Top 5 Must See Tourist Places in Nagaland, India

Situated in the far-flung and obscure northeast corner of India, Nagaland is an exotic land of quaint hills, green-carpeted valleys, thickly wooded jungles, rich flora and fauna and cascading waterfalls. Unlike many other areas of tourist attractions,

Nagaland does not boast of historic forts, regal palaces, awe-inspiring temples and stately monuments. The original pristine environment in the entire Nagaland still remains fresh and unaffected by human interference.

Nagaland is a strange, distinctly different land where a visitor can relax and spend quality time – far from the madding crowd.

Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland, set amidst the rugged Naga Hills, offers visitors a different world – a world different from the one all of us are accustomed to. During the World War II, the combined troop of the British and the Indians halted the Japanese warriors in Kohima Kohima was a historic witness to the bitter fight during the Second World War and the war cemetery, surrounded by manicured greenery, stands today as a reminder to those days of horror.

There is a touching message on the engraved epitaph, which reads:

“When you go home

Tell them of us and say

For your tomorrow

We gave our today”.

Interestingly the busiest and most important place in Kohima is Barra Basti, considered the second largest village in Asia. In the middle of the village are houses built in the characteristic Naga style with crossed horns, carved mithun heads, a huge grain basket and a manger containing rice beer. Miss not to see the State Museum and the Catholic Cathedral which are the chief tourist attractions in Kohima.

The Nagaland State Museum in Kohima showcases a rare collection of articles of different tribes, which refer to the history, and traditions of the Nagas.

Dimapur, a fascinating town, is acknowledged as the “Gateway to Nagaland" It is the commercial hub of the State and was the erstwhile capital of the ancient Kacharis. The Kachari civilization existed in this region before the 13th century. The megalithic cluster of huge stones is characteristic of the Kachari civilization. Just 5 km away on the Dimapur-Kohima Road is Ruzaphema, where number of bazaars offer splendid tribal handicrafts. Places of tourist interest at Dimapur are the ruins of Medieval Kachari Kingdom, North East Zone Cultural Centre Museum, Chumukedima and Intangki Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Dzukou Valley nestling behind the Japfu range and about 30 kms from Kohima is a romantic valley that turns into a garden of exotic flowers in the months of June and September. Rhododendrons, orchids, lilies in pink and white are some rare flowers that will send every nature lover into rapturous delight. Dzukou Valley offers excellent trekking spots and widely known as the trekker's paradise. The gorgeous streams of the valley freezes during the winter months and one will see snow flakes all around.

This is the second highest peak in Nagaland and stands 3048 metres above sea level. The best season for climbing this mountain is from November to March. The sunrise from the peak is an exhilarating experience one will remember for life. From the peak one can have a bird’s-eye-view of the surrounding hills including parts of Dziikou Valley.

Japfu Peak offers breathtakingly beautiful view of the Himalayan peaks beyond and the sprawling Kohima town. Amidst the Japfu range, the visitor can find the 109 feet tall Rhododendron Tree, which finds a place in the Guiness Book of World Records. The girth at the base of the tree measures more than 11 feet. When it is in bloom, it is indeed an optic feast.

If you are looking for a great get away from the stressful urban existence, Dzulekie is the right place for you. The lush evergreen subtropical forests will bring you close to nature. Here, you can spot Mithuns (Bos Frontalis) grazing gracefully on the wayside. This place is 40 km West of Kohima and is at 2,133.6 meters above sea level. Another interesting feature is the gorgeous Dzulekie stream flows through a deep and narrow gorge making it look as though the stream has gone underground at places. A rare species of rainbow trout is found in this stream.

Satoi Range is one of the only few remaining virgin forests left in the Zunheboto districts and it is a place of unadulterated charm. This place is the natural habitat of the Blythe's Tragopan, a rare bird on the verge of extinction. With evergreen forests of rare varieties all over the hills, it is an ideal place for outdoor camping, picnic and trekking.

Liphanyan Governor's Camp, located at a distance of 43 km from Dimapur, features the river Doyang flowing nearby and is an ideal spot for rafting, angling, and picnics.

Khonoma is a romantic village famous for its wildlife sanctuary and offers a vista of Nagaland’s natural splendor and ecological diversity.

The Pulie Badze Wildlife Sanctuary is located amidst beautiful green hills and gorgeous streams. It is famous for the wide variety of rare birds and a pleasurable sight to see these exotic birds in their natural habitat.

Nagaland is a fairytale land of abundant natural wealth, situated in the obscure corner of the eastern Himalayas. Nagaland is sure to transport you to an exciting new world where you can be part of mind blowing natural scenery, gorgeous waterfalls, sanctuaries with rare species of birds and mossy green ferns.