Tourist

GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND
KOHIMA DISTRICT

NPSC RESULT

Places of Interest in Kohima

SALES EMPORIUM

The Government Sales Emporium is in the heart of the town. It has a collection of Naga Handloom and Handicraft items. There are also a number of private shops nearby where one can buy handloom items. There are also a number of Private shops nearby where one can buy handloom items. Some of the more prominent outlets where mementoes can be purchased are GURTEL near the war cemetery and Belho Weavers near Assam Oil Company (AOC). There are many shops dealing with Naga cultural items in the Super Market area as well.

CATHEDRAL

The Catholic Cathedral at Aradurah Hill is an important landmark at Kohima. It is the largest Cathedral in the whole North East India and its quiet and serene ambience is conducive for meditation and prayer. It has a blend of indigenous and modern architectural styles.

THE HORNBILL FESTIVAL of Nagaland which is a yearly feature in the first week of December is a cultural extravaganza showcasing Nagaland's traditional and cultural heritage in all its diversity. It is the coming together of all the elements that make up Nagaland and is a collaborative effort of various tribal unions and concerned NGOs/Organisations. The Hornbill Festival is a cultural festival to revive, protect and preserve the richness and uniqueness of the Naga heritage. For the visitors and tourists, this event is a means for closer understanding of the Naga people, their land and culture. You can see a mélange of Naga cultures on display in one place. If you are a tourist with keen interest in people, their customs, food habits, sports, dances and songs, you will be more than satisfied. This festival is a "must see . "

This festival is held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is about 12 km from Kohima and is permanently created for celebration of this festival. Here, typical Naga boys dormitories (morungs) of each tribe are constructed in their respective tribal architectural designs to simulate a real village scene.

Festival Highlights
Traditional Naga Morungs
Exhibition and sale of arts & Crafts
Food Stalls
Herbal Medicine Stalls
Flower shows and sales
Cultural Medley-songs and dances
Fashion shows
Beauty Contest
Traditional Archery
Naga wrestling
Indigenous Games
Musical Concert

DZÜKOU VALLEY

Untouched by civilization and resplendent in its beauty, this Valley otherwise called the valley of eternal charm has an irresistible appeal to all who behold it. Its emerald green rolling hills interspersed by gentle flowing streams are a trekker's delight. It is tucked away at an altitude of 2,438.4 metres behind the Japfu ranges. It is about 30 kms south of Kohima, one third of which has to be approcahed through rough trekking. The serpentine streams that flow leisurely through Dzükou freezes during extreme winter.

Spring is the time when there are different endemic species of rhododendrons of different colours in bloom. In summer, wild herbs and shrubs sprout along the stream banks. Lilies in white and pink, euphorbias, aconitums and hundreds of other species of flowers and plants in varied colours adorn the valley in monsoon. Though Dzükou is known for its bio-diversity, the pre-dominant plant is the tough bamboo brush because of which it looks like a fully mown lawn from afar. Rhododendrons of different colours ornament the hills surrounding the valley. This is the valley immortalized by Vikram Seth of Suitable Boy fame in his Beastly Tales from Here and There in the poem entitled "The Elephant and the Tragopan" where Dzükou has been described by a different name - Bingle Valley - for rhyming and from the conservationists point of view. This is one of the best trekking spots in the North-Eastern Region. Inspite of the difficult terrain and non-availability of facilities, this is one of the most frequented trekking spots in the entire North East India. A few tourist rest houses are constructed for trekkers.

DZÜLEKIE

If you are looking for an ideal getaway from the tensions and rat race of an urban existence, this is an ideal place for you. The lush evergreen sub-tropical forests are a feast for the eyes. Here, you can spot Mithuns (Bos Frontalis) grazing gently on the way side. This place is 40 km west of Kohima and is at 2,133.6 metres above sea level. Another interesting feature of Dzülekie stream is that it flows through a deep and narrow gorge making it look as if the stream has gone underground at places. A rare species of rainbow trout is found in this stream. A tourist rest house and some cottages have been constructed here.

JAPFÜ PEAK

This is the second highest peak in Nagaland and stands 3048 metres aabove sea-level. It is about 15 km south of Kohima. The best season for climbing this mountain is from November to March. The sunrise from the peak is an experience to remember. From the peak, one can have a bird's eye view of the surrounding hills, including parts of Dzükou Valley.In the Japfü ranges, one can find the tallest rhododendron tree which is featured in the Guiness Book of World Records. This tree, which was first discovered by two professional hunters of Phesama village is over 109 feet tall and the girth at the base measures more than 11 feet. When it is in bloom, it is indeed a visual delight. It is quite an adventure to see this tree as it entails more than five hours of strenuous trekking through steep inclines to have a view of this World Record holding Rhododendron arborea tree.

DIMORI COVE

China Town restaurant at Dimori Cove run by an entrepreneur is about 13 km from Kohima on NH 39 towards Imphal. They serve both Indian and Chinese dishes. Naga dishes are also served on advance order. It has a mini-swimming pool, a children's park and a collection of both local and exotic orchids, flowers and plants. A souvenir shop is also attached to the unit. Paying Guest accommodation is also available nearby on advance booking.

TUOPHEMA VILLAGE

This village which is 41 km from Kohima, is known for its model Village Development Board, for its effective execution of the village development programmes. This village has been chosen by the Tourism Department for promotion of common Angami Sekrenyi festival celebrated during February 25-27 every year. A Tourist Village here has been developed and maintained by the village community. In this Tourist Village, you will get all modern amenities in an ethnic setting. You will also have the experience of living in a village with the rural people. The village is open to tourist throughout the year.

NAGA WRESTLING

The Naga style of wrestling is popular among the Angami, Chakhesang and Zeliang Naga tribes. Traditionally, the toughest and the strongest were chosen by bouts of wrestling. It was also used for settling disputes as well. In such cases, the winner takes all. These days, under the aegis of Nagaland Wrestling Association (NWA) which is affiliated to the Wrestling Federation of India, it is being held every two years, in an organized competition from village to state level. December to March are the wrestling season. Whereas the village level tournaments are held in December, area, district and state levels are held in January, February and in the first half of March respectively.

Wrestling evinces a lot of spirited enthusiasm in the local populace and is held in a festive mood. This is a record crowd pulling sports event, and brings people together from far and near to witness it.

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