Touphema Tourism And Travel Guide

Touphema is a combined initiative of the local community and the State Tourism Department of Nagaland to showcase the history, culture, lifestyle, traditions, and customs of the tribal people of Nagaland. It was set up to allow tourists to get a flavor of local cuisine, culture and practices. It is a beautiful village surrounded by lush green landscape and paddy fields. For those visiting Kohima or Dimapur, they can make a quick trip to the heritage village. Here is a snippet of travel guide to see in the village and in its vicinity.

By Air:

Touphema Village is located about 100km from Dimapur Airport which is the sole airport in the state. Dimapur is well connected by flights with neighboring states and cities like Guwahati, Kolkata and with other major cities like Delhi and Mumbai. From the airport tourists can take buses or hire cabs to reach their destination.

By Rail:

Touphema Village is connected by rail via Dimapur Railway Station which is the only railhead in the state. Dimapur gives the state much needed rail accessibility. There are a number of trains that pass through Dimapur and allow it to connect with cities like Kolkata and Guwahati. From the state tourists can reach Touphema by buses or cabs.

By Road: 

In the absence of railway station and airport, Touphema can be reach only by road. Over the years the state has developed a well-connected network of roads. There are National Highways that crisscross through the state that makes traveling between different points easy and hassle-free. Public and private buses, private rental cars and cabs are available for commuting within the region.

Getting Around:

Touphema is a small village which can be explored and accessed by foot. There are adjoining paddy fields and lush green forests that make nature walks attractive. From Touphema tourists can hire cabs to reach Kohima, the capital city.

Summer (March to June):

Summer extends from March to June and the initial months witness moderate weather. There is no excessive heat or humidity which makes traveling and sightseeing quite enjoyable. With the rise in temperature the humidity tends to increase in the air which makes the weather hot and sultry and a little uncomfortable.

Monsoon (July to October):

Rain-soaked Touphema Village has a beauty of its own. The freshness is intoxicating as the entire landscape gets covered with lush green cover. It creates a sight to behold and rain lovers are encouraged to visit the village to enjoy the goodness of monsoons. However outdoor activities and sightseeing might get compromised due to incessant showers.

Winter (November to February): 

Winter lasts for 3-4 months in Touphema and the weather is perfect for an enjoyable trip. The skies clear up, humidity falls, and the chill in the air feels good. Temperature is comfortable and not too cold and is the best time for going for those long walks around the village, exploring the vicinities and spending time with the locals to try and know them better.

Visiting the Village:

The Touphema Village is a local endeavour to preserve their culture and heritage and showcase it to the tourists so that they understand these customs, practices and Naga way of life and food. It is an interesting attempt by the people and has been successful in attracting tourists. There are small cottages built in Naga way and tourists can spend a night here. The village is nestled in the lap of nature surrounded by a gorgeous landscape. A trip to the village and vicinity areas is truly worth it.

Trekking Dzukou Valley:

Dzukou Valley is one of the most beautiful places in the state with Japfu Peak in the backdrop. The lush green landscape offers some great trekking trails for enthusiastic trekkers. There is the Viswema Village to Dzukou 17 km trek that can be completed in 5-6 hours and a 15 km trekking trail from Dzukou to Zakhama that takes about 3-4 hours to complete. The trails offer a magnificent view of the landscape and are worth the effort and time.

A trip to Blooming Valley: 

The best time to visit Dzukou Valley is during full bloom season when the entire valley gets covered in a riot of colors of freshly blooming flowers. The gorgeous rhododendrons, white and pink lilies, euphorbias and several other varieties of flowers adorn the valley and is a sight to behold. The colorful flowers and the lush green cover create the perfect ambiance for a relaxed holiday. Switch the phones off and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Attend the Hornbill Festival:

Hornbill festival is celebrated from 1st to 10th December and is organized by the State’s Tourism & Cultural Departments in the heritage village of Kisama. The latter is located a mere 12 km from Kohima and should not be missed at any cost. The colorful parade, merrymaking, singing, and dancing by the Naga tribal people are a great opportunity to learn about their culture, practices and customs. The spectacular event has been drawing tourists in large numbers every year.

Touphema does not offer the varieties and options of a city and tourists visiting the village have to be content with local food provided by the people. There are no big restaurants and eateries around Touphema and the freshly cooked local cuisine is delicious. Ghalo, Bamboo Baked Fish and Rice beer are extremely popular here and feature regularly in their cuisine. For tourists looking for more options, they can make a quick visit to Kohima which is only 40 km away offers different types of cuisines.

Touphema is a small tribal village with little scope for shopping. For tourists who want to pick up souvenirs or gift items will have to make a stop at Kohima which is the capital city of Nagaland. There are several handicraft shops and markets selling a range of handcrafted and hand-woven items like Naga shawls, beaded tribal jewelry, bamboo works, woodcarvings etc. These are local wares and unique to the state’s culture and heritage.