - II.
• Visit Naga heritage village in Kisama.
• Enjoy a refreshing day in the Khonoma green village.
• Spot indigenous animals in the Intanki Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Shop and enjoy delicious Naga food in the Naga Bazar, Kohima.
• Visit Mokokchung, the 'Cultural Capital of Nagaland'.

The best time to visit Nagaland is from October to May when it doesn't rain. Nagaland gets torrential rain between June and September when communications can be severely disrupted.

The temperature in winter ranges from 4 degree Celsius to 16 degree Celsius. However, temperature during summer ranges from 17 degree to 23 degree Celsius.

One phrase that describes Nagaland cuisine is "strange, spicy but delicious". Food in Nagaland is quite unlike what we eat in other places in the country. Meat and vegetables are consumed by Naga tribes every day. Dog meat and pork are considered special delicacies here. Since there are quite a few tribes here, we get to taste dishes prepared in different styles. Another major highlight of Nagaland is the unique and aromatic quality of ginger available here. This lends a nice aroma to the dishes and you just cannot help but drool when food is cooked with these ginger leaves here. Some must-haves in Nagaland are:

Bamboo shoot – Soft shoot of bamboo is fermented nicely and cooked with pork/fish or vegetables.

Anishi – Fermented Taro leaves are made into delicious patties and are just smoked above the fire from the stove.

Akhuni – Fermented soya bean curry, eaten along with smoked and dried pork dish.

KoatPistha – An awesome dessert that combines the excellent tastes of rice, jaggery and bananas.

Most of the dishes are fermented and the smoked over the fire. This gives a nice flavour to the cuisine of Nagaland and prevents quick decay as well.

With world-class artefacts that are exported to many international destinations, Nagaland is a haven for handicraft lovers. The shops are filled with art and crafts that showcase the stupendous talent of the local Naga artisans. Interesting things to shop for in the state are beautiful baskets and storage containers made from cane/bamboo, woollen shawls, bamboo mats, souvenirs that contain intricate wood carvings, simple and decorative pots, metal jewellery and a host of other handicraft items. Central Market and the Diezephe Craft Village are some excellent spots for shopping in Nagaland. The talent of these artisans are highly commendable as you can see from the brilliant masterpieces that are on for sale at these stores.

Naga men and womenfolk are actively involved in the handicraft industry. Pottery and woodwork are some of the main sources of income in the state. Many foreign tourists shop for innumerable souvenirs from Nagaland as the prices are attractive and the quality of items is top-notch.