Nagaland

ORIGIN OF NAGAS

There are different legends regarding the origin of the Nagas. According to the Kheza-Kenoma legend believed by the Angamis, sema, Rengamas and the Lothas, the village had a large Stone Slab having magical properties. Paddy spread on it to be dried doubled in quantity by evening. The Three sons of the couple who owned the stone used it by the rotation. One day a quarrel broke out between the sons as to whose turn it was. Their parents, fearing blood-shed among the sons, as a result they set fire to the stone which was cracked. It is believed that the spirit in the stone went to heaven and the stone lost its miracles. The three sons left their parents and went in different directions and became the forefathers of the Angami, Sema, and the Lotha tribes. For a long period the Nagas were unknown to the outer world as well as among to themselves. It is during the 19th centuary when the Christian missionaries came to this land and thrown to them the ray of civilization.

There is no written history about their origin. Now a days they use the Roman scripts to write their dialects. Some writers believed that they had migrated from three directions - North East, North West and South East. Still major portion believe that they immigrated from South East through Burma. The Nagas are settled in Nagaland, four Districts in Manipur, one District in Assam and two Districts in Arunachal Pradesh. There are 13 main tribes in Nagaland, each of them are having their own cultural heritage.

KOHIMA

Kohima is derived from the word "Kew Hi Ma" which means the men of the land where the flower Kew Hi grows. Situated at an altitude of 1444 m above sea level, Kohima is the Capital of Nagaland. Like other Naga settlement Kohima shares the same feature standing on top of the surrounding mountains. In true sense, fusion of different culture with a blend of modernasim turns Kohima to a fast growing city.

Places of interests :

The Kohima War Cemetary : Constructed in the memory of the officers and soldiers who made supreme sacrifices during World War II, the war cemetery attracts hundreds of visitors every year including the relatives of those martyrs. Maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the cemetery witnessed more than 2000 graves, on each grave there are beautiful epitaphs carved in bronze.

Kohima village :Popularly known as Bara Basti (Big Village) the Kohima village is one of the largest village in Asia. Inhabited mainly by the Angami tribes it is divided into 'khels' or localities. A large traditional wooden gate welcomes you to the village which is elaborately carved with warriors and weapons and the skull of the mithun, a symbol of prosperity.

Khonoma Green Village : Located 21 kms away from Kohima town the Khonoma village is the first "green village" of Nagaland. The village is well known for the legendary leader Angami Zapu Phizo who was the founder of the Naga movement. It is in this place where the Naga warriors made their last endeavor against the British aggression in 1879. 'Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary' (KNCTS) was initiated to create the environmental awareness among the inhabitants and reserved about 70 sq km of its village forest. The village is also famous for the fallow management of its alder trees which balances nature in the surrounding areas.

Tuephema Tourist Village : Lying between Mokokchung and Kohima highway Tuephema is a unique village resort in the midst of blue hills. It is a good example of eco and rural tourism where one can experience modern and hygienic accommodations in the traditional huts in an ethnic setting. The local villagers show cases their culture through traditional dances and ethnic foods including rice beer.
» GLIMPS OF NORTH EAST INDIA

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» NAGALAND TRIBAL TOUR

Dibrugarh-Mon-Longwa-Tuensang-Mokokchung-Tuephema-Khonoma-Kohima-Dimapur.

» SEVEN SISTER TOUR

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» TREKKING TO DZUKOU VALLEY

Dimapur>Kohima>Viswema>Dzukou>Japfu Base>Japfu Peak>Kohima>Dimapur.

DZUKOU VALLEY :

Also known as “The Valley of Flower” the valley is situated at an altitude of 2138.4 meters behind the Japfu Ranges. The valley is the home of varieties of flowers including Lillies, Euphorbias, Rhododendrons etc. The serpentine stream shaped like the curves of Venus flows through Dzukou becomes frozen during winter. It offers one of the best trekking and bird watching trails in North-Eastern India. Despite of the hard terrain and bottleneck facilities, the valley is offering the most desired trekking experiences.

Activities :
Trekking to Dzukou Valley and Japfu Peak

» TREKKING TO DZUKOU VALLEY

Dimapur-Kohima-Viswema>Dzukou-Japfu Base-Japfu Peak-Kohima-Dimapur

MOKOKCHUNG

Situated at an altitude of 4347 feet, Mokokchung is the home of the Ao Naga tribe. According to the legends the Aos sprung up from “Longtrok” which means “six stones”. In the past, Mokokchung was one of the preliminary locations in the Naga Hills, where the British had established their presence in the late 19th century. Later on, arrival of Christian missionaries to Mokokchung had brought a different image in the field of education and today it is having the highest literacy in the state with an average literacy rate of 84 %.

Places of interests :

Longkhum village : Situated at an altitude of 1846 meters Longkhum village is a forefront village with a primitive history of headhunting. The Aos believe that Longkhum is the resting place of the dead spirit onward journey to the heaven. Few people of this village still believe in the animistic religion and still worship their god “Longlanpa Tsungrem”. The villagers are very friendly in nature and they feel proud to showcase their rich handicrafts and handlooms to the visitors.

Mopungchuket Village : 20 kilometers from Mokokchung, Mopungchuket is a modern village and the center of missionary activities. The village is famous for the two lovers Jina and Itiben. A library cum museum has been constructed and maintained by the village youth which is having a good collection of books regarding the history and the culture of the Nagas. Some efforts have been taken to construct the Morungs, (Bachelor’s dormitory) carve the Time Pillar and to preserve some artifacts in the village museum.

» GLIMPS OF NORTH EAST INDIA

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» NAGALAND TRIBAL TOUR

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DIMAPUR

The economy capital of Nagaland , Dimapur was once the capital of the Kachari kingdom. The name itself derived from the Kachari dialect; ‘di’ meaning river, ‘ma’ meaning great and ‘pur’ meaning city.The History of Dimapur dated back to the age of Mahabharata, where the second Pandava, Bheema while in exile, tied the weeding knot with the Kachari princess Hidimba. Thus the place became known as Hidimbapur. It was during the British that it had got the present name Dimapur. It is a cosmopolitan town comprising Nagas, Assamese, Bengalis, Biharis etc developing in the bank of Dhansiri river. Dimapur is having the only airport in Nagaland and is well connected with the rest of the country.

Places of interests :

Ruins of Kachari Kingdom : Dimapur was the ancient Capital of the Kachari dynasty whose rule existed before 13th century AD. The ruins of Kachari dynasty which scattered all over the town is an evidence of a flourishing civilization and had a touch of Hinduism but were predominantly non-Aryan.

Dimapur Market : One of the landmark of the town is the famous market near the railway station where one can buy the goods imported from Myanmar and China.

» NAGALAND TRIBAL TOUR

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» TREKKING TO DZUKOU VALLEY

Dimapur>Kohima>Viswema>Dzukou>Japfu Base>Japfu Peak>Kohima>Dimapur

MON

Situated at an altitude of 897.64 meters it is the land of the Konyaks (One of the fiercest tribes in the world). Even though there is a legal administrative system, but actually it is ruled by tribal chiefs called Anghs (locally known as ‘Wang’ meaning the beginning of everything). Mon is the only district in Nagaland to have this unique institution of Anghship. The word of his is law in these parts. His succession is hereditary in nature. The Konyaks believe that they were direct descendants of Noah, for they have Biblical names like Mosa, Kaisa, Aron and so on. The konyaks are famous for their tattooed faces , blackened teeth and barbaric practice of Headhunting.

Places of interests :

Longwa Regarded as one of the biggest villages in Mon the unique feature of Longwa is it shares the international boundary of Myanmar and India (Half of the chief Angh's house falls in the Indian side and the other half falls in Myanmar). The Angh takes his food in India and sleeps in Myanmar’s territory. Even though there is a village council to administers the village, the Angh’s word is conclusive.

Chui village : Located about 8 kms away from Mon town on the Tuensang – Mon road Chui village still preserves its old charm. One can see the Konyak traditional houses built with palm leaves roofing with protruding out the main pillars. Chui is also famous for ethnic craftsmanship. The skill of the villagers is not confined only on bamboo and woodworks but they are prowess in gun and gunpowder making.

Shanghnyu : Regarded as one of the most prestigious village in Mon district, Shangnyu shares the unique feature of Mon – The Anghship. The main attraction of the village is the piece of woodcarving placed at the entrance of the Angh’s residence. The woodcarving is 8 feet in height and 12 feet in breadth. People believe that it had been constructed by two brothers with the help of an angel.

» NAGALAND TRIBAL TOUR

Dibrugarh-Mon-Longwa-Tuensang-Mokokchung-Tuephema-Khonoma-Kohima-Dimapur

TUENSANG

Tuensang is inhabited by five major Naga tribes - Chang, Sangtam, Khiamniungan, Yimchunger, Phom and a part of Sumi. The district shares its border with Myanmar. It is the biggest district in Nagaland covering 25 % of the total area. Christianity is the main religion but they still believe the traditional practice of their old forgotten days.

Places of interests :
Changsangmoko and Chilise: According to the Naga legend, Changsangmoko is the place where the first living creature appeared on the earth. However Chilise is famous for another reason. It was this very place where the last head hunting took place in August 1978.

» NAGALAND TRIBAL TOUR

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