Kohima Travel Guide

Kohima is a state capital of Nagaland. Kohima is located 4,904ft above sea level, 390Km south east of Guwahati.

Drive up another mountain to look at the city below. The night has gone mad with stars and in front of us; spread over several hills is kohima. It’s beautiful. But it’s beautiful only at nights and early mornings. During the day traffice and smog eclipse the high surrounding mountains and it becomes a duty to look up at them while navigating a holiday here. Then it’s the capital of a state whose main economy is central funds and whose people have only tow career choices government and anti government.

The British set up Kohima town, but all the colonial structures were destroyed during the second wold war. It is here that the Japenese invesion of India was stopped. So the modern city has little to offer. The tazis here can make the holiday quite expensive. The least they take is Rs 50 and even a few kilometers can cost upto Rs 200, since driver’s gang up. The minibuses are cheaper of course and somehow a lot more fun. For a trip 20km outside town and back a taxi should not cost more that Rs 500, but it will be very difficult to get that price. State Transport buses are also an option but always check the time of the last return. Getting around in Nagaland is generally safe for tourists but avoid going into the less frequented areas.

The War Cemetery is maintained by the commonwealth war graves commission that takes care of 2,500 cemeteries all over the world to commemorate those who died in the tow world wars. Sit Edwin Lutyense who designed New Delhi, was one of the principal architects involved in establishing it’s desing. The idea was to create an effect of serene garden where visitors can feel a sense of peace.

The Red roofed Catholic Cathedral on Aradurah Hill is the most prominent landmark in Kohima. It is an interesting geometrical bulding and is supposed to be the largest to be the largest cathedral in the northeast. What most fun is through is taking a walk in the super market. It’s a narrow, climbing alley lined with hshops that ends up in the huge kohima local ground, where traditional wrestling competitions are held. You can pick up peckets of dried wild apples and gooseberries from here. The state museum was under renovation.

Twenty kilometers away is Khonoma, a village of the Angamis warrior tribe who put up a stiff resistance to British forces in the 19th century. There is a memorial to that and a pretty looking church to see. Go as early as possible or people will have already left for the fields. Dzouko Valley 25Km away is probably the most satisfying trek in these parts. Roughly half of that distance has to be negotiated on foot. What lies at the end is a valley full of lilies and rhododendrons. And wherever you to in Nagaland look out for birds. You will see none not even crows. It is considered cool for a naga male to bring them down whith a single stone or a shot so they all prectise a lot. The result is a sky like Singapores emptied of all birds.

Around Kohima

Tuopheme 41Km

Tuopheme is an eco-tourist village about 2 hours from Kohima. Tuopheme is quite big, spend a couple of days in the tourist village that has been constructed there. This is a complex of pretty cottages right on top of the hill. Don’t go without advance bookings as the caretaker has to be told to be around the roads are bad.

Mokokchung 154Km

Mokokchung is a pretty town with none of the big city drawbacks of Kohima. The Ao Nagas once known for the practice of headhunting belong to these parts. The villages of Ungma and Longkhum are close by and are interesting excursions.

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