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Kohima

Kohima

city · Nagaland

Kohima's war cemetery is the most affecting war memorial in India, and most people who come for the Hornbill Festival never walk up to it.

State
Nagaland
Type
City
Best season
Winter
Things to do
2+

Kohima's war cemetery is the most affecting war memorial in India, and most people who come for the Hornbill Festival never walk up to it. In 1944 the Japanese advance into India was stopped here, on a tennis court on the ridge above town. The court's markings are still laid out in stone among the graves. The inscription at the base — the one about telling those at home that we gave our today for their tomorrow — is worth the climb on its own. The Hornbill Festival runs the first ten days of December at Kisama, a purpose-built village of tribal morungs where all the Naga groups perform. It is worth seeing and it is also a festival built for visitors; if you want the everyday version of Naga life you will find more of it in the villages around Khonoma, an hour away, than at Kisama. Nagaland requires an Inner Line Permit for Indian nationals; foreign nationals need to register on arrival. Sort it in advance. October to May is dry. December means Hornbill, full hotels and prices to match — book months ahead or stay in Dimapur and travel up.

When to go

Best visited in spring (Mar-May) and autumn (Oct-Nov); summers can be hot and the monsoon wet.

Why visit

Host of the famous Hornbill Festival and a window into Naga tribal culture, plus moving WWII history.

Cultural notes

Kohima is the heart of Angami Naga country and the cultural capital of Nagaland's many tribes, celebrated each December at the Hornbill Festival.

How to reach

Nearest airport/rail: Dimapur (~75 km), then a hill road to Kohima. An Inner Line Permit is required for Nagaland.

2 days in Kohima

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Kohima War CemeteryDay 1

Day 1

Kohima War Cemetery

Some fourteen hundred graves on the slope where the Japanese advance into India was halted in 1944. The white lines of the tennis court the fighting is named for are still marked out on the terrace. The epitaph at the foot of the cross is what people come to read.

Day 1

State Museum

State Museum

Day 1

Local market

Local market

Day 1

Naga thali dinner

Naga thali dinner

Day 2

Day 2

Kisama Naga Heritage Village

Kisama Naga Heritage Village

Day 2

Khonoma green village

Khonoma green village

Day 2

Dzukou Valley trek base

Dzukou Valley trek base

Day 2

Hornbill Festival if in December

Hornbill Festival if in December

Food & cuisine

Signature dishes and local flavours to look for in Kohima.

5 dishes

Naga thali

Rice with boiled greens, meat and fiery chutney

Smoked pork with bamboo shoot

The best-known Naga dish

Axone (fermented soybean)

Pungent Naga staple cooked with pork

Raja Mircha (king chilli) dishes

One of the world hottest chillies

Kohima market food stalls

Local produce and hot snacks

Kohima guide & itineraries

Kohima is perfect for

cultureadventurenature

Nearby getaways

Kisama

~30 min

Frequently asked questions

When is the Hornbill Festival?
Every year in the first week of December, at Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima.
Do I need a permit for Nagaland?
Indian visitors no longer need an Inner Line Permit for Nagaland, but rules change - check current state guidance before travelling.

Things to do

How to spend your time in Kohima.

Hornbill Festival at Kisama

Nagaland grand tribal festival each December

Naga Heritage Village, Kisama

Morungs of all Naga tribes

Dzukou Valley trek

Valley of flowers of the Northeast

Hidden gems

Kohima local market & Khonoma

Bazaar and Asia first green village nearby

Reviews & ratings

What travellers say about Kohima

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