Longwa village in Nagaland offers the unique opportunity to meet the last generations of tattooed headhunters, who were once very fierce before headhunting was banned in India in 1960. Our Longwa village travel guide takes you through a village situated in two countries, with one part in Myanmar and the other in India. These are not just stories but fascinating realities that make Longwa a must-visit destination. Hope this travel guide helps you learn more about Longwa Village and plan your tour.
Planning to visit as an international tourist?
Foreign nationals require a Protected Area Permit (PAP) to enter Nagaland
(mandatory since March 2025). Nexplore arranges all permits on your behalf —
you only need to send us your passport copy. Processing takes 5–7 working days.
Read our complete permit guide for foreign visitors → | WhatsApp us to plan your visit
A scenic drive through the winding roads of the Naga Hills takes you to Longwa, a beautiful village located at the top of a hill. From here, you can enjoy a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the entire Mon Town and Myanmar. The village is especially dreamy during the evening when you can revel in the fresh air and stunning sunset.
Where is Longwa village?
Longwa village is located in the Mon district, 40 km from the Mon town, which is the northernmost district of Nagaland. The village nestles between the international borders of India and Myanmar, with every villager enjoying dual citizenship of both countries. Longwa is bounded by Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, and Myanmar to the east. Mon is an important town in the area inhabited by the Konyak Naga tribe, one of the sixteen tribes of Nagaland, known for their headhunting practices.
Video of Longwa village King’s house
How to Reach Longwa Village
Sibsagar to Longwa distance: Sibsagar district, located in Assam, is the nearest town to Mon, from where it takes around 3–4 hours to reach Longwa. The road to Longwa passes through scenic tea gardens and hilly roads. You can reach Mon from the Mokokchung district as well. This takes around 9-10 hours depending on road conditions. Jorhat and Dibrugarh are the two nearest towns to Mon. You can easily reach Mon from these two places.
Kohima to Longwa distance: From Kohima, you need to visit Longwa via Mokokchung and Wakha or via Sibsagar and Sonari in Assam. Via Mokokchung, it takes around 350 km, which takes 10-12 hours to cover due to poor road conditions. Via Assam and Sonari, it takes around 385 Km which also takes around 11 – 12 hours.
Exploring Longwa Village
Early in the morning of the next day, we started our journey to Longwa. It took us around 2 hours to reach the village. Upon arrival, we first visited the house of the Angh (king), who is the head of many villages. In Longwa, the village head or king is called Angh. The Angh rules over 35 villages on the Myanmar side and 5 villages on the Indian side. Longwa has many kings and deputy kings who have ruled the region.
The Angh’s House: A Must-Visit Place in Longwa Village
Located in the center of the village, the Angh’s (king) or Longwa village chief’s house is the major attraction of the village. The house is beautifully decorated with wood carvings, buffalo horns, and photographs. Various wooden sculptures of animals and other objects can be seen in every corner. Traditional weapons and instruments, including a big, long drum used during times of war, are also preserved in the house very nicely. Skilful wood carving is unique to this region, and visitors can see different objects crafted from a single piece of wood.
The traditional big kitchen in the chief’s house, where guests are offered black tea and snacks. The India-Myanmar border goes through this kitchen, where the area to the right of the fire-pit falls in Myanmar, and the portion to the left of the fire-pit is in India. Women in the house make beautiful jewellery, such as neckpieces, earrings, and shawls, and visitors can also purchase traditional weapons, woodcraft, jewellery, masks, and antiques from them. A small roadside market is also available in front of the chef’s house, where visitors can shop for various jewellery and decorative items that are very unique to this region.
Check our comprehensive guide to Hongphoi Village another Konyak village in Nagaland.
Attractions in Longwa
Traditional gun makers are another attraction in Longwa, where the process used to make guns can be observed, and traditional air guns can be seen.
Longwa village has a rich cultural heritage to explore. Apart from the welcoming community of headhunters, the village also boasts traditional morungs, beautifully decorated with woodcrafts. These Morungs serve as common areas where elders teach valuable skills to the young boys and girls of the village. This practice is widespread throughout Nagaland and is an essential part of their culture. Additionally, Longwa village also has a church worth visiting.
Homestay in Longwa village
A few families in the village offer to stay in their homes for tourists. To observe the local culture and tradition, homestays are the best option. One of the best homestays in the village is the Longsha homestay. It is a beautiful traditional homestay decorated with wooden sculptures and Naga cultural symbols. You can meet the princess of Burma. One can observe the women wearing traditional jewellery and headgear and even meet tribal men with tattoos on their whole bodies. The traditional home of the king’s family, decorated with woodcrafts, is a must-visit in Longwa. Very few basic guest houses are also available in Longwa.
Konyak Naga Tribe: The Tattooed Headhunters of Longwa
Longwa village, located in Nagaland, is home to around 30 living tattooed headhunters, with the oldest one being over 80 years old. Visitors can explore their homes, talk with them, and learn about their history and way of life. To meet them and learn about their way of life, it is necessary to hire a local guide who can show you around.
In Longwa, people receive tattoos for different reasons, including identifying those belonging to the same clan or village through distinct patterns and celebrating accomplishments. Tattoos were also made on arms, legs, and backs using ink made from the soot of tree sap combined with crushed leaves. It’s important to note that tattoos were banned in India in 1960.
As Longwa village lies in both India and Myanmar, the residents hold dual citizenship and can roam freely in both countries.
Check out our tribal tour package in Northeast India to plan your tour in Longwa village in Nagaland.
Check the best itinerary to visit the last generation of headhunters in Nagaland
Top tips for visiting Longwa Village, Nagaland
- To visit Longwa Village, it is essential to hire a local guide, as the villagers do not understand Hindi or English and speak their local dialect.
- There are no hotels or restaurants in the village, so it’s best to have breakfast early at your hotel and order food in advance at the homestay.
- The village can only be explored on foot, and it’s recommended to enjoy storytelling sessions at night since people in the village sleep early.
- Everything in the village is closed on Sundays.
- Take permission and pay something before taking anyone’s photo.
Frequently Asked Questions — Longwa Village, Nagaland
Where exactly is Longwa village located?
Longwa village is located in Mon district, Nagaland — the northernmost district
of the state, bordering Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, and
Myanmar to the east. It sits approximately 40 km from Mon town, at the top of a
hill with a panoramic view over the surrounding valleys and into Myanmar. Longwa
is unique in that the international border between India and Myanmar runs directly
through the village — and through the centre of the Angh’s (king’s) house itself.
Every resident of Longwa holds dual citizenship of both India and Myanmar.
How do I reach Longwa village from Guwahati or Dibrugarh?
From Guwahati, the most practical route is to fly or drive to Dibrugarh
(approximately 5 hours by road from Guwahati) and then drive from Dibrugarh
to Mon town (approximately 130 km, 4–5 hours). From Mon town, Longwa is
40 km further (approximately 1.5–2 hours). From Sibsagar in Assam, Mon is
approximately 3–4 hours away. The nearest airport to Mon is Dibrugarh Airport,
which has direct flights from Guwahati, Kolkata, and Delhi. A private vehicle
with an experienced local driver is essential for this route — Nexplore arranges
all transfers as part of our Nagaland tour packages.
Do I need a permit to visit Longwa Village? What about foreign nationals?
Yes. All visitors — Indian and international — require a permit to enter
Nagaland, which is a Protected Area. Indian nationals require an Inner Line
Permit (ILP), available online through the Nagaland government portal or at
designated offices in Guwahati, Delhi, and Kolkata. Foreign nationals require
a Protected Area Permit (PAP), which has been mandatory since March 2025 and
must be arranged through a registered tour operator before travel. Processing
takes 5–7 working days. Nexplore arranges both ILP and PAP as part of every
Nagaland tour package — you simply provide your ID documents and we handle
all paperwork. Within Nagaland, there is no additional village-level permit
required specifically for Longwa, but a local guide is required (see below).
Is a local guide compulsory in Longwa village?
Yes — a local guide is absolutely essential in Longwa. The Konyak people speak
their own tribal dialect and most elders do not speak Hindi or English.
A local guide who speaks Konyak and has relationships with village elders is the
only way to gain meaningful access to the Angh’s house, meet the tattooed
headhunters, and have genuine cultural exchanges rather than simply walking
through the village as an outsider. Your guide also facilitates photography
permission from individuals — which must always be asked and paid for separately.
Nexplore works with experienced Konyak local guides in Mon district for all
village visits.
Can I still meet tattooed Konyak headhunters in Longwa?
Yes — but time is running out. As of 2026, approximately 25–30 elderly Konyak
men in Longwa still bear traditional facial and body tattoos, most of them over
80 years old. These tattoos were earned through acts of bravery during the era
of headhunting, which ended when India banned the practice in 1960 and Christian
missionaries brought major cultural change. The youngest generation no longer
follows the tattooing tradition. Visiting Longwa now — rather than in a few
years — gives you the rare opportunity to meet these living bearers of a
warrior heritage that will not survive another generation. Nexplore arranges
village visits with the community’s permission and pays entry fees directly
to the village.
What is the Angh’s house and why does the India-Myanmar border run through it?
The Angh is the traditional king or chief of the Konyak tribe. The Angh of
Longwa rules over 35 villages on the Myanmar side of the border and 5 villages
on the Indian side. When the international boundary between India and Myanmar
was demarcated, it passed directly through the centre of the Angh’s house —
leaving one half in India and the other in Myanmar. Inside the kitchen, the
boundary is marked by the firepit: the left side is India, the right side is
Myanmar. Visitors can stand with one foot in each country. The house is decorated
with buffalo horns, traditional weapons, wood carvings, long war drums, and
ceremonial artefacts that represent generations of Konyak heritage.
Can I stay overnight in Longwa village?
Yes — a few families in Longwa offer homestay accommodation.
The most well-known is Longsha Homestay, a traditional house decorated with
Konyak wooden sculptures and cultural symbols where visitors can meet the
princess of the king’s family. Homestays offer very basic facilities —
a traditional bedroom, shared bathroom, and meals prepared by the host family.
There are also a few basic guesthouses in Mon town (40 km away), which most
visitors use as their base for day trips to Longwa. Nexplore recommends a
minimum of 2 nights in Mon to allow full visits to Longwa, Hongphoi and at
least one other Konyak village.
What is the best time to visit Longwa village?
October to March is the best period to visit Longwa and Mon district. The weather
is cool and dry, roads are in good condition, and village visits are most
comfortable. December is particularly popular because it can be combined with the
Hornbill Festival in Kohima (December 1–10) — Mon is approximately 6–7 hours
from Kohima by road, making a combined Kohima and Mon itinerary very feasible.
April is excellent for the Aoling Monyu festival (first week of April) — the
Konyak tribe’s spring celebration featuring traditional dance, music, and
ceremonial attire. Avoid June to September when heavy monsoon rainfall can make
the roads to Mon and Longwa very difficult to navigate.
Is photography allowed in Longwa village? Are there any charges?
Photography is welcomed in Longwa village but individual permission must always
be asked before photographing any person — your guide will facilitate this.
A photography fee is charged for photographing the tattooed headhunters —
typically a small amount paid directly to the individual being photographed.
This is a customary practice that the community has established to compensate
elders for their time and as recognition of the cultural value of what visitors
are documenting. Never photograph anyone without asking first. Village monuments,
the Angh’s house exterior, and landscape views are generally photographable
without restriction.
What can I buy in Longwa village?
Longwa has a small roadside market in front of the Angh’s house where local
crafts are sold. Traditional Konyak items available include tribal bead necklaces
and jewellery, brass ornaments, hand-carved wooden items and masks, bamboo
handicrafts, and traditional headhunter-style decorative items. Women inside the
Angh’s house also sell shawls and jewellery. These items are entirely handmade
and genuinely local — not mass-produced souvenirs. Purchasing from artisans in
the village is one of the most direct ways to support the Konyak community
economically.
Nowadays, the whole village is transformed into a tourist-friendly and peaceful village. When we visited, the effect of opium was very minimal. We found all the youths very active and friendly.
Visiting the headhunters of Longwa village is an amazing and unforgettable experience. These villagers were once known for their bravery and fierceness, as evidenced by the unique tattoos on their bodies. Nowadays, they live in harmony with their families and spend their time sharing memories. Don’t miss out on the chance to immerse yourself in this fascinating culture before it’s too late!
Hope this travel guide will help you to make your travel plan to Longwa village comfortable. If you have any queries, please write to us!
Plan Your Nagaland Tribal Tour
Nexplore Travel has been running Konyak village tours for international visitors
since 2015. Guests from Sweden, Germany, France, UK, New Zealand, and Singapore
have visited Mon District with us. We handle all PAP permits, arrange English-speaking
local guides from the community and create private itineraries for your travel dates.
Contact us
📧 support@nexplore.org
💬 WhatsApp: +91 73990 54196
(We respond to WhatsApp from anywhere in the world.)
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If you are looking for more information on Longwa and Nagaland tourism, please check out Nagaland tour packages on our website, or email us on support@nexplore.org to start planning your trip!
