Overview
Nagaland's hill capital
Kohima is built across a ridge of terraced hills, its lanes climbing between Angami Naga villages and colonial-era buildings. The town is best known as the site of the 1944 Battle of Kohima, one of the turning points of the Second World War in Asia — the beautifully kept War Cemetery here is a quiet, moving stop for anyone passing through.
Kohima is also the gateway to Naga tribal culture: wood and cane crafts, hornbill-feather headgear, smoked pork and bamboo-shoot cooking, and villages that still hold traditional morungs (bachelor dormitories) at their centre.
Best time to visit
October to April is driest and coolest. The unmissable window is the first week of December for the Hornbill Festival at Kisama Heritage Village, when all of Nagaland's tribes gather for music, food and traditional games — book rooms well ahead for this week.
Things to do
- Walk the Kohima War Cemetery, one of the most striking WWII memorials in Asia
- Time a visit for December's Hornbill Festival at Kisama Heritage Village
- Explore Khonoma, a green model village and former Angami stronghold
- Browse the Kohima local market for Naga textiles and produce
- Day-trip to Dzükou Valley for its rolling meadows, in season
Getting there
Kohima is about 75 km from Dimapur, Nagaland's nearest airport and rail head (roughly 2–3 hours by road). Dimapur connects by flight to Kolkata, Guwahati and Delhi.
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