Guide · 5 min read
How many districts are in Nagaland? All 17 districts, listed
Quick answer: Nagaland has 17 districts. If you read “16” somewhere, that was the count before October 2024, when Meluri became the state’s newest district, carved out of Phek. The number has grown fast, from 11 districts to 17 in just four years.
The 17 districts of Nagaland
| # | District | Headquarters | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kohima | Kohima | State capital; Hornbill Festival base |
| 2 | Dimapur | Chümoukedima* | Plains district; airport & railhead |
| 3 | Chümoukedima | Chümoukedima | Carved from Dimapur, 2021 |
| 4 | Niuland | Niuland | Carved from Dimapur, 2021 |
| 5 | Tseminyü | Tseminyü | Carved from Kohima, 2021 |
| 6 | Phek | Phek | Chakhesang country; Meluri carved out 2024 |
| 7 | Meluri | Meluri | Newest district, 2024 (Pochury) |
| 8 | Kiphire | Kiphire | Saramati, the state’s highest peak |
| 9 | Tuensang | Tuensang | Chang, Sangtam, Yimkhiung heartland |
| 10 | Mon | Mon | Konyak country; Longwa on the Myanmar border |
| 11 | Longleng | Longleng | Phom country |
| 12 | Mokokchung | Mokokchung | Ao heartland; Moatsü festival in May |
| 13 | Wokha | Wokha | Lotha country |
| 14 | Zunheboto | Zunheboto | Sümi heartland |
| 15 | Peren | Peren | Zeliang country; Ntangki forest |
| 16 | Noklak | Noklak | Eastern frontier, Khiamniungan |
| 17 | Shamator | Shamator | Carved from Tuensang, 2022 |
*Dimapur’s district headquarters sit at Chümoukedima, the same town that became its own district in 2021, which is exactly why the map got confusing.
Why the number keeps changing
For years the state ran on 11 districts, which left Nagaland’s eastern and rural stretches hours from any administrative town. Between 2021 and 2024 the state carved out six new districts, Noklak, Chümoukedima, Niuland, Tseminyü, Shamator and Meluri, bringing administration closer to the villages. That is why older articles, exam guides and even recent blogs disagree: both “11”, “16” and “17” were true at different points. As of 2024–25, 17 is correct.
Which districts matter for travellers?
- Kohima, the capital and your base for the Hornbill Festival; Kisama lies 12km south.
- Dimapur & Chümoukedima, where you arrive; the airport and railway station.
- Mokokchung, Ao villages and the Moatsü festival in May.
- Mon, Konyak country, tattooed elders and Aoleang in April.
- Phek, Chakhesang villages, terraced fields and some of the state’s finest walks.
Every trip we run, Hornbill packages, Dzükou treks, Khonoma day trips, stays inside Kohima and Dimapur districts, with ILP and transport handled.
Every district, individually
Ao country: Mokokchung · Konyak country: Mon · The capital: Kohima · Gateway: Dimapur · Wokha · Zunheboto · Phek · Peren · Kiphire · Tuensang · Noklak · Longleng · Meluri · Shamator · Tseminyü · Niuland · Chümoukedima
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