Ultimate Travel Guide To Nagaland

Nagaland is a place that offers huge scope for exploring heritage villages and wildlife sanctuaries. It has a sub-alpine climate, lush green surroundings and abundant flora and fauna. The fresh air amidst the natural environment is a perfect way to relax, away from the polluted city and your busy life schedule. Read on to know more details about the tourist spot.

People and culture

Nagaland has various tribal groups, and they celebrate their seasonal festivals with great pomp and show with colours and music. The place has a rich linguistic tradition, and the number of languages equals the number of tribes with mutually unintelligible dialects. This makes inter-tribal and intra-tribal communication difficult. Hence, English has become its state language, and Nagamese is a type of pidgin Assamese that has become a common lingua.

Every tribe has its festivals, which they consider sacrosanct and mandatorily participate in. The festivals are often associated with agriculture since it is the main source of livelihood for 85% of people in Nagaland.

Languages in Nagaland

As per the 2011 census, there are multiple languages spoken in Nagaland. Some of them are Chang, Khiamniungan, Rengma, Phom, Nepali, Kheza, Pochury, Kuki, Bengali, Zeme, Yimchungre, Chakhesang, Assamese, Bodo, Sema, Konyak, Ao, Lotha, Angami, Chakru, and Sangtam.

Ao is the Nagaland language in which there are written scripts.

Best Time to Visit Nagaland

The Winter season is the best time to visit Nagaland. Between October and February, it has a pleasant temperature of 4°C – 24°C. Other months have higher temperatures of 16°C – 31°C between March and April and 21°C – 40°C between May and September.

How to Reach Nagaland?

To reach Nagaland, you must take a direct flight to Dimapur or take a train to Guwahati and then catch an overnight bus.

Nagaland Coordinates on the Map

26.1584° N and 94.5624° E are the coordinates of Nagaland on the map.

Top 5 Places to Visit in Nagaland

1. Dimapur

It is the gateway to Nagaland and one of the largest cities that has been modernised over time. Dimapur means ‘city near a great river’, and the Dhansiri River is on its side. The city is the Kanchari tribe’s capital.

You can find temples, monuments, Kachari ruins, Zoological Park, Nagaland Science Centre, Green Park, Ao Baptist Church, and Diezephe Craft Village. Handicrafts and handlooms from the primary highlights of the place.

2. Kohima

It is Nagaland’s capital and offers many things for the visitor, such as shopping around, exploring the local attractions and historical places, and participating in colourful local festivals.

Visiting the place during the Hornbill festival can be a fantastic experience since 16 Naga tribes showcase their culture during this time at Kisama village. If you have time, visit the Dzukou Valley, 74 km from Kohima. The places of tourist attractions remain closed on Sundays, so don’t plan visits on this day.

3. Wokha

This is an ecstatic place that offers a wild and rustic experience. It is a home for the Lothas, the largest tribe in Nagaland. Trekking enthusiasts can enjoy trekking at Mount Tiyi and Totsu Cliff.

You can find an adorable carpet of flowers and orchards around. While at this place, explore the Doyang Hydro Project, Water Pool, Liphanyan Governor’s camp, and Vankhosung.

4. Mokokchung

This is an exotic hill station, filled with peace and serenity of the divine sanction. Suppose you want to be close to nature. In that case, this is the best travel destination for you in Nagaland to create a memorable experience for your lifetime. Baptist Mother Church, Dikhu river, Langpangkong caves, Mokokchung Museum, and Longkhum village are some best places to explore.

5. Tuensang

It is a district in Nagaland’s eastern part, resting on the Indo-Myanmar international border. 5 other districts surround it: Mon, Longleng, Zunheboto, Mokokchung, and Kiphire.

The place has a rich cultural heritage, and the traditional attire of people is quite colourful. You can enjoy the rhythmic and soulful dances and songs here.

Top 5 Things to Do in Nagaland

1. Enjoy fairs and festivals

Nagaland is known as the Land of Festivals, and these are associated with forests, villages, soil fertility, community bonding, rejuvenation and purification.

Witnessing the festivals helps in differentiating between the numerous tribes. Hornbill is the most important festival for all the tribes.

There are pre-harvest, post-harvest and sowing celebrations such as Mimkut and Bushu. Yemshe and Tsukhenye. The Rengma tribe also celebrates thanksgiving. There is a purification festival of Sekrenyi popular among the Angami tribe. All celebrations are often marked by folk dance and music with the preparation of various food.

2. Pilgrimage

Many churches and temples related to Jainism and Hinduism in Nagaland offer an excellent scope of pilgrimage. You can find impressive structures in the temples, having intricate glasswork. Besides the churches like the Cathedral of Kohima, and Mary Help of Christians Cathedral, you can visit the Molungyimsen Christian heritage village and Molungkimong Baptist church for a divine experience.

3. Explore wildlife

Nagaland has limited wildlife reserves but unique fauna that can’t be easily found anywhere else in India. It has 350 species of wild orchids growing throughout the year. Ntangki National Park is the most prominent wildlife reserve home to species such as Python, Flying Squirrel, Hoolock Gibbon, Palm Civets, Sloth Bear, Wild Dogs, Golden Langur, Tiger, and Monitor Lizard.

Pulie Badze Wildlife Sanctuary is perfect for bird-watching tours. Rare and endangered bird species of Blyth’s Tragopan can be found in the Dzukou Valley and Japfu Peak of Nagaland.

Top 5 Places to Stay in Nagaland

1. Europa Inn

This hotel offers luxury stays for the tourists with its well-furnished rooms with all amenities. It is just a 20-minute drive away from Dimapur airport, and the railway station is a walking distance away.

2. Hotel Lake Shilloi

It is 2km from the bust stand in Dimapur and 10 km from Dimapur airport. Rooms have all basic amenities, and you can choose deluxe, luxury, executive or corporate rooms. It has a rooftop lounge too.

3. Niathu resort

Here you can experience professional services in clean surroundings. It is in Dimapur’s Chumukedima district, with the market nearby it. The friendly hospitality toward the customer’s needs, coming from various cultures and countries, makes it a perfect vacation place.

4. Hotel Seb tower

It is in the heart of Dimapur and is a great place to relax and rejuvenate. The airport is just 5 km from the hotel, and rooms are well furnished with all the amenities to make the visitors comfortable.

5. Hotel Acacia

This hotel offers unmatched hospitality to the visitors and is just 7km from the airport. The rooms have A/Cs and other basic amenities. You can enjoy delicious food in its restaurant.

Conclusion

Nagaland is one of the famous tourist places in India that has rich green vegetation around with places of scenic beauty and wildlife that can be seen here only. The diverse tribal culture can be well understood by witnessing the local festivals at the tourist sites. Learning the facts about the place is always recommended, so you can thoroughly blend in easily on reaching there. Thus, you can plan your trip with Cleartrip based on the number of days you wish to spend at the various tourist sites here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to travel to Nagaland?

Yes, just like any other famous tourist places in India, Nagaland is a safe place to explore. Local insurgency groups are inactive at the moment, making it safe for visitors.

What is special about Nagaland?

Nagaland tourist spot is a mountainous terrain in the northeastern part of India that houses various indigenous tribes, having festivals and markets showing the tribal culture.

Is Nagaland worth visiting?

Yes, Nagaland is a unique tourist point for adventure seekers. You can do mountain biking and trekking. Besides this, it has colourful festivals to watch, such as Hornbill and Aoling festival. If you are a history lover, there are war cemeteries, ruins, and museums to explore.

Do I need a permit to visit Nagaland?

Domestic visitors need an ILP or Inner Line Permit to enter Nagaland and visit the tourist sites there. The form can easily be downloaded from the Nagaland Portal to apply for the ILP.

What should I buy during the Nagaland trip?

Nagaland has a variety of traditional products, and the most famous items include cane carpets, Naga shawls, bamboo mugs, and Naga silk Mekhela. You can purchase any popular items while visiting the tourist attractions at the place.

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