| We had a wonderful three days trip to Nagaland. It was an opportunity to see a totally different culture which is very difficult to imagine without going there. Nagaland is a hilly state; Kohima was at height of around 6000feet…chilly and windy. On our way to Kohima from Tezpur in Assam through Jorhat, Karbianglong and Dimapur towns we saw plenty of tea gardens, rice fields and pineapple cultivation. Drive was wonderful with a long stretch in karbianglong district through forests. Dimapur is entry town to Nagaland...dirty, crowded and hot. Karbianglong is in Assam and has dense forests but sadly in Nagaland most of the forests have been cut for rice cultivation. Flowers of all colours and variety were present everywhere. Feb march is best for traveling in northeast. Strict instructions were not to travel after sunset....it’s not safe every one told us. Veg food is simply not available in Nagaland...u ask and the restaurant owner will wonder as if people still eat vegetarian food. It might be a paradise for non-vegetarians; Thanks to Indian army presence everywhere we had good veg food. Most of the labor class in Nagaland is from Bihar. Asking for road direction becomes easy from them or you should ask the way from traffic police men. Tourists are not much welcomed here we felt like that. Naga heritage village, World War 2 cemetery and the church are main attractions in Kohima. Otherwise the town is crowded and polluted like all the big hill stations of India. War cemetery is made in memory of 2nd Division soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the battle of Kohima and fighting for the Imphal road in 1944. It is very beautifully designed on a hill top with a great view of Kohima town. BRO has written some nice words on signpost all along the road…one such board was “from Kashmir to kanyakumari and kohima to kutch India is one”. One should visit the handicraft emporium near new state bus terminus NSBT..... It was a great trip to a beautiful part of India that is so different from the mainland. |
