Nagaland Tourism And Travel Guide

Popularly referred to as one of the Seven Sister States of India, Nagaland lies in the far northeastern part of the country. Home to indigenous tribal people of the region, Naga culture is unique and colorful. There are festivals that are celebrated all through the year and tribal culture has left its impact on the lifestyle and cuisine of the state. The landscape of the land is a stunner and continues to charm people with their pristine and adulterated beauty. Tourists are increasingly getting attracted to Nagaland to explore their unique culture, festivals, wildlife and indulge in adventure activities like trekking and camping. It is a great destination for wildlife and bird lovers and photographers. For all your tourism inquisitiveness, here is a snippet of travel guide to see in Nagaland.

By Air:

The lone airport in Nagaland is in Dimapur which is its largest city as well. Dimapur serves as the gateway to the city. Built during WWII the Dimapur Airport is critical as it offers air accessibility to Nagaland and connects it with the rest of the country. Airlines carriers like Go Air, Indigo, Air India and others operate flights regularly in and out of the state. Dimapur is located 72 km from the capital city of Kohima and can be reached by cab or bus.

By Rail:

The major railhead of Nagaland is in Dimapur and the station lies on Lumding-Dibrugarh section of the mainline of North Eastern Frontier Railways. There are a number of trains that run between Dimapur, Guwahati and Kolkata and these two are major cities in the east that are connected with the rest of the country. JAN Sharabdi Express, Rangiya Dibrugarh Express, New Delhi Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express, Kamakhya Dimapur BG Express, Avadh Assam Express are few of the many trains that run through Dimapur.

By Road: 

Improved road networks had facilitated in establishing connectivity between Nagaland, neighboring districts and cities and through them with the rest of the country. In the absence of a second airport or big railway junctions, major parts of the states are connected only through roads. Public and private buses run regularly between different parts of the state and inter-state buses connect Nagaland with neighboring states like Assam.

Getting Around:

Road transportation is what holds the state together. There are far-flung remote areas that have now been connected to major cities with the help of roads. Nagaland State Transport (NST) has buses plying between major cities and remote areas. There are popular bus routes that connect Dimapur to areas like Mukokchung, Tseminyu, Wokha, Zunheboto etc. Cabs are also fairly easily available.

Summer (March to May):

While the rest of the country sizzles, summer in Nagaland is largely pleasant and comfortable. Summer lasts for three months in the state and the temperature varies across the state depending upon the altitude. The humidity remains on the higher side and the moderate heat is not unbearable. Maximum temperature is around 30°C while the minimum hovers around 16°C.

Monsoon (May to September):

Compared to summer, monsoon is rather prolonged. It continues for four months and depending upon the location of the place in the state, showers range from medium to heavy showers. Closer the areas to the hills, heavier the rainfall. August and September receive the highest amount of rainfall and as monsoon also happens to be the agriculture season in Nagaland most of the locals remain busy in agricultural activities.

Winter (October to March):

Winter is undoubtedly the best season and most pleasant in the state. Humidity falls and as tourists go higher up, the temperatures continue to dip. The beautiful weather increases tourist footfall in the region. It is time to indulge in adventure activities like trekking, camping, and motorbiking, for sightseeing and exploring the customs and lifestyles of the tribal people. It is recommended to check the weather conditions of the area before visiting as winter is accompanied by intermittent snowfalls as well. 

Participate in Festivals:

When in Nagaland one thing which you cannot certainly miss out is taking part in the festivals of the state. Nagaland is commonly referred to as the Land of Festivals. Home to large number of indigenous tribal people each boasting of their own customs and practices celebrates a number of festivals all through the year. They are colorful events characterized by merrymaking, singing and dancing. Festivals are held to celebrate things like purification, spirits, community bonding etc. As agriculture is the primary occupation of the people there are many harvest related festivals like Bushu celebrated by Kachari tribe, Mimkut by the Kuki tribe, Yemshe by Pichury tribe etc. Hornbill Festival is the most popular festival celebrated across the state.

Go on Religious Trip:

Nagaland boasts of a number of religious memorials in the state. Almost 90% of people in the state practice Christianity and this accounts for a considerable number of churches in the area. Almost every district has three to four churches. Mary Help of Christians Cathedral, Cathedral of Kohima are some of the famous churches in Nagaland. Apart from churches, there are few well-known temples like Kalibari Temple and Jain Temple in Dimapur. For the more spiritually inclined a trip to these famous churches and temples of Nagaland is highly recommended.

Indulge in Adventure Activities:

Nagaland appeals to all groups of people not only for the more religious minded or culturally oriented ones. It has now emerged as an offbeat destination for adventure lovers. Trekking, camping, motorbiking Dzukou Valley among others offer a fascinating trekking trail. It is one of the best ways of exploring the hidden treasures of Nagaland as the trails offer a fascinating view of the surrounding landscape. Mokokchung Range, Satoi Range, Japfu Peak, Patkai Hills etc. are some of the other exciting trekking trails. There are some beautiful camping locations in the state and motorbiking takes tourists through the interiors of the charming state.

Wildlife Touring & Bird Photography: 

Nagaland boasts of rich flora and fauna and a number of beautiful wildlife and bird sanctuaries. The Ntangkii National Park or Intanki Wildlife Sanctuary sprawled across an area of 202 sq.km. wildlife lovers can spot animals like Wild Dogs, Sloth Bear, Palm Civets, Tiger, Python, Monitor Lizard etc. In addition to this, there is the Ghosu Bird sanctuary where bird lovers can go birding and spot different species of interesting birds like Slaty-bellied Tesia, Spot-breasted Scimitar, Scimitar Babbler etc. If photography of your passion, remember to carry your camera with you.

Like other parts of the country, Nagaland too boasts of an amazing cuisine which is quite unique. There are a number of dishes on offer for the tourists which might look bland but are extremely flavorful. Non-vegetarian dishes are high in demand and mouthwateringly delicious. Pork features regularly in their cuisine and there are a variety of dishes like smoked pork, pork cooked with bamboo shoots are very popular. A number of chili sauces like Eel Chili Sauce and Crab chili sauce are regularly used in the preparation of the dishes. Bamboo shoot too features commonly in Naga cuisine.

Shopping is an important part of any trip. In Nagaland, tourists can choose from a range of handcrafted products that boast of high degree of craftsmanship. Cane carpets, woven Naga shawls, bamboo mugs, silk mekhela, cane baskets, home décor items, ornaments can be found almost everywhere and can be picked up as a memento of the trip to Nagaland. Handicraft and Handloom Emporiums are the best places where you can pick up few handcrafted and traditional stuff for gifting purposes or to decorate your own house.