Nagaland, one of the seven sister states of Northeast India, offers a unique travel experience with its diverse landscapes, rich culture, and vibrant festivals.

This writer had an opportunity to visit this scenically and uniquely un-Indian beautiful region, with its mountainous terrain, cool and pleasant climate, distinctive culture and ancient tribal traditions recently.
My visit began with a warm and grand ceremonial welcome upon our arrival by flight (from Delhi) in Dimapur , the Business capital of Nagaland . With a population of nearly two million (as per the 2011 Census), Kohima is Nagaland’s second largest city, and has a unique characteristic, in that apart from being the capital, it is also a district and a municipality.
Nagaland provides a fascinating glimpse into the heart of India's northeast. Lying to the east and south of Assam, north of Manipur and west of Burma, this state is predominantly tribal in terms of demography. In Kohima, we were told that this region is another version of “God’s Own Country”, blessed with great valleys, meandering rivers and streams, high-peaked mountains, deep valleys and gorges and a rich variety of flora and fauna.
Another unique feature of Nagaland is that it goes by several names. It has been called the "Land of Festivals" because of its vibrant and diverse tribal cultures and traditions. Many refer to it as the "Falcon Capital of the World", as it serves as a major migratory stopover point for the Amur Falcon as it moves from Siberia in Russia, across to Northern China and onward to South Africa, before taking the same route back. Millions of Amur Falcons arrive in Nagaland each year to feed and rest before continuing their nearly 11,000-kilometre journey. Some sources describe Nagaland as the "Switzerland of the East."
Formerly though, it was known as "The Naga Hills" when it was a district within the state of Assam. English is the official state language.
Nagaland is most famous for the “Hornbill Festival”, an annual ten-day cultural festival held between December 1 and December 10. It celebrates the rich traditions and diverse cultures of Naga tribes, exhibiting their music, dance, art and cuisine. This "Festival of Festivals", as it is popularly known, aims to promote inter-tribal harmony and preserve an ancient heritage. It is organised in the Naga Heritage Village at Kisama.
Nagaland’s population comprises of 16 Tibeto-Burman tribes. Each is identified by their multi-coloured spears, ceremonial daos (swords), bracelets, chest plates, head dress of coloured bamboo and colourful dresses.
The standard of living among the Naga people is relatively high. Their day typically begins early, around 4 a.m., due to its location to far east , which causes the sun to rise earlier. People usually have dinner by 6 p.m. and go to bed around 8 p.m., a routine that contributes to their physical well-being. The Naga community primarily follows the Baptist denomination and are staunch believers of Christianity.
I travelled to the interior regions of Nagaland, where I observed that the roads are in a dilapidated condition and overall development is very poor. Many locals blame the government for its negligence and lack of initiative in improving infrastructure and public services. Additionally, extortion by certain Tribal groups has severely impacted both the quality of life and the pace of development. Due to these challenges, Big Business houses are hesitant to invest in Nagaland, as they are often required to pay substantial amounts to these groups in the form of extortion
In writing this travelogue on Nagaland, this writer came away with a feeling that festivals are an integral part of the Naga socio-cultural existence and that a majority of them are held with agriculture as the main theme.
Kohima is a hill station situated at an altitude of 1,495 metres above sea level. It gained fame during the Second World War, as it was from this place that the marauding Japanese Army was forced to retreat in the mid-1940s.
I had an opportunity to visit the War Cemetery in Kohima, a memorial dedicated to India’s martyred brave hearts. Each grave here has a bronze plaque with a suitable epitaph that makes one reflect on the freedom that we take for granted.
During my visit to the War Cemetery, I learned that the youngest soldier buried there was just 23 years old, while the oldest was 46, both martyred during battles against the Japanese army. This poignant information was shared with me by Chain Lal, who served as my guide throughout the journey.
The other places I visited included the Nagaland State Museum and the Catholic Cathedral at Aradura Hill.
The museum is a treasure house of Naga culture, showcasing gateposts, statues, pillars, and jewellery. There is also a ceremonial drum, which looks like a canoe. In the basement of the museum, there are exhibits of the birds and animals of North East India.
The Catholic Cathedral at Aradura Hill is another important landmark in Kohima. It is one of the biggest cathedrals in Asia and houses the largest wooden Christian cross which accommodated over thirty thousand people at a time.
In terms of shopping, Kohima offers colourfully designed and warm Naga shawls, shoulder bags, woodcarvings and bamboo baskets.

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