WELCOME TO NAGALAND Nagaland, the land of the hospitable and warm Nagas, lies in the corner of Indias North-East-bordering

Myanmar. It has always evoked a sense of awe and wonder in the minds of people including the visitors. Although most of the Nagas have now become Christians, they still preserve the remnants of their early animist culture and ancient traditions. Historically, the Nagas have always been brave warriors. They consider the safety and security of their guests as an honour and prestige and will never allow any harm to be done to any of their guests/visitors. Topographically, Nagaland is mostly a hilly region with a pleasant and salubrious climate throughout the year, except for a small region in the foothills. Nagas are by race of the Mongoloid stock and speak Tibeto-Burman group of languages. But English and Hindi are widely spoken and language is no problem in Nagaland. Colourful life and culture are an integral part of the 16 officially recognized Naga tribes of Nagaland. These 16 tribes are different and unique in their customs and traditions. These customs and traditions are further translated into festivals which revolve around their agricultural cycle. Songs and dances form the soul of these festivals through which their oral history has been passed down the generations. Nature has been kind to the Nagas and their land. Though by virtue of her natural beauty, the whole of Nagaland is a tourist hotspot, yet certain exceptionally charming places have been identified and developed by the Government to promote tourism in the state, some of which are highlighted in the website. This focused approach helps in providing easy access to travelers of all categories-tourists, researchers, backpackers, ecologists etc. Since this little explored state is still developing and many more places remain unmarked-making them even more exclusive and fascinating to explore

AIR DIMAPUR has the only Airport in Nagaland at the moment. Direct flights connect the airport to Guwahati and Kolkota and connections can be made from all other airports in India RAIL Dimapur has a railway station on the main line of the North east Frontier Railway. It is well connected to Guwahati, with a number of trains that shuttle between the two stations every day. Guwahati, on the other hand, has direct train lines with most major Indian cities. ROAD A number of taxis ply from Dimapur to Kohima. Night buses connect Dimapur and Kohima to Guwahati and Shillong (Meghalaya). A very convenient way for reaching Kohima is to take the train or flight to Dimapur and then rent a taxi to Kohima. The Dimapur taxi stand is adjacent to the Railway Station. Yellow taxis can be hired with other passengers (shared taxi) or exclusive (full taxi). A full taxi could cost anything between USD $14 to USD $18 for a one way trip to Kohima. A traveler can also opt to rent a car from Guwahati (through tour operators) and drive all the way to Kohima. This is a very pleasant drive, lasting about 6-7 hours and taking the tourist past beautiful stretches of forests, greenery and hills; but one should try to start and end the journey before nightfall. MOKOKCHUNG : Mokokchung is 162 km from Kohima, via Wokha district, 70 km from Zunheboto District, 115 km from Tuensang, 102 km from Amguri (Assam) and 103 km from mariani (Assam). Bus and taxi services are available from all these access points. Nagaland State Transport Services buses e available from every station and village in the district and these ply regularly within the town. LONGLENG : From Kohima, Longleng is 230 km Via Mokokchung and Wokha district and 340 km via Dimapur. It is a new district carved out in early 2004. Longleng is ideal for those adventurers who are into off-road driving; the 34 km stretch from national highway 61 at Changtongya to Longleng is a good experience of rural driving, with the villages, people and

markets located alongside it. MON : Mon is 357 km from Kohima (via Dimapur), 280 km from Dimapur and 275 km from Kohima via Mokokchung, Tamlu and Wakching. Buses and taxis can be used from Kohima to Dimapur to access the district. PEREN : Peren is only 84 km from Dimapur. Taxis and buses are available in plenty to access the district. PHEK : Phek is 145 km from Kohima and it can be accessed through buses or taxis from Dimapur as well. TUENSANG : Tuensang is 269 km from Kohima via Wokha and Mokokchung and 235 km via Zunheboto. They are all connected by State highways and Nagaland State Transport buses play on this route regularly. KIPHIRE : Kiphire is 254 km from Kohima. WOKHA : Wokha is 80 km from Kohima and Mokokchung. The traveler can stay in Kohima and visit Wokha. ZUNHEBOTO : Zunheboto is 150 km from Kohima and 70 km from Mokokchung.

The State of Nagaland was formally inaugurated on December 1st, 1963, as the 16th State of the Indian Union. It is bounded by Assam in the West, Myanmar (Burma) on the east, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam on the North and Manipur in the South. The State consists of Eleven Administrative Districts, inhabited by 16 major tribes along with other subtribes. Each tribe is distinct in character from the other in terms of customs, language and dress. It is a land of folklore passed down the generations through word of mouth. Here, music is an integral part of life; folk songs eulogizing ancestors, the brave deeds of warriors and traditional heroes; poetic love songs immortalizing ancient tragic love stories; Gospel songs that touch your soul (should you have a religious bend of mind) or the modern tunes rendered exquisitely to set your feet a-tapping. Each of the 16 odd tribes and sub-tribes that dwell in this exotic hill State can easily be distinguished by the colourful and intricately designed costumes, jewellery and beads that they adorn. The present generation of Nagas have ventured into fashion designing in a big way, reproducing fabrics that represent the ancestral motifs blended with modern appeal. Indeed, it is a beautiful mix of the past with the present a paradise for those who are into fashion designing. This is an affluent fashion station of the East. The traditional ceremonial attire of each tribe is in itself, an awe inspiring sight to behold; the multicoloured spears and daos decorated with dyed goats hair, the headgear made of finely woven bamboo interlaced with orchid stems, adorned with boar's teeth and hornbill's feathers, elephant tusk armlets.. You name it! In days of yore every warrior had to earn each of these items through acts of valour, to wear them. Nature could not have been kinder to Nagaland, sometimes referred to as the Switzerland of the East; the exquisitely picturesque landscapes, the vibrantly colourful sunrise and sunset, lush and verdant flora.. this is a land that represents unimaginable beauty, moulded perfectly for a breath taking experience. Nagaland is blessed with salubrious climate throughout the year and one can visit it anytime. If one is looking for a quiet getaway, from the hustle and bustle of city life, it provides the right ambience; as life here is laidback and slow - providing a tension free life. For the adventurous and the intrepid, Nagaland is an ideal place for trekking, rock climbing,

jungle camping and offers limitless exploration possibilities in its lush and verdant subtropical rain forests which are also a treasure trove of a plethora of medicinal plants. Nagas, by nature, are lovers of fun and frolic and here life is one long festival. The Nagas with their joie de vivre, dance and songs are a part and parcel of all their festivities. Most of their dances are performed with a robust rhythm.

Nagaland Situated at the easternmost part of the country is replete with festivities all through the year as all the tribes have their own festivals which they hold so dear. They regard their festivals sacrosanct and participation in celebration is compulsory. They celebrate their distinct seasonal festivals with a pageantry of colour and a feast of music. Most of these festivals revolve around agriculture, it being the main-stay of Naga society. Over 85% population of Nagaland is directly dependent on agriculture and lives in a thousand and odd villages situated on high hill tops or slopes overlooking verdant valleys humming with murmuring streams. In this blissful setting Nagas enjoy the blessing of Nature with a rare gusto striking the onlookers with awe and admiration. In most of the places agriculture consists of monocrop. Although some religious and spiritual sentiments are interwoven into secular rites and rituals, the pre-dominant theme of the festivals is offering of prayers to a supreme being having different names in different Naga dialects. At these festivals, the spirits of Gods are propitiated with sacrifices by the village Shaman for a bountiful harvest either before the sowing or on the eve of the sowing. Each tribe, even today, celebrates its tribal festivals with gay abandon to keep a date with their traditions. A brief info on the festivals of each tribe has been provided by the department for the visitors. Best Time to Visit Nagaland The best time to visit Nagaland is between October and May when it doesnt rain. Nagaland gets torrential rain between June and September when communications can be severely disrupted. Climate Nagaland is one of the 13 `Hot Spots of the world that have both sub-tropical and sub-alpine climate. The states average rainfall is between 180 cm and 250 cm. In summer the maximum temperature is 31 Celsius and the minimum temperature is 16 Celsius. The maximum temperature in winter is 24 Celsius and minimum temperature falls to 4 Celsius.

Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north,Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur. The State of Nagaland has an area of 16,579 km with a population of 1,980,602 as per the 2011 census making it one of the smallest states of India. The State is mostly mountainous except those areas bordering Assam valley. Mount Saramati is the highest peak in Nagaland with a height of 3,840 metres and its range forms a natural barrier between Nagaland and Burma. It lies between the parallels of 98 degree and 96 degree East Longitude and 26.6 degree and 27.4 degree latitude North of the Equator. Nagaland, the 16th State of the Indian Union, was established on 1 December 1963. It is divided into eleven districts: Kohima, Phek, Mokokchung,Wokha, Zunheboto, Tuensang, Mon, Dimapur, Kiphire, Longleng and Peren. It is a largely mountainous state. Agriculture is the most important economic activity in Nagaland. Principal crops include rice, corn, millets, pulses, tobacco, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes and fibres. Other economy boosters are forestry, cottage industries, insurance, real estate and tourism.
2

History The early history of the Nagas is the story of the customs and economic activities of the Naga tribes. The people were originally referred to as Naka in Burmese languages, which means 'people with pierced ears'
[citation needed]

. It is

also said that the word "Naga" was given by the British which actually means "Naked" (in Hindi "nanga" means naked). The British broadly classified the tribes of Manipur into "Nagas" and "Kukis". The Naga tribes had socioeconomic and political links with tribes in Assam and Burma (Myanmar); even today a large population of Naga inhabits Assam. Following an invasion in 1816, the area, along with Assam, came under direct rule of Burma. This period was noted for oppressive rule and turmoil in Assam and Naga Hills. When the British East India Company took control of Assam in 1826, Britain steadily expanded its domain over modern Naga Hills. By 1892, all of the Naga Hills except the Tuensang area in the northeast was governed by the British. It was politically amalgamated into Assam. Missionaries played an important part in converting Nagaland's Naga tribes to Christianity.
[1]

Not much is known about the history before the Burmese invasion or before the Naga people were converted to Christianity. [edit]Geography and climate Nagaland is largely a mountainous state. The Naga Hills rise from the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam to about 2,000 feet (610 m) and rise further to the southeast, as high as 6,000 feet (1,800 m). Mount Saramati at an elevation of 12,552 feet (3,826 m) is the state's highest peak; this is where the Naga Hills merge with the Patkai Range in Burma. Rivers such as the Doyang and Diphu to the north, the Barak river in the southwest and the Chindwin river of Burma in the southeast, dissect the entire state. Nagaland is rich in flora and fauna. About one-sixth of Nagaland is under the cover of tropical and sub-tropical evergreen forestsincluding palms, bamboo, and rattan as well as timber and mahoganyforests. While some forest areas have been cleared for jhum (cultivation), many scrub forests, high grass, reeds, and secondary dogs, pangolins, porcupines, elephants, leopards, bears, many species of monkeys, sambar, harts, oxen, and buffaloes thrive across the state's forests. The Great Indian Hornbill is one of the most famous birds found in the state. Nagaland has a largely monsoon climate with high humidity levels. Annual rainfall averages around 70100 inches (1,8002,500 mm), concentrated in the months of May to September. Temperatures range from 70 F (21 C) to 104 F (40 C). In winter, temperatures do not generally drop below 39 F (4 C), but frost is common at high elevations. [edit]Culture and religion The 14 tribes of Nagaland are Angami Naga, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Yimchung r, and Zeliang, of which the Konyaks, Angamis, Aos, Lothas, and Sumis are the largest Naga tribes. Tribe and clan traditions and loyalties play an important part in the life of Nagas. Weaving is a traditional art handed down through generations in Nagaland. Each of the tribe has its own unique designs and colours, producing shawls, shoulder bags, decorative spears, table mats, wood carvings, and bamboo works. Naga Tribal dances of the Nagas give an insight into the inborn Naga reticence of the Naga people. War dances and other dances belonging to distinctive Naga tribes are a major art form in Nagaland. Some of these are Moatsu, Sekrenyi, Tuluni, Tokhu Emong,and Gan-ngai. Christianity is the predominant religion of Nagaland. The state's population is 1.988 million, out of which 90.02% are Christians.
[3]

The census of 2001 recorded the state's Christian population at 1,790,349, making it,

with Meghalaya and Mizoram, one of the three Christian-majority states in India and the only state where Christians form 90% of the population. The state has a very high church attendance rate in both urban and rural areas. Huge churches dominate the skylines of Kohima, Dimapur, and Mokokchung. Nagaland is known as "the only predominantly Baptist state in the world."
[4]

Among Christians, Baptists are the

predominant group, constituting more than 75% of the state's population, thus making it more Baptist (on a percentage basis) than Mississippi in the southern United States, where 52% of its population is Baptist.
[citation needed]

Roman Catholics, Revivalists, and Pentecostals are the other Christian denomination numbers. Catholics are found in significant numbers in parts of Wokha district as also in the urban areas of Kohima and Dimapur. Hinduism and Islam are minority religions in the state, at 7.7% and 1.8% of the population respectively.
[3]

A small

minority, less than 0.3%, still practice the traditional religions, and are mainly concentrated in Peren and the eastern districts. Languages Every tribe of Nagaland have their own unique language. Nagas speak 60 different dialects belonging to the SinoTibetan family of languages. The traditional languages do not have any script of their own. The Christian missionaries used Roman script for these languages. In 1967, the Nagaland Assembly proclaimed English as the official language of Nagaland and is the medium for education in Nagaland. Nagamese, a creole language form of Indo-Aryan Assamese and local dialects is the most widely spoken market language. Every tribe has its own mother tongue but communicates with other tribes inNagamese. As such Nagamese is not a mother tongue of any of the tribes; nor is it written.

Transportation The railway network in the state is minimal. Broad gauge lines run 7.98 miles (12.84 km), National Highway roads 227.0 miles (365.3 km), and state roads 680.1 miles (1,094.5 km). There is one airport in Dimapur and another is being planned for Kohima, the state capital. [edit]Railways Railway: North East Frontier Railway

Broad gauge: 7.98 miles (12.84 km) Total: 7.98 miles (12.84 km)

[Data Source: N. F. Railway, CME Office, Guwahati-781011] [edit]Highways and towns served Airways

Dimapur: 43.5 miles (70.0 km) from the capital [edit]

PLACE OF INtEREST: KOHIMA:

Situated at an altitude of 1495 m above sea level is the capital of Nagaland. Kohima hosts the five days Hornbill Festival, which showcases the cultures of all of Naga tribes from December 1-5 every year. The State Museum has a rare collection of artifacts of the different tribes which inhabit the state. A must see for getting an idea of the peoples lives. WAR CEMETERY: The well maintained War Cemetery was constructed in memory of the officers and men who made supreme sacrifices during World War II. On each grave there are beautiful epitaphs engraved in bronze. KHONOMA VILLAGE: This Angami village, which lies 20 km west of Kohima was known for its fighting prowess in the past. It is also known for the fallow management of its alder trees, which balances nature in the surrounding areas. The beautiful terraces that are carved out of the hill slopes surrounding the village are a sight to behold. These terraces grow over 20 types of paddy at different elevations. DIMAPUR is situated at an altitude of 900ft. above sea level. It is the getway district of Nagaland. This first developing town is the commercial centre of state. Dimapur was the capital of ancient Kachari kingdom and it has one of the important sites of megalithic culture. Most of the ruins appear to be contemporaries with the Kachari civilization, established before the Ahom invasion in the 13th century A.D. TUOPHEMA VILLAGE: This village which is 41 km from Kohima is a model village for common Angami Sekrenyi festival which is celebrated during February 25-27 every year. Sekrenyi is a festival of purification and revolves round rituals and ceremonies of cleansing the village well. MOKOKCHUNG: This picturesque town is the cultural center of the AO Nagas. The main festival of the Aos are Moatsu, celebrated during the first week of May (1-3) every year. There are Ao villages near Mokokchung which is worth visiti. UNGMA the biggest Ao village, according to legend the early Aos settled here first after coming from Chungliyimti. This village is many centuries old and can be interest to people who have a desire to peep into Ao folklores, customs and traditions. LONGKHUM: Situated at an altitude of 5500 ft. above sea level. The Aos have a belief that Longkhum is the resting place of the spirit of the dead on their onward journey to paradise. As the local legend goes a single visit to Longkhum is not enoughfor you have to return to the village again to collect your soul, which had stayed on your first visit.

DIMAPUR Being the commercial capital of the state, Dimapur has a good number of hotels for the low to medium budget traveler. The decent hotels could cost anything between USD 10 to USD 35 per night. There is a tourist lodge managed by the Government. For personal enquiry call : +91-3862-226355 HOTEL SARAMATI : It has standard and deluxe rooms ranging from USD 16 to USD 32, for details please call +91-3862-234761/62/63 [e-mail : hotelsaramati@yahoo.co.in] NIATHU RESORT: Ensconced in an enchanting locale by the river side, Niathu Resort is just 5 minutes drive from Dimapur Airport on the way to Kohima. It provides the ideal setting for a quick getaway from the hectic pace of city life, within the vicinity of the cosmopolitan city of Dimapur.Built in an 50 acre expanse of land, the resort has seven alpine chalet style suites. A unique feature of the resorts location is that it is just a stones throw from the Chathe river, further adding to the resorts exotic allure of

luxury in wild open spaces. The resort has been carefully designed to provide a range of facilities catering to a cross section of tastes for all ages. The resort also offers a variety of food, be it Indian, Chinese, Continental or the local ethnic Naga Cuisine. Guests can enjoy their meals on the open air Naga style machaan, air conditioned restaurant or the fascinating gazebo which is made solely of bamboo. Booking and other enquiries can be forwarded at +91-3862-241489 [-email : niathuresort@gmail.com] NITO TOURIST RESORT : It is 22 km from Dimapur at Niuland. facilities such as Cottages, artificial lake view, children's park, cultural amenities, rubber plantations (for cool evening walks) are available. Contact a tour operator for more information and bookings.

The food of Nagaland comprises of plain rice, cooked vegetables and meat. The local indigenous tribal communities of Nagaland are non- vegetarians who savor meats of all the animals. Dogs, spiders, pork, beef, crabs, cats, chicken and even elephants are eaten with great enthusiasm. The native population of Naga tribes loves to add spices and chilies in their daily diet. The food habits reflect the unique cultural traits and traditional legacy of the local indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland who usually do not throw any part of the animal. The intestines and skins of the animals are considered to be a delicious dish among the native population of the state. However, owing to their rich religious beliefs and customs, the Naga tribal community is not allowed to eat flesh of some animals lest the qualities of that particular animal are transferred. As per the traditional rituals, the majority of the restrictions are applied to the female folk. In some cases, the old men are not subjected to any kind of social taboo. Representing the vibrant and dynamic cultural lifestyle, the local indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland prepare several drinks from rice. Some of the varieties of indigenous drinks of Nagaland are: Dzutse Zutho Ruhi All the inhabitants of Nagaland savor the drinks irrespective of age and sex. The drinks relieve the native population of Nagaland from the stress and strains of daily living and rejuvenate with a fresh bout of energy and vigor. An integral part of the cultural life of the local inhabitants of Nagaland, the local inhabitants of the state prefer spicy food.