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Nagaland

Overview

Overview

Overview

Sister to the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, Nagaland is named for its predominantly Naga inhabitants, members of several tribes that share linguistic and cultural similarities. In the 20th century, Nagas united to resist the control of first the British and later the Indian central government. Today, the region is at peace following a cease-fire, and its rolling hills, blanketed by verdant, thriving rainforest that are home to various species of wildlife, draw in considerable numbers of tourists each year. Because of its elevation, bordered on one side by the foothills of the Brahmaputra Valley and by the Patkai Range on another, Nagaland sees cool winters and warm summers; the monsoon season runs from May to September.

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Dzukou Valley

Filled with streams and fields of vividly colored wildflowers, the scenic Dzukou Valley lies 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Kohima. At 8,202 feet (2,500 meters) above sea level, the valley is a cool, breezy location far-removed from the heat and dust of lowland India. The ideal time to visit is from June to September, when the various flowers, including lilies and rhododendrons, are in full bloom, blanketing the hillsides with bursts of color.

Hornbill Festival

Held in the state capital of Kohima, the Hornbill Festival is a traditional rite of passage in which Naga elders impart their accumulated wisdom to the tribes' youth. In addition, traditional arts, wood-carving and sculptures are exhibited, and visitors and Naga alike attend performances of folk songs, traditional dances and participate in a variety of sports and games.

Naga Festivals

One of the richest parts of Naga culture are the tribes' annual festivals. Roughly two-thirds of Naga people practice subsistence agriculture, and feasts and festivals revolve around their harvests. Each tribe's festival has distinct elements; popular festivals include Yemshe, held by the Pochuri tribe around October, and Tokhu Emong, the festival of the Lotha people, usually around November.

Naga Tribespeople

Meet the Naga tribes, of which 16 reside within the borders of Nagaland. Spend a night at a Naga village, and learn about their traditions and customs (one of which was headhunting, now outlawed). Many of the Naga today are Christian due to the influence of missionaries.

Nature Walk

Go on a guided hike through seemingly endless forests of mahogany, punctuated by high grasses and scrubs, and inhabited by elephants, monkeys, leopards, bears, and buffalo. Lucky visitors might glimpse the Great Indian Hornbill, a threatened, fruit-eating bird with a large, concave beak that resembles a toucan.

War Cemetery

During World War II, Nagaland was the site of the Battle of Kohima, a turning point in the Southeast Asia theater of World War II, as the British were able to repel the Japanese forces. The War Cemetery was built on the site of the fiercest fighting, which lasted 64 days and resulted in almost 4,000 Allied and over 5,000 Japanese casualties.

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