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Nagaland State was
inaugurated as the sixteenth State of India on 1st Dec, 1963.
It is bounded by Assam in the West, Myanmar (Burma) on the
East, Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam on the North and
Manipur in the South.
The State consists of eight Administrative Districts,
inhabited by 16 major tribes along with other sub-tribes. Each
tribe has its own customs, languages and dress. It has a rich
oral tradition which has been handed down the generations. It
is a land of song and music where you can hear folk songs
praising the brave deeds of ancient warriors and folk heroes;
love song immortalizing tragic love stories, gospel songs and
modern tunes.
Each of the sixteen odd tribes and sub-tribes that dwell in
this exotic hill state can easily be distinguished by the
colourful and intricately designed costumes, jewellery and
beads that they wear. The present generation of Nagas have
ventured into
 fashion designing in a big way, reproducing
fabrics that represent the ancestral motifs blended with
modern appeal. Indeed, it is a beautiful mix of the past with
the present ... a paradise for those who are into fashion
designing. This is an affluent fashion centre of the North
East. The traditional ceremonial attire of each tribe is an
interesting sight to see.
The multi coloured spears and daos decorated with dyed goat's
hair, the headgear made of finely woven bamboo interlaced with
orchid stems, adorned with boar's teeth and hornbill's
feathers, ivory armlets. In the other days, warrior had to
prove their valour to wear each of these items.
Nature could not have been kinder to Nagaland, sometimes
referred to as the "Switzerland of the East"; the exquisitely
picturesque landscapes, the vibrantly colourful sunrise and
sunset, lush and verdant flora.... this is a land that
represents unimaginable beauty, moulded perfectly for a breath
taking experience.
The inhabitants belolng to the Indo-Mongoloid stock, whose
ancestors lived off nature's abundant gifts, blessed with
friendly dispositions. Above all, the people here are warm
hearted and extremely hospitable! You will feel it in the air!
Nagaland is blessed with salubrious climate throughout the
year and one can visit it anytime.
If one is looking for a quiet get away from the hectic city
life, it provides the right ambience; for life here is laid
back and slow-providing a tension free life.
For the adventurous and intrepid, Nagaland is an ideal place
for trekking, jungle camping and offers limitless exploration
possibilities in its lush and verdant sub-tropical rain
forests which are also a treasure trove of a plethora of
medicinal plants. Nagas, by nature, are lovers of fun and
festivities and here life is one long festival. As stated,
Nagas with their joie de vivre, dance and song are a part and
parcel of all their festivities. Most of their dances are
performed with a robust rhythm.
Naga women are known for their spinning and weaving skills. In
the past, all Naga clothes were woven from locally produced
cotton or other materials of vegetable origin, such as,
nettle. But these days, mill-made yarn which is easily
available and costs less are widely used. Spinning, weaving
and dyeing are the exclusive preserve of women in Naga
society. Naga women weave clothes with intricate designs and
today, each tribe is bringing out new designs besides their
earlier existing designs. The common feature of the Naga shawl
is that three pieces are woven separately and stitched
together. Generally the middle strip is embossed with more
patterns and motifs.
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The Commonwealth War
Cemetery in Kohima is an immaculate garden that is a reminder
of the Japanese invasion during World War II. It is estimated
that about 10,000 Allied soldiers lost their lives in the
Battle of Kohima that lasted for three months. The Bara Basti
is balanced on a high hill over looking Kohima. The village
maintains its traditional Naga look and feel. The State Museum
is a small but fascinating ethnological collection of the Naga
tribes.
Khonoma Village is 20 km to the west of Kohima. This
was once a Naga stronghold and is replete with tales of the
heroic deeds of its warriors against the British army in the
19th century. You may need to hire a vehicle to visit Khonoma
from Kohima as the bus service is infrequent and erratic.
Japfu Peak is trekking terrain some 15 km from Kohima. It has
a beautiful view of the city and the snow clad Himalayas.
Dzukou Valley is at 2,462 m above sea level, 25 km from
Kohima. Between November and March the valley is dotted with
red and white rhododendron, lilies and wild flowers. Treks in
the valley could be the highpoint of your travel. Phek is
famous for its orchids and rare birds. It is 134 km from
Kohima.
Dimapur is the only other city in Nagaland besides
Kohima. It is the hub of commercial and industrial activity.
It means the 'City of River people’. It is the only city that
is in a valley and looks like a saddle joining two hills. Here
there are interesting menhirs (stone megaliths) that have been
erected by the tribes to honour fame and generosity. Dimapur
has decent mid range and budget accommodation.
Intaki Wildlife Sanctuary is home to the rare Hoolok
gibbon, elephant, wild buffalo ('Mithun’), sambhar, barking
deer, flying squirrel, wild dog, tiger, sloth bear, pheasant,
hornbill and black stork. It is 111 km from Kohima and 37 km
from Dimapur.
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