Places of Interest in Kohima
The Kohima War cemetery: It offers a space for a quiet moment of a contemplative
stroll with friends or family. This is a symbolic memorial raised as a citation/or
the supreme human sacrifices made by the officers and men of the allied forces,
to halt the tide of the Japanese onslaught during the Second World War. This
was their last post.
The cemetery is beautifully and meticulously maintained by the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission. The heart moving epitaphs, engraved on bronze plaques
by their loved ones, is worth the time spent on reading. Depart as you will.the
writings on the cenotaph is bound to echo in your inner mind for a long while
:
"WHEN YOU GO HOME TELL THEM OF US AND SAY FOR YOUR TOMORROW WE GAVE
OUR TODAY"
The State Museum: It is another visiting MUST. The historical artifacts,
the log drums, the tools and implements, the ancestral weaponry the Naga currencies
of old, the attire of warriors, the dresses of women, the hearth of a Naga Kitchen,....
in short, the entire Naga traditional lifestyle et al, have been depicted in
dioramas. This is a bird's eye view of the fifteen colourful tribes at close
quarters.
The Dzukou Valley: It is tucked away at an altitude of 2438.4 metres
above sea level. This is a valley that dreams are made up of. From June to September,
the entire valley is a carpet of wild flowers.... the lilies white and yellow,
the aconitum, the euphonies etc, the crystal clear water of the stream leisurely
meandering through the valley... all in all, offers an unforgettable experience.
Here you are completely at peace with nature. This is assured. The numerous
low cluster of hillocks surrounding the vale. contains some costly natural caves
and rock overhangs, ideal for camping. Imagine, a night out in the wilderness
with a guitar and friends, sitting around a campfire to sing your night away.
Throw in a few mugs of local rice beer for good measure ! The crisp mountain
air and a sunrise scene to match greet come morning and you. No city can offer
you this natural luxury.
The Japfu Peak: It would just be what the doctor ordered for the adventure
lovers and rekkers. Scaling the Japfu Peak at 3048 metre. Above sea level can
be very trying, but exilic nice up there, the expansive vista of natures beauty
more than compensates for the effort put in. Relax in the company of friends
and watch the sun paint fascinating pictures over the entire is it travels slowly
beyond the horizon. Then marvel at the ocean of mist at the crack of dawn. October-March
is the right time to try this out, when the visibility is at its best.
Khonama: If you are keen to see a village lifestyle of the people first
you could perhaps check out Khonama. This. is a village not only laced in history,
but also known for their ecolog propriety. The terraced fields, carved out from
the hill top to the lower valley, presents an interesting. You could also sit
at leisure with the elders of the village and absorb some fascinating folklore
and stories of courage and valor of their warriors who bravely faced the awesome
might of the British forces, in the times of yore.
Kohima Village: It is one of the largest in Asia. It is here that you
will see an admixture of the past and present. A traditional gate greets you
on entry, with scimitar of hornbills and buffalo horns and so on. Stones ofvarying
shapes and sizes implanted within the compound or skulls of buffaloes and mithuns
adorning the portico, reminds you of the past glory and status of the great
ancestors who had performed grand feasts of merit. Kohima village is no different.
The Zoological Park: It offers you a glimpse of the fauna of Nagaland.
The rare Biythe's Tragopan, believed to be on the verge of extinction, is being
reared here in captivity. Nagaland also boasts of more than 3 60 species of
orchids. Four different varieties of rhododendrons are endemic to Nagaland and
bloom abundantly during the months of March/April.
Dzulekie: It is a spot of enchantment within easy reach of Kohima. Here
the domesticated bisons roam freely in the pastoral ambience and the rainbow
trouts swim the cold water streams. For centuries, this stream has laboriously
carved out awesome gorges, 90-100 feet deep, from the solid rocks. The surrounding
green hills with little waterfalls thrown in, adds pleasure to a cool getaway.
The Department of Tourism is maintaining a small tourist rest house with a few
cottage annexes.
Dimori Core: It is a small up coming resort run by private entrepreneur.
It serves local / Chinese or other Indian dishes. A small swimming pool has
also been developed. This establishment is 6 kms away from Kohima, on the NH
39 towards Manipur An ideal place for relaxation without hazards.
In general, Nagaland is a vibrant hill station, rich in folklores passed down
the ages through the -word of mouth. It is a land of music: the traditional
folk songs eulogising the brave deeds of their ancestral warriors and heroes;
the poetic songs of love immortalising the ancient tragic love stories; the
gospels that touch the very core of your soul; the exquisite classical or the
present day tunes...they have them all. If you wish to mix a little bit of culture
to your tour, there are tribal artistes who give part time performances at a
reasonable fee. Indeed, a trip to Nagaland would be incomplete without witnessing
the tribal dances, which are uniquely different from the rest of the country
.
