Nagaland | An 8-part travel blog series on the Northeast
The North-East remains an untapped jewel amidst our tourism landscape but we’re going to let you in on a secret; it has everything you’d want in a holiday destination!
That’s the idea with which this guide came to fruition. With the aim of curating your ideal trip, keeping your specific tastes in mind, here’s our eight-part series that forms the final word on what to do when you’re in the North East.
By popular demand, our third instalment on the North East series is on Nagaland and this couldn’t have come at a better time! The middle months of the year are just ideal for travellers, so if you plan your trip now, you’ll get there in time to enjoy some glorious weather while you take in all that Nagaland has to offer.
Dive right into our picks for a truly memorable holiday!
Tuophema — for the authentic, local experience
To REALLY immerse yourself into the local culture of Nagaland, there’s no place like Tuophema!
40 km away from the capital (or a 1.5-hour drive away, as the roads aren’t in the best shape), the small hamlet is an unusual blend of touristy and local.
The hospitality of the Nagas in this corner of the state is well known, and yet their day-to-day doings remain unchanged by the presence of tourists. In essence, a trip to Tuophema guarantees comfort as well as unprecedented access to the villagers; a win-win!
The state’s tourism board and the village’s inhabitants jointly came up with an accommodation option for travellers and that’s how Touphema Tourist Village was born. The establishment has 12 huts that it lets out to tourists and they’ve all been done up keeping the local Naga architectural and artistic styles in mind.
The food served at the Tourist Village adds to the immersive experience since all of it is prepared in the style of the locals, with fermented bamboo shoots and yellow squash playing major roles in its preparation.
The bunches of wildflowers and clumps of cherry blossom trees that line the walkways are distinct to Tuophema and are dutifully maintained by the villagers. Speaking of glorious sights, the Niathu peak is a short walk from the village and offers a spectacular view of all the flowery goings-on of Tuophema.
Keep in mind that, while the village is relatively close to Kohima, it’s a drivable distance from Itanagar, Shillong, Imphal and Dispur as well!
If you’re looking to visit more than one North Eastern state on your next trip and are wondering how to link the two up, Tuophema works as a wonderful bridge.
Khonoma — for those who appreciate the aesthetics
Having earned titles such as “India’s most beautiful village,” Khonoma should have a space right at the top of your list of places to see when in Nagaland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnYBd-a8snw
Having imposed a hunting ban in the 20 km radius that the village encloses, Khonoma started being called the country’s first green village back in the 90’s. Since then, most locals have turned to farming, and what a transformation followed! The hilly terrain is now dotted with lush vegetation that’s home to a large variety of wildlife.
As you can imagine, a simple stroll through the slopes of Khonoma is enough to refresh the senses, and an unusually large number of treks are offered in and around the village to take advantage of this. The hikes to Dzuko valley (or “the valley of flowers”) are certified favourites as the sight of its flowery carpet unfolding dozens of metres below you is one that’ll stay with you for a long, long time.
For a bit of sightseeing, the Semoma fort is worth all its awestruck reviews. It formed the backdrop to several clashes between the British and the Nagas and has earned the distinction of being one of the strongest forts in all of North East India. There’s a certain feel to the place that’s hard to miss, and you’ll know exactly what we mean once you get there.
D Cafe is a quirky little eatery in the heart of things. Serving great coffee and live music on a predetermined schedule, the bistro is perfect for anyone looking to take a break from all the sightseeing.
Khonoma is located just 20 km from Kohima, so you’re at most a cab ride away from its gardens of serenity. Make a visit or risk losing out on some of the most magnificent views the North East has to offer!
Longwa Village — for when Nagaland just isn’t enough!
You ever get the feeling that visiting just one place while you’re on holiday won’t quite do the trick? Longwa, located right on India-Myanmar border, might just be able to help you out with that!
The village chief’s house sits squarely atop the international border and makes for a natural tourist hotspot.
The village is famed for its unique location, one that has guaranteed its inhabitants double-citizenship so they can roam both parts of the hamlet freely. However, Longwa is more than just a geographical wonder — the four rivers flowing through it are quite a spectacle and attract an audience of their own.
Getting to Longwa can be a bit tricky to arrange. There are no direct buses, trains or flights, so your best bet is to head to Sonari or Simulguri and make your way from there (Longwa’s district, Mon, is about 65 km from the former and 90 km from the latter).
Kohima — the capital and how to get there
At this point, we’ve covered all our offbeat favourites, so it’s time to get into the nitty gritties — what are the easiest ways to get to Nagaland?
The Dimapur Airport is the state’s only civil airport. While it’s 74 km from Kohima, it’s nevertheless a good option if you’re travelling from Delhi, Kolkata or Assam. The airport is currently only connected to 3 or 4 cities, so that’s a hurdle you’ll have to move past if you’re flying in, say, from the southern part of the country.
Alternatively, Dimapur also houses the state’s railway station and, of course, there are also buses (a few luxury options are also available) that make for comfortable rides.
So… When’s the best time to go? Some places are best enjoyed in the spring, some when it’s raining cats and dogs. For Nagaland, this bliss point happens sometime between March and June. The summer months are perfect for exploring, and when you’re in a place that’s as blessed with natural beauty as Nagaland, exploration should be the first thing you try to tick off!
If you’re looking for a holiday that’s relaxed yet thorough, five or six days is ideal. Of course, the connectivity issues mean that it makes sense to try and visit more than just Nagaland on your trip.
Maybe pair it with Assam, as it’s one of the few states that has direct flights to the Dimapur airport? (Look out for our Assam guide, coming soon!)
That’s pretty much all you need to know to get the ball rolling. For a curated trip, shoot us an email at manish@unhotel.in! We’d love to help you plan your next holiday to “the land of festivals”, hand-crafted to your every preference.
