Hornbill survival guide: toilets, water, ATMs, networks

Quick answer: The boring questions that actually decide your day. Toilets: yes, across Kisama (paid community blocks, carry change and tissues). Water: refill stalls exist; carry a bottle. Money: carry cash, some stalls take UPI when the network holds, ATMs are in Kohima not at the grounds. Network: Jio/Airtel work in patches, die when crowds peak. Medical: first-aid post at the venue. All the details below.

Toilets & washrooms

Festival toilet blocks are distributed around Kisama, expect basic, occasionally crowded, and a small paid entry at community-run blocks (exact change, tissue paper, the two things people forget). Camps and hotels have proper bathrooms; this is a mid-day-at-the-grounds consideration only.

Water & food inside

Drinking-water stalls and food stalls run through the grounds, momos to smoked pork to chai. Outside food rules are loosely enforced but the stalls ARE the experience (what to eat). Vegetarians: rice, dal, veg momos, boiled greens exist at multiple stalls, say “veg” clearly and early.

Money: cash, UPI, ATMs

Cash is king. Small notes for stalls, tips and toilet blocks. UPI works at established stalls when the network cooperates, and the network is the weak link. ATMs are in Kohima, not at Kisama; withdraw for two days at a time.

Network & charging

Jio and Airtel both have presence around Kisama; when the arena fills, data slows to a crawl, agree on meeting points with your group instead of live-location heroics. Charging: camps and stalls may offer points (ask; small fee or free with a meal), a 10,000mAh power bank solves it.

Medical & security

A first-aid post with medical staff operates at the venue through the festival; pharmacies in Kohima handle the rest. Security checks run at the gates, bags get checked, so travel light: water bottle, wallet, power bank, layer for the evening. Drones are a no without permission; large bags discouraged.

The meta-answer

Every one of these frictions shrinks when you sleep 10 minutes from the gate, that’s the quiet argument for the camp over Kohima. It’s included in every package. Dates → WhatsApp us.