What's Nearby

The home-stays in Khonoma offer warm hospitality. Dimapur airport is around 70 km from Kohima, a two-hour drive.

Shop: looms have been setup with the help of a self help group, to weave. A shawl takes about a day to be completed and fetches around INR 500. I choose a pretty red and black one with tiny motifs of crossed spears woven at the ends and make friends with its makers, Ano and Atono.

Buy delicious local farm products like dried wild apples, gooseberries, popped rice, turmeric, Naga king chilli, ginger powder and dehydrated pineapple etc, marketed under the brand MYKI. These are prepared by local women.

A wizened villager, Roko, who regales me with his battlefield stories, leads us to a morung (boys' dormitory), where we find young men chatting and drinking zutho (a local rice beer). Morungs are richly decorated traditional wooden houses with a pair of crossed swords on top and are centres for spreading of moral values, education, art and craft, and for resolving disputes by village elders. Inside, on the walls are displayed various weapons, a legacy of the warring days.

It's almost afternoon by the time I end my village tour and I pause for a bit by a bend, looking out over the terraced hills, the valley below and small houses set against the mountains. A sense of peace pervades and I wish I can carry this tranquility back with me, the way I am doing the stories!

Also Explore

Dzukou Valley

Nagaland’s most popular and exciting trekking destination, the Dzukou Valley is surreal and spellbinding! Though it is gorgeous at any time of year, in summer, the hills burst with wildflowers, especially the rare Dzukou lily. An hour’s drive from Kohima (25 km) will take you to Viswema, the starting point of the trek to Dzukou Valley.

Dzuleke

A hidden gem, Dzuleke is a tiny village nestled beside a stream. Around 20 km from Khonoma, you can ideally have a picnic here or stay overnight in one of the homestays. Spot wild bisons grazing by clean mountain streams. Try fresh crabs from the Dzuleke river served with aromatic rice.

Kisama

Kisama Heritage Village (around 12 km from Kohima) offers a glimpse of life in a traditional Naga village. Here, each of the major Naga tribes is represented by its characteristic morung. In December, it hosts the famous Hornbill Festival.

Japfu Peak

The second-highest peak in Nagaland, this vantage point is around 15 km from Kohima. A trekker's paradise, the Japfu range attracts tourists for its scenic beauty and thrilling trails. Enjoy majestic sunrise views from here.

Kohima War Cemetery

Standing on the historic WW II battle ground of Garrison Hill, this site contains 1,420 Commonwealth burials, one nonwar burial and a memorial commemorating 917 Hindu and Sikh soldiers.

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