How To Reach Kohima

Kohima is the capital city of the northeastern hilly state of Nagaland. It is the second-largest city of the state. The name Kohima is derived from the word Kewhira as the city has wild Kewhi flowers growing in the mountains. The city was founded in the year 1878 when it became the headquarters of the British Empire in the Naga Hills. When the state of Nagaland was officially declared in 1963, Kohima became the capital city. Kohima came into focus when it became the battleground of intense conflict between the British Allied forces and the Japanese. Later a war cemetery and memorial were set up here dedicated to the British and Indian soldiers who lost their lives. Here's how you can reach Kohima.

Despite being the capital city of Nagaland, Kohima does not have an airport of its own. The closest airport is in Dimapur which is located 74 km from the capital. The airport offers much-needed accessibility to the far-flung state and adjoining cities and helps to integrate with India mainland. The airport is well connected by regular flights with Guwahati and Kolkata and with the rest of the country. Indo, Go Air, Spicejet operates regular flights to and from Dimapur. Taxis and buses are easily available from the airport to transfer tourists to Kohima.

Kohima neither has an airport nor a railway station. Dimapur boasts of an airport as well as a railway station and is hence often referred to as the Gateway to Nagaland. Dimapur Railway station is located 74 km from Kohima. There are regular trains plying between Dimapur and cities of Kolkata and Guwahati. Jan Shatabdi Express, Shatabdi Express, Dibrugarh Town Rajdhani Express, Kolkata Dibrugarh Express, Nagaland Express, BG Express, and several others. From the station, tourists can take a bus or a taxi to reach Kohima.

In the absence of an airport and a station, Kohima is accessible only by road and this makes road transportation extremely critical for the city. NH 29 is the primary national highway in India and runs across states of Manipur, Nagaland, and Assam. 338.5 km long NH 29 helps to connect Amlakhi and Dabaka in Assam, Dimapur, Kohima, Chizam in Nagaland and ends at Jessami in Manipur. Nagaland State Road Transport operates regular bus services between Kohima and Dimapur. Private luxury bus operators operate buses that help to connect Kohima with Shillong, Guwahati and other districts of the state.

Traveling in Kohima poses no problem at all. There are several local modes of transportation available here. Auto rickshaws are the fastest means of transport and charges are minimal. All places of Kohima are easily accessible by auto rickshaws. Taxis are also popular but not as cheap as auto-rickshaws. Tourists can also use rental car services for sightseeing and exploring the city. Public bus transport is cheap and the frequency is good. Enthusiastic tourists can also explore the place by feet.