Escape to
Kohima
Festival base, hill capital, WWII history.
- From Dimapur
- 74km · about 3h by road
- Kisama
- About 12km south
- Elevation
- About 1,400m
- Permit
- ILP for Indian nationals
Kohima is the capital of Nagaland, a hill town that runs along a ridge with views dropping away on both sides. It is the practical base for the Hornbill Festival — Kisama is about 12km south — and for treks into the Dzükou Valley.
The town holds the Kohima War Cemetery, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, one of the most moving WWII sites in India. The main market sells everything the region grows, weaves and smokes.
Things to do
What you're here for
Kohima War Cemetery
2,142 graves on the ridge where the 1944 battle was fought.
Main market
Hill produce, weaves, smoked meat and everything in between.
Kisama Heritage Village
The Hornbill ground, 12km south of town.
Day trips
Khonoma 20km, Dzükou trailheads under an hour.
Getting there
From Dimapur airport or station, shared taxis and private transfers take about 3 hours up the hill.
From Guwahati, Kohima is roughly 340km — a long day on mountain roads.
Best time: October to May. December is festival season — book stays early.
Tours
Trips that come here
3D / 2N · Festival focus
Hornbill Express
Two full festival days at Kisama with stay in Kohima — the fastest way into Hornbill.
4D / 3N · Festival + Kohima
Hornbill Classic
Festival days plus Kohima town — war cemetery, market and the night carnival.
5D / 4N · Festival + villages
Hornbill Explorer
The Classic plus Khonoma and a village kitchen day — festival and culture in one trip.
7–10D · Festival + region
Hornbill + Northeast
Hornbill plus Kaziranga or Meghalaya — the festival and a wider Northeast journey in one plan.
2D / 1N · Trek
Dzükou Valley Trek
The classic Nagaland trek — climb from Viswema, sleep on the valley floor, descend at dawn.
Journal
Read before you go
Guide · 7 min
How to reach Hornbill Festival 2026
Flights and trains to Dimapur, the 3-hour road to Kohima, and what festival-week traffic does to your plan.
Guide · 5 min
Nagaland Inner Line Permit — the simple version
Who needs an ILP for Nagaland, how it works, and what we handle for booked travellers.
Story · 6 min
Ten days at Kisama
What the Hornbill Festival actually feels like — mornings in the arena, afternoons in the morungs, nights in town.
Guide · 4 min
What to pack for Hornbill Festival
A December packing list written by people who were cold so you don't have to be.
Guide · 5 min
Where to stay for Hornbill Festival
Kohima hotels, festival tents and homestays — what each option costs you in comfort and commute.
09 — Plan with us
Add Kohima to a trip?
Tell us your dates — we'll build the route around it.
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