Tourism in Nagaland

Tourism in Nagaland

Nagaland, the land of the hospitable and warm Nagas, lies in the corner of India’s North-East bordering Myanmar. It has always evoked a sense of awe and wonder in the minds of people including the visitors. Although most of the Nagas have now become Christians, they still preserve the remnants of their early animist culture and ancient traditions.

Historically, the Nagas have always been brave warriors. They consider the safety and security of their guests as an honour and prestige and will never allow any harm to be done to any of their guests/visitors. Topographically, Nagaland is mostly a hilly region with a pleasant and salubrious climate throughout the year, except for a small region in the foothills. Nagas are by race, of the Mongoloid stock and speak

Tibeto-Burman group of languages. But English and Hindi are widely spoken and language is no problem in 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. Nature has been kind to the Nagas and their land. Though by virtue of her natural beauty, the whole of Nagaland is a tourist hotspot.

People And Culture

NAGALAND is a land of festivals. All the tribes celebrate their distinct seasonal festivals with a pageantry of colour and a feast of music. Nagaland has a rich linguistic tradition with as many languages as there are tribes, each exclusive to itself. What is even more remarkable is that even within the language of a particular tribe, there are dialects mutually unintelligible.

For instance, in some tribes like the Angami, every village has a slightly different variation even within the same dialect-this variance progressively increasing with the geographical distance. This makes inter-tribe and intra-tribe communication very difficult. In the circumstances, English has come to serve as the State language while Nagamese, a kind of pidgin Assamese, has become the common lingua.

Places to see in Nagaland

Changtongya Among the tourist attractions of Nagaland, Changtongya occupies a prominent place. This small town of Changtongya is located in the Mokokchung district of Nagaland. It is a safe haven for birds as there are no-hunting zone reserve forests in the region. The town is an ideal destination for bird watchers.

Huge number of migratory falcons flies from Mongolia and Germany to the forests of Changtongya. Tourist comes here to enjoy the unspoilt beauty of the nature. The best time to visit this beautiful city is from the month of October to the end of November. The nearby villages of Chuchuyimlang and Pongo are also interesting places to visit. Changtongya town can be reached very easily as the nearest airports are at Jorhat and Dibrugarh. It is located is 40 km south of Tuli, which has well connected roads.

Dzukou

Dzukou or the Dzukou valley in Nagaland is a picturesque state in the northeastern corner of the Indian subcontinent. The beautiful vale, lying at an elevation of 2438 meters above the mean sea level, is just 30 km to the south of the state’s capital, Kohima. A treasure trove of flora and fauna, Dzukou is also lovingly called the Valley of Flowers. The wondrous natural rhapsodies of the hill retreat present a captivating locale, specially when during the monsoon. No wonder, the months of June to September is the best time to visit Dzukou Valley.

Dzukou Valley is a trekkers paradise, posing challenges with winding paths that fringe the rugged hills. Rhododendrons, Euphorbias, Aconitums and lilies run a riot of colors in the Dzukou Valley, as the summer sets in. Wildflowers dapple the valley in vibrant hues, giving a heavenly look to the mesmerizing valley. The trekking trails are some of the best in the whole of north-eastern India, appealing the wanderlust driven tourist with all its natural caves and rocks, gurgling streams and verdant greens.

The Dzukou Valley can be accessed from Kohima or Dimapur by bus or taxi. Dimapur houses the nearest railhead as well as the nearest airport to Dzukou Valley. Accommodation is available in the Dzukou Valley Circuit House and PWD bungalows.

Fakim Sanctuary

Fakim Sanctuary is a beautiful wildlife sanctuary in the state of Nagaland. The state is gifted by nature with numerous varieties of flora and fauna. The ideal time to visit the sanctuary is during the winter season especially between the months of November to February. The beautiful location of the sanctuary covered with hills, meandering brooks, and narrow valleys adds to the charm of the place. The Fakim Sanctuary in Nagaland is located very close to the Myanmar border.

It falls in the Pungro circle headquarters in Nagaland. The Sanctuary encompasses an area of 642 hectares of land. Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary can be reached very easily as it is well connected by rail, road and air. The nearest airport is at Kohima and the capital city is further connected to Guwahati (Assam) by the NH 39. The closest railhead from the Fakim Sanctuary is at Dimapur in Nagaland.

The Fakim Sanctuary is home to a huge number of flora and fauna. Some rare species of flora and fauna can be seen here. Some of the main attractions of the sanctuary Tiger, Slender Loris, Hoolock gibbons, Panther, Wild Boar, Himalayan Bear, Jungle Cat, Bison, Sambar, Barking Deer, etc. Some of the rare species of birds found here are Indian Horn Bill, Tragopan Pheasant, Grey Pheasant, Jungle Fowl, Green Pigeon, Doves etc are.

Khonoma Gate

British intrusion in the villages of the Naga tribes of the region. Situated at a short distance of just 20 km from the capital of Nagaland, Kohima, the small village of Khonoma bears relics to the rich cultural heritage and traditional legacy of the state.

During ancient times, the local indigenous population of the village of Khonoma extended protection to the neighboring villages from the Englishmen who regularly raided the villages. Known for their courage, the local villagers of Khonoma village often fought with the intruders to save their life and property.

Endowed with natural scenic beauty, Khonoma village draws several tourists who are enthralled and enchanted with the captivating sight of the place. The luxuriant green fields and salubrious weather relieves the tourists from the stress and strains of daily mundane life. The Khonoma Gate portrays the strong endeavor of the local citizens to save their life and property from foreign intruders. The tiny village of Khonoma is famous for producing twenty different kinds of paddy which is the staple food of the local indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland.

Khonoma is easily accessible from Kohima by well-maintained roads of Nagaland. Most of the tourists who visit the place are awed by the old glory and grandeur which is reflected in the various places of tourist attraction of Khonoma.

Tuli Town

Tuli Town is one of the popular Nagaland attractions. Tuli Town is located in the Mokokchung District of Nagaland in India. It is geographically located between 26°39′ North Latitude and 94°41′ East? The longitude and at an elevation of 1,148 feet above sea level. The beautiful Town of Tuli is located on the right bank of river Melak. The panoramic beauty of the town with rolling hills, meandering rivers and gentle plain attracts loads of tourists. In Tuli Town, the Langpangkong range gently rises above the Melak plains adding to its natural beauty.

Cottage Industry

Nagaland Bamboo Furniture are popular all over the world. The demand of Bamboo furniture is increasing at a very fast pace. Some of the reasons for its popularity is that it is eco friendly and it grows 10 times faster than trees. The furniture made from bamboo are both stylish and durable.

Some of the common bamboo furniture and decor items are Tables, Picture frames, Curtains, window shades and blinds, Chairs, Wall hangings, rugs and floor coverings, Room dividers, Coffee tables, shelves, cabinets and many more. Nagaland Bamboo Furniture is gradually gaining popularity because of its increasing aesthetic appeal. Cane and bamboo products are an inseparable part of the people of Nagaland. Bamboo furniture are also popular for their durability as it is one of the strongest materials in the world.

Handloom Weaving

The Nagaland handlooms are reputed for their production of colourful and high textured woven cloths. Handloom weaving in Nagaland is popular among women and is popularly practised in seven districts of the state. With the influence of modern technology, the government has made an attempt to convert the use of loin looms into fly shuttle looms.

Handloom weaving in Nagaland is popularly practised in the districts of Mokokchung, Wokha, Tuensang, Zunheboto, Mon, Phek and Kohima. The weavers produce shawls, shirts, jackets, bedsheets, bed covers, shoulder bags, table mats and tea cosies. The motifs and designs that adorn the woven material differ according to the tribes preparing it. The designs are often named after the tribe that weaves and engineers the motif.

The Rengama, Zeliang, Sema, Laltha and Angami are some of the popular colourful motifs. The coloured designs and the embellishments are often symbols of the social status of the weaver. The basic colours used on the materials are blue, green, red, black and white.

To decorate the handloom woven cloths, the weaver often use beads, goat hair and cowrie shells which are representatives of the wealthy weavers. In the early years, the tribal people used the extracted material from the bark of trees to dye the cloth and for its synthesis. However, the advancement of technology has made the process easier.

Wicker Drinking Vessels

Wicker drinking vessels of Nagaland are a speciality of the tribal arts and crafts of the state. The skilled craftsmen of Nagaland have mastered the art of weaving the wicker drinking vessels which are used as containers. Special skills are required by the artisans to make such kitchenwares. The tribal craftsman of the state of Nagaland have inherited the skill of weaving storage baskets and utensils which are used in the kitchen as substitutes for the glass crockery.

For generations, the tribal artisan has prepared such art and crafts that define the rich heritage of the region. The tourists may gather the wicker drinking vessels as souvenirs of their visit to the city while shopping in Nagaland. The vessels are found in the curio shops in the cities and the shopping centres or market places in the villages of the state.

How to reach Nagaland

By Air

With the rising popularity of Nagaland as a tourist spot, the options for reaching Nagaland by air has also increased. The Dimapur Airport is the main Airport of Nagaland and it is located at a distance of 5 Kilometers from the centre of Dimapur city. The presence of the Dimapur Airport makes travelling to Nagaland by air the most convenient idea.

Dimapur is the arrival and departure point of many Airlines and it is also well connected to the important regions and other tourist spots of Nagaland. Major airlines like Indian Airlines and Air Deccan have regular flights to and from the Dimapur Airport in Nagaland. Kolkata and Guwahati are the two places from where it is easiest to reach Nagaland by air.

By Train

To reach the northeastern state of Nagaland by Train, one can board any train that goes to the Dimapur Railway station. This railway station at Dimapur is the main railhead in the state and facilitates Nagaland Travel. Travelling to Nagaland by rail is very convenient for tourists. The major railhead in the state is Dimapur.

This Dimapur railway station is connected to Guwahati, which is the gateway to the northeastern part of India. The railway station of Guwahati is in turn linked to the other important parts of the country by several trains. All the important airlines in the country has a number of trains that connect the state of Nagaland to the different parts of the country.