Five not-to-miss destinations in Nagaland

Tucked away in the northeastern part of the country, Nagaland borders the states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh as also Myanmar. Home to 16 Tibeto-Burmese tribes, the state was created in 1963. C ELINA SANGTAM, the winner of Miss Queen of Nations 2020, shares five destinations you should not miss when in Nagaland

RIVER DOYANG
One of the unexplored places of Nagaland is River Doyang, among the longest rivers of the state. Located in Pangti Village, Wokha Town, it is one of the best places for serene and picturesque riverside camping. The river is important to Nagaland as it provides water for irrigation and other purposes.

DZUKO VALLEY
Dzüko Valley is located on the border of the states of Nagaland and Manipur in southern Angami region. The valley is well-known for its flora-fauna. At 2,452 m above sea level, the valley is famous for its multicoloured flowers that bloom in the summer months. Among these carpet of flowers is the Dzuko Lily, only found in the valley. The region offers some of the best trekking circuits in the country and the Japfu Peak trek is one of the most mesmerising one and a must for all trekking enthusiasts.

NAGA HERITAGE VILLAGE, KISAMA
The Naga Heritage Village, 10 km south of Kohima along Imphal Road, has a representative selection of traditional Naga houses and morungs (young people’s dormitories) with full-size log drums and architectural ornamentation specific to each of Nagaland’s tribes. The state’s biggest annual jamboree, the Hornbill Festival, is celebrated here. It is a hub of Naga heritage and culture.

LONGWA
The last Indian village. Actually, a village that lies half in India and half in Myanmar. It is one of the 100-plus villages where Angh (Konyak king) rules. Interestingly, the international border actually passes through the village chief’s house. It is also the (in)famous village of the last Headhunters, who until a few decades ago, used to take pride in and celebrated chopping their opponent’s heads off, much to the fun-fare of the entire village. The tradition of headhunting, followed by the Konyak tribe, stopped in 1960s.

MOPUNGCHUKET
Nestled in the northern part of Mokokchung district in Nagaland is Mopungchuket Village, inhabited by the Ao Naga tribe. Many travel writers and tourism publications have labelled Mopungchuket as “the best kept village in Nagaland.” Recognized as one of the cleanest villages in Nagaland, it is famous for its historic past and the romantic love story of Jina and Etiben, often referred to as the Romeo and Juliet of Nagaland. In the vicinity of the village is the mystical Sungkotenem Lake. Wooden sculptures, village museum, morung, tea gardens, log drums and Nature trails make the village worth a visit.