In every way that one can think of, Nagaland is a vibrant kaleidoscope of colours, people, nature and experiences of every hue. It affords you peace and serenity, excitement and vivacity. With the traditional and modern, the exotic and the universal, all co-existing in one of the most splendid and unexplored holiday options India and perhaps the world, has left to offer. As you enter Kohima, the state capital of Nagaland, the first impression is that the town is a breathtaking study of contrasts. The impression persists as the jean-clad young mill about?.Nike shod, hair cut and coloured per MTV diktat, ceaselessly chewing paan like their forefathers with consummate ease.

Mingling effortlessly with unlettered clansmen and cousins in mekhla skirts with wide striped borders, carrying baskets overflowing with fresh produce to market! Seeming to slip smoothly into their myriad roles ? devout Christian, proud practitioner of tribal ritual, computer geek, dutiful son, rap singer, folk dancer and citizen of the world ? all fascinatingly rolled into one. Perched at 1444.12m above sea level, Kohima, a small, pleasant town surrounded by hills dotted with villages; offers panoramic views of gentle green hills fading into rugged blue peaks that reach upwards to meet pink clouds. It comes as no surprise then that a local song goes?there is no place in the world, half as fair as Kohima. An exaggeration perhaps, but Kohima nevertheless, does have its own incomparable charms that few other Indian hill stations can offer.

History
Dimapur was founded by the Kachari rulers, a Tibeto-Burmese people, displaced from their territories in Assam by the Ahoms in the 13th century, who resettled here. They established their kingdom on the banks of the Dhansari River. Di-ma-pur literally means ?the great town on the riverbank.? As you climb up to the breathtaking panoramic views of its capital Kohima, the roads wind through thick tropical jungle, deep gorges, and unexplored terrain

To far-flung villages where each tribe has, for generations, formed its own beliefs, practiced its own rites, sung its own history in the splendid isolation of these verdant hills. There are sixteen major tribes and many minor clans. While British missionaries zealously converted most Nagas from animalism to Christianity, the Nagas take immense pride in their clans and customs. Reiterating their tribal bonds by passing on their traditional ways through unchanged rituals. Today, Nagaland is one of the last bastions of the world?s tribal heritage and one of the most culturally diverse and untouched places left on earth.

Quick Facts
Location
Tucked away in the north-eastern edge of India, Nagaland is a narrow strip of mountainous territory covering an area of 16,579sq.km. Nagaland State shares its boarders with the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam to its west and north, Myanmar to its east, Arunachal Pradesh to its north and Manipur to the south.

STD Code
+ 91 (0)366 followed by the number. If you are trying to reach old friends in this region, you may need to add on an extra 2 before their old numbers. Call 1951, 1952, 1953 from a BSNL land line for changed number inquiries.

When to Visit
The magic of any region is enhanced when you experience it in every season possible. Nagaland is pleasant throughout the year. However, as it rains heavily between May and September; carry an umbrella. By autumn when it clears, the massive waterfalls and gurgling streams that flow through verdant valleys and endless emerald hills rise from the misted valleys. Only to beckon the nature lover to mellow sunshine, to harvest festivals, orchids and the eternal snows of the eastern Himalayas. Temperatures vary between 16?C - 31?C in the summer and 4?C - 24?C in winter. Cottons in summer and light layered woollens and a jacket just in case, should suffice in winter. The best time to visit is from October to March. Carry your walking shoes.

Entry Permits
All visitors to Nagaland need to obtain 10 to 15-day permits (extendable upto 45 days). Indians need inner line permits [ILP] and foreigners need restricted area permits [RAP]. To visit some remote/sensitive boarder points, permits are issued only to groups of two, four or more. Foreign tourists to Nagaland are allowed to visit the districts of Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchong and Wokha. Permits are valid for the specific tourist circuit-route only. The exit and entry points shall be the same, unless otherwise specified in the permit. Obtaining permits can take time (months at times) and try your patience, so plan ahead. Apply at least 4 weeks before the date of your expected visit. Entrusting govt-approved travel agencies to arrange these is best; especially if you want to go trekking down unknown paths and need multiple clearances. Mountaineering expeditions to peaks above 6000m need to obtain clearance at least 6-months in advance from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation, Anand Niketan, Delhi. Ph. No. 0114671211, fax: 6883412. Some peaks are off limits because they are regarded as sacred or located in sensitive military areas.

Religious Places
Kohima Cathedral
The Christmas-New Year week is a great time to visit Kohima. Not only is the Catholic Cathedral at Aradurah Hill the largest in the North East, it has the largest wooden crucifix in India as well. Most of the population being Christian, mass here is a sight and sound to behold as familiar hymns resound with Nagamese lyrics and rituals firmly in place. Unlike any other Christmas Eve anywhere.

Kidding around
The Kachari Megaliths
A beautifully proportioned brick doorway in the Mughal style, leads into the remaining ruins of the old capital of the Kachari rulers, in the heart of Dimapur. Green grass grows under the shade of the towering bargad tree, and fills the nooks and crannies of grouped rows of gigantic lingam-shaped stones known as The Kachari Megaliths. These stones, once carved with intricate motifs, are believed to be part of an old fertility rite.

Green Park
On the outskirts of Dimapur, en-route to Kohima, the simple name of this park belies the wonders it beholds. A long and winding road lined with slender Ashok trees curves gently through mango, litchi and guava groves. The air transformed, perfumed with their mingling aromas. The sky is an azure blue. As we park beside the perfectly trimmed hedges of Golden Duranta, Naga rock n? roll wafts across the lake where people go boating. In the centre of the lake, across a picturesque bridge, is a circular, restaurant with a red-roofed open verandah above. People lie about on the grass surrounding it, drinking chilled lassi or simply chilling out listening to the song?s heartbeat.

Travel Tips
• If you are visiting Kohima during the Durga Puja season, be prepared to be caught in traffic and find every place worth visiting packed with locals who are on their puja jaunt.
• Cottons are the wisest wear in hot and humid Kolkatta.
• The rains are unpredictable here, and the city gets flooded easily, so be prepared!
• Mosquitoes are a problem in Kohima, a mosquito repellent could come in handy.
• Be prepared to spend extra time in traffic
• Do not go to Kolkatta when on a diet, you just can?t resist most of the yummy treats it dishes out.