If you haven't made a trip to the northeast yet, now would be a good time to start planning one. The annual Hornbill Festival will take place in Nagaland at the beginning of next month, bringing with it a host of events. From folk dances to wrestling competitions, from cooking contests to one that involves chomping down on hot Naga chillies, there is plenty to keep you fascinated. To help plan your trip, we got two experts to tell you how you can explore Nagaland beyond the festival.
On December 1 to 10
At Kisama village, Hornbill–Kisama Road, Nagaland.
Meet the Konyak tribesmen
The Konyak tribe (in pic, above and right) of Nagaland was known for its vicious headhunting practice for centuries, right until the 1970s. In fact, back in the day, they would hang the heads of their enemies on the walls of their morung (communal houses). "Today, instead of human heads, you will be greeted by the skulls of animals they've hunted.
Despite the reputation they've earned, they're lovely people. At the Hornbill Festival, they reenact scenes from their headhunting days," says Amit Rane, director of DCP Expeditions, which is conducting a trip-cum-photography workshop to the festival.
Amit Rane
Visit a heritage village
The members of the Angami Naga tribe of Khonoma village, located around 20 km from Kohima, gave up hunting several years ago to help wildlife conservation efforts in the region. "In 1998, the village council declared 20 sq km as the Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary. In Khonoma, you can meet local craftsmen and check out 200-year-old rifles used in battle," says Rane.
Call 61818464 (DCPâÂÂExpeditions)
Take a peek into the lives of Naga tribes. pics courtesy/Amit Rane
Head to a war cemetery
The Kohima war cemetery sits at the very same spot where the Battle of Kohima took place in April 1944.
"The memorial is dedicated to soldiers of the 2nd British Division of the Allied Forces who lost their lives here fighting Japanese forces," says Kankanmoni Deka of Guwahati-based Golden Woods Travels, which organises trips to Nagaland. He adds that history buffs could also pay a visit to the war museum, which houses informative exhibits and World War II artefacts.
Kankanmoni Deka
Trek through a valley
Dzukou Valley, situated at the border of Nagaland and Manipur, is a beautiful piece of paradise for trekkers, flush with rolling carpets of green and meandering rivers. "The trek is an easy one, and along the way, you will pass by little villages. The villagers are incredibly warm, and are happy to meet visitors. You can even sit down for a meal with them," says Deka. Make it a three-day trek and stay overnight in a dormitory.
Call 8134025468
(Golden Woods Travels)
