Kohima

Understand

thumb|Kohima City The people are very friendly and warm hearted. It had a population of 115,000 in 2011.

The name Kohima was chosen by the British as they could not pronounce the Angami name of Kewhi–ra (Tenyidie for "the land where the flower ‘Kewhi’ grows"). It is named after the wild flowering plant ‘Kewhi’, found in the mountains. Most local people prefer to use ‘Kewhi–ra’.

Get in

Most visitors to Kohima arrive by land from Dimapur. Expect the weather to get much cooler along the way, since Dimapur is on the tropical plain, and Kohima is higher in the mountains.

Get around

Walking is the best way to feel the pulse of the capital. Local taxis are widely available and typically charge Rs. 100 to 200 for destinations within the town centre (as of March 2025). In addition, shared taxis to specific destinations (locally called line taxis) are available at certain places. For example, there are shared taxis heading from BOC junction to Kisama and Kigwema; just ask around.

See

thumb|Kohima Museum thumb|Kohima War Cemetery

Do

While you are visiting Kohima, you can go for a picnic/trekking in the forest. There are rivers where you can picnic and the forest are really beautiful. You can find different varieties of orchids which you will never find anywhere else in the world. Whether it is during winter or spring, the sight of the forest is breathtaking.

Trek to the beautiful Dzüko Valley. You will never forget it your entire life. It's a valley at the top of the mountains that you can only reach by walking trail, including a portion of steep climbing through the forest. What is amazing is that you will find rivers and waterfalls in this valley which is situated at the top of the mountains. Make sure you carry very warm clothing for your stay there as this place is really very cold. There are three different routes, with one that can be done round-trip in a day if you're a stronger hiker, though most visitors opt to spend a night at the valley rim, either by camping with a tent or by staying in a very basic guesthouse there. Do your research in advance. The most popular entrance is from Viswema village. Trek to the top of Japfü peak, the 2nd highest in Nagaland, and also Pulie Badze Peak overlooking the suburb of Jotsoma. The views from atop these peaks are out of the world. Motorcycle ride - Kickstart Adventures, an adventure tourism firm, has pioneered motorcycle tours in Nagaland. This adventure motorbike tour covers not only popular places but also rural parts of Nagaland to experience first-han…

Buy

Handicrafts, ethnic shawls, vests, artefacts from emporiums.

Second hand clothes are widely available if you need an extra jumper or waterproof jacket.

Eat

Pork, beef, mutton, chicken, dog meat and also lots of jungle animals are eaten. People are 100 per cent non-vegetarian.

If you love pork you should definitely try pork cooked with fermented bamboo shoots in Naga style and if you love spicy food you should try the Naga chutney made with spicy green chillies and not to forget the spicy beef pickle made with Rajha Mircha (the world's hottest chilli).

Drink

Nagaland is officially a dry state, but if you ask the waiters you will get everything from Jack Daniels to local zutho (rice beer).

Get around

City buses (₹20) run to the centre during daylight hours.

The centre, war cemetery and bazaar area are all within walking distance.

Go next

Go south to Imphal, the capital of Manipur. Buses and private taxis are available. Head off the beaten track to Tuensang, a small town deep inside Nagaland Drive down to Dimapur and fly out or catch a train from there.

Note that Mon District (see Nagaland article for more information), at the north end of the state, is not easily accessible via Kohima. As of May 2023, the roads through the middle of Nagaland are so bad that it's faster for buses and shared taxis to travel back down to Dimapur and through Assam, re-entering Nagaland from the north side.