Nagaland
Land of festivals & warrior tribes
Nagaland is the Northeast's festival state, home to sixteen major tribes whose colour peaks each December at the Hornbill Festival near Kohima. Beyond the crowds are the emerald 'green village' of Khonoma, the Dzukou valley trek, and Longwa, where a Konyak chief's house straddles the Myanmar border. Kohima also holds one of the Second World War's decisive battlefields.
When to go
Top places in Nagaland
Hornbill Festival
All sixteen tribes gather at Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima, 1–10 December, for dance, food, music and crafts — the single biggest draw in the Northeast.
Kohima War Cemetery
The immaculate memorial to the 1944 Battle of Kohima that halted the Japanese advance, with its famous epitaph.
Khonoma
India's first 'green village', a terraced Angami settlement with a proud resistance history and community-run homestays.
Dzukou Valley
A rolling green valley famous for its summer lilies, trekked from Viswema or Zakhama; carry warm layers.
Longwa, Mon
A Konyak village where the chief's house sits on the India–Myanmar line; home of the last tattooed former headhunters.
Kisama & tribal life
Morungs, log drums and the living traditions of the Ao, Angami, Konyak, Sumi and other tribes.
Getting there
By air. Dimapur is the state's airport, with flights from Kolkata, Guwahati and Delhi.
By rail. Dimapur is the railhead on the Guwahati–Dibrugarh line; the line to Kohima is years away.
By road. Dimapur to Kohima is about 3 hours uphill; Kisama is 12 km beyond Kohima. Book far ahead for Hornbill week.
Permits
Every visitor needs a permit: Indians an Inner Line Permit (apply online), foreigners a Protected Area Permit through a registered operator.
Open the permit checker →Eat & spend
Try: Smoked pork with axone (fermented soybean), Bamboo-steamed fish, Naga king-chilli dishes, Zutho (rice beer).
Budget: Mid-range, but Hornbill week is peak: book months ahead. Kohima hotels ₹2,000–6,000; homestays in Khonoma and Kisama camps popular.
Nagaland at a glance
Reference figures. Population and literacy are from the 2011 Census, India's latest.
| Capital | Kohima | Statehood | 1 Dec 1963 |
| Area | 16,579 km² | Population | 19.8 lakh |
| Literacy | 79.6% | Districts | ~17 |
| Languages | English official; 16 tribal languages + Nagamese | ||
| Good to know | 16 major tribes; a dry state; Hornbill Festival economy. | ||