Best Places in Nagaland – A Tribute Straight from Heart

Oh Nagaland! You are a name etched to my memory. A place so close to my heart! My love for this wonderful state in North East India will remain till eternity. I share an ethereal connection with Nagaland through my memories of spending four years as a Lecturer in Nagaland University. The best places in Nagaland are found in the most remote corners.

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I long to go back to the remote villages. The desire to be whisked into the terrace rice fields is so strong. Wish I could wake up to the sounds of hidden streams and clouds floating over the forests. I remember all the beautiful conversations and heart-warming hospitality of the people I met. They indeed wear their heart on their sleeves.

I wonder, did I ever mention how grateful I am for all the experiences. After hopping from one city to another, never did I imagine finding solace in Dimapur. There was a peace in the solitude. On my last day, as I packed and cleaned my desk in the University, a melancholy feeling struck me deeply. I was carrying a cauldron full of memories, but it was not a goodbye yet. I romanticize my tryst with Nagaland as my forever journey.

Unfolding the Journey to Other side of the Table

Life, it slowly unwraps beautiful surprises. It was 2013 when I last attended University. Post that, started working in Gurgaon but never fancied the lackadaisical routine. The only way out was to escape the mundane and find a purpose. One thing led to other and fast forward 2016, I stood on the other side of the table with a job as lecturer in Nagaland University, Dimapur.

 I spent nearly 4 years in Nagaland – waking up early, preparing for classes, educating students, conducting tests and exams, and leading a slow life. My journey as a teacher gave me priceless memories. The greeting by students still echo in my ears. My life as a lecturer in Dimapur gave me time to reflect, introspect and enjoy the rhythm of solitude. With all the extra time, I started writing and blogging – it gave birth to my passion for travel and writing.

Read more about what to do in Dimapur in a Day

Staying with a Local Family in a Small Village in Phek

The terrace rice fields of Phek are phenomenal bounty of nature to witness. The fields loom out of darkness with the first rays of sun scattering a golden hue across its vast expanse. The cherry blossom blooms adorn the villages on the onset of winters. The hearty laughter of the people echoes from their kitchen at dusk. There is so much serenity and joy swelling these villages. Everyone I met walking around the village greeted me with a smile.

My stay in the remote village of Zapami in Phek leaves me with unforgettable happy memories. I stayed in the village for 3 days with a local family. The hospitality and kindness of the people still warms me up. I spent my days exploring the length and breathe of the terrace fields, hiking to nearby places, sipping on hot tea, eating farm fresh vegetables, and learning about Chakhesang Tribe of Nagaland. All family members gather in the kitchen, sit by the fireplace, cook together, share endless banter, and celebrate life each day.

Read my local experience in Zapami Village, Phek

Understanding Real Zeal of Conservation in Khonoma

Khonoma remains is undoubtedly my happy place. Someday, I plan to stay in Khonoma for a longer time. It is called as Green Village for its community driven conservation efforts. During my four days stay at Khonoma, I remember waking up with a view of the rainforests, hills, clouds slithering across the sky and sound of a stream hidden in the forest. The nature conservation initiatives revived the lost ecosystem in and around the village.

I visited Khonoma is the month of June. It was the season of paddy plantation. The village lay surrounded by a carpet of green. The paddy fields are dotted with small huts for cooking and relaxing. I feasted on a delicious lunch with my host family in middle of their paddy field, it remains my favorite memory. The friendly faces at Café Uke, history of the village, their fight against British and splendid abundance of nature, all of this makes the village a serene hamlet away from the chaos.

Know more about community conservation efforts in Khonoma

Soaking in the Solitude without Technology in Dzuleke

Let me tell you a story about a village with only 32 houses, isolated from modern technology yet enthusiastic about eco-tourism. Dzuleke will give you hard time finding even a single line of phone signal, forget about internet connection. The village is an ideal place to disconnect, introspect and be endlessly charmed by the surrounding nature. I long for the solitude where the breeze gently whispers lullaby, such is the vibe of the village.

The open space outside all the houses are adorned with tubs of colorful flower blooms. In a land, faraway from noise and chaos of the city, peace is the only thing that prevails. I stayed in one of the homestays hosted by two wonderful sisters. We communicated with each other in broken expressions yet formed a bond so beautiful. Dzuleke is a perfect place to unwind the stress, read some books, stay away from technology, and embrace the benevolence of nature in abundance.

Read Eco-tourism initiatives at Dzuleke

Walking on Foot within the Town of Kohima

I spent a few days in Kohima walking the length and breadth of the town. With my accommodation seated right opposite to the Kohima War Cemetery, the view from the balcony was a spectacular treat. Kohima has quite an eccentric vibe with a chic culture. The streets are lined with quaint cafes, markets filled with bizarre edibles and the weather is a huge uncertainty.

While walking around Kohima, I always carried an umbrella to shield from unpredicted rain. The cosmopolitan cafes greeted with soothing music. The hilltops are packed with colorful houses. The forest ridges border the town. The small alleys and stairways take you to hidden beautiful corner. I sat on the soft grass of Kohima War Cemetery overlooking the town for hours. I visited most of the cafes in Kohima to treat my taste bud.

Read the complete comprehensive travel guide to Kohima

Meeting the Surviving Headhunters of Konyak Tribe

I had this insatiable urge to visit remote corners of Nagaland to know more about the head-hunters. The innumerable tattooed face pictures and stories of the head-hunting gory era instilled an interest so strong. In 2019, after braving the rickety ride on rough terrains, I found myself in Longwa in company of a few friends. All the villages in and around Mon District have history of head hunting but Longwa remains most accessible with homestay facility.

In Hongphoi Village, I saw a man walking into the village from his fields with a bamboo basket on his back. He had tattoos on his face, a four headed brass beaded necklace hung around his neck and wore traditional accessories. He greeted us with a smile and invited us to his home. We sat around him in company of four other village elders – last surviving headhunters, listened to their stories in awe. Before leaving, we were treated with sugar sprinkled pineapple from their farms.

Longwa Village charmed us with its breathtaking mountain surrounded vistas. The evenings are melodious with villagers singing gospels and songs while flickering their torch lights on their way back home. The wood carved statues mark the excellence of craftsmanship of the locals. The souvenirs – local made wooden statues, beaded necklaces, brass heads are some of my best purchases so far.

Read my complete narrative on Headhunters of Konyak Tribe

Impromptu Visit to Pfutsero – Coldest Place in Nagaland

I was not aware of Pfutsero until I visited Zapami Village in Phek. As I leisured around the paddy fields, my local host mentioned about Pfutsero – the coldest habitable place in Nagaland. We woke up at 4.30 am next morning and seated ourselves in a shared taxi from the village that leaves for the town at 5 am. The cherry blossom trees beautifully colored the town in shades of pink. We hiked to Glory Peak to witness the panoramic view of the town.

The streams and brooks freeze during winters, dry chilled air engulfs the place with pinching cold weather. The phenomenal nature surrounds every inch of the town in purple, orange, and white blooms. On our way back, we stopped on a small roadside stall to sip some hot tea. As I peeked out of the small window while sipping tea, the outside world looked like a dream – mountains, rain forest, narrow waterfalls, paddy fields and the gentle breeze.

Feeling at Home at a Homestay in Kigwema

The most beautiful things come unexpected in life. I hurriedly occupied the window seat in a packed Sumo from Kohima to be dropped at Kigwema. The roads were flanked by gorgeous terrace paddy fields on both sides. With my backpack firmly strapped and laptop bag hung over my chest, I walked into a narrow lane looking for a homestay. I invited quite some attention, finally a kind lady guiding me to a homestay at the end of the lane. Kigwema is one of the best places in Nagaland.

I sat there waiting for the owner to return. The verandah was beautifully decorated with flower tubs lined adjacent to each other. After 15 minutes, Savino (homestay owner) gave me a friendly wave from far and greeted me with the warmest smile. Her homestay is a paradise for nature lovers. We sat by her cozy fireplace and had long conversations over multiple cups of tea and coffee. The backyard of her home reminded me of the terrace fields in Bali. She treated me like a sister during my stay at her place.

Giggling and Exploring with Local Kids in Longkhum

Longkhum is a remote village located in Mokokchung district. My father lives in Mokokchung and this made it easy for me to explore some of the village in and around Mokokchung. I have been to Chuchuyimlang to meet Padmashree Natwar Thakur, ancient village of Ungma and picturesque Longkhum Village.

Not only I loved the serenity of Longkhum but made friends with little munchkins. As our car screeched to a halt, we spotted few kids playing nearby. They were shy initially but slowly we did break the ice and became friends. These little guides took us on a village tour, showed us hidden caves, narrated history of the village, ancient traditions and customs and posed beautifully for some lovely pictures. Honestly, I left a piece of my heart in the stories of Longkhum.

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No matter, how long a narrative I write about Nagaland, nothing is ever enough to justify the overwhelming emotions. Time and again, I go back to staring at pictures from Nagaland and get lost in the memories. Someday, very soon, I shall return to explore this gorgeous state which is so dear to me. My bucket list includes trekking to Mount Saramati -highest peak in Nagaland, fishing in Wokha, experiencing the apple season in Kiphire and so many more. The best places in Nagaland are still hidden.