Things to Do in Nagaland and the Northeast: Experiences Worth Planning Around

The experiences most worth planning around in Nagaland are the Hornbill Festival at Kisama, the Kohima War Cemetery, the green village of Khonoma, the Dzükou Valley and, across the border in Assam, Kaziranga's one-horned rhinos. With a week, base yourself in Kohima, add a village night and finish in Kaziranga.

Nagaland is about people, culture and landscapes more than monuments. This guide groups 16 experiences by place and type and explains who each one suits, so you can build a balanced trip. Pair it with our 7-day Nagaland itinerary and cost guide.

At a glance

Kohima

1. Kohima War Cemetery. A memorial to the 1944 battle.

2. Nagaland State Museum. An introduction to the Naga tribes.

3. Kohima's market. Local produce and the fiery raja mircha.

4. Kigwema village. A traditional Angami village near Kohima.

Kisama and the festival

5. The Hornbill Festival. Dances, songs, crafts and food in early December.

6. The Naga Heritage Village. Morungs built by each tribe.

7. Night markets and concerts. Evenings in Kohima during the festival.

Villages and treks

8. Khonoma. A green village with terraced fields.

9. Dzükou Valley. A high valley of rolling hills and seasonal flowers.

10. Japfu Peak. A trek for fit walkers near Kohima.

11. Mon. The Konyak heartland in the north.

12. Mokokchung. The Ao Naga region.

Into Assam

13. Kaziranga. Jeep safaris for one-horned rhinos.

14. Majuli. A river island with Vaishnavite satras.

15. Tea estates. Bungalow stays in Assam's tea country.

16. Guwahati's Kamakhya Temple. A major temple on Nilachal Hill.

The Hornbill Festival in detail

Held at the Kisama Heritage Village, about 12 kilometres from Kohima, in the first days of December, the Hornbill Festival brings together Nagaland's tribes in traditional dress for dances, songs, games and rituals. Each tribe has a morung where visitors can see crafts and taste food. Evenings bring rock concerts and night markets in Kohima. Two festival days are enough for most visitors. Our Hornbill Festival trip arranges stays and transfers.

Khonoma in detail

Khonoma, an Angami village about 20 kilometres from Kohima, is known as India's first green village for its community conservation of forests and wildlife. Terraced paddy fields, stone gateways and morungs reflect a long history, including resistance to the British in the nineteenth century. A local guide and a homestay night give the best experience.

Dzükou Valley in detail

The Dzükou Valley, on the border of Nagaland and Manipur, is reached by a trek from Viswema or Zakhama. Its rolling green hills turn colourful with flowers in summer, and the Dzükou lily blooms around June and July. Simple rest-house beds are available, and a guide is recommended.

Kaziranga in detail

Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceros, along with elephants, wild buffalo, deer and many birds. Jeep safaris run in the Central, Western, Eastern and Burapahar ranges. The park usually closes in the monsoon.

Mon in detail

Mon is home to the Konyak Nagas, once known as headhunters, whose elders still wear facial tattoos. Villages such as Longwa straddle the India–Myanmar border. Mon is a long drive, best reached from Jorhat in Assam, and needs a local guide.

Dimapur

Dimapur, the gateway town, has the ruins of the medieval Kachari kingdom, with mushroom-shaped stone pillars, and a busy market. Most travellers pass through on the way to Kohima.

Adding Meghalaya

Meghalaya, with Shillong, Cherrapunji's living root bridges and the clear Umngot river at Dawki, pairs well with Nagaland and Assam via Guwahati. It adds several days and long drives, but makes a rich Northeast circuit.

Other Naga festivals

Each tribe has its own festivals, such as Sekrenyi of the Angamis in February, Moatsu of the Aos in May and Aoleang of the Konyaks in April. Visiting during one gives a more intimate experience than Hornbill, though it needs local contacts and flexible plans.

The Battle of Kohima

The Battle of Kohima in 1944, fought around the district commissioner's bungalow and tennis court, was a turning point in the Second World War in Asia. The war cemetery, beautifully kept, has the famous epitaph that begins "When you go home". A visit is moving and needs about an hour.

More of Kohima

Kohima, Nagaland's capital, sits on ridges at about 1,400 metres. Beyond the war cemetery and museum, the Catholic Cathedral, the Kohima village (Bara Basti) and the Kisama Heritage Village are worth seeing. The town is busy and hilly, so a local driver and early starts help. Evenings are cool for much of the year.

Understanding the Naga tribes

Nagaland has many major tribes, including the Angami, Ao, Konyak, Sema and Lotha, each with its own language, dress, festivals and traditions. Visiting villages with local guides, attending a festival and spending time in the State Museum help you understand this diversity. Respect for local customs, and asking before taking photographs, is essential.

Majuli and Assam

Majuli, a large river island in the Brahmaputra reached by ferry from near Jorhat, is the centre of Assamese Vaishnavism, with satras (monasteries) known for dance, music and mask-making. It pairs well with Kaziranga and Assam's tea estates for a longer Northeast trip.

Food experiences

Smoked pork with bamboo shoot, axone and raja mircha chutneys are signatures. Vegetarians can eat rice, boiled vegetables, dal and galho; Kohima has North Indian restaurants.

Crafts

Naga shawls, woven bags, bamboo crafts and jewellery are sold at Hornbill stalls and Kohima markets.

When to go

October to April is the dry season; early December brings Hornbill.

What you can safely skip

You do not need Mon on a short trip; it needs extra days.

Getting between experiences

Fly or take the train to Dimapur, then drive to Kohima with a local driver.

Free and low-cost experiences

Village walks, markets and the war cemetery cost little.

Etiquette

Ask before photographing people, especially elders. Many shops close on Sundays.

How to choose

Combine Kohima, Khonoma and Kisama, and add Kaziranga.

For families and parents

Children enjoy dances and safaris; parents may prefer heated hotels and daytime drives.

For couples

Couples often favour a Khonoma homestay and a tea-estate bungalow.

Practical tips

Carry cash, warm layers and a power bank. Read our planning guide.

A BagPackerMe planner can choose and plan these experiences privately, with one named planner, WhatsApp support throughout and vegetarian and Jain food planned in.

Your questions, answered

What is the one thing not to miss in Nagaland?

For most visitors, the Hornbill Festival in early December, when all of Nagaland's major tribes gather at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama.

Which experiences suit families?

Children usually enjoy the festival dances and games, Kohima's market and Kaziranga's jeep safaris. Parents may prefer shorter drives and heated hotels in winter.

Do I need a permit?

Indian visitors from outside Nagaland need an Inner Line Permit, applied for online on the official Nagaland ILP portal.

How many days do I need?

Four to five nights covers Kohima, Khonoma and Kisama. Seven nights adds Kaziranga.