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 ₹200 online; waived during Hornbill
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.
Practicals
Permits & season
ILP required for Indian nationals outside the Hornbill window (waived Dec 1–10 with photo ID), online at ilp.nagaland.gov.in; foreign nationals pay a fee.
October to March is the clean window; December adds the Hornbill Festival, and the monsoon makes eastern roads slow.
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
Journal
Read before you go
Guide · 5 min
Aoleang Festival: the Konyak festival of Mon, Nagaland
Aoleang Mon Yü is the Konyak tribe's spring festival, held in the first week…
Guide · 5 min
Best days to attend the Hornbill Festival, crowds
Which days of the Hornbill Festival are best: opening day vs mid-week, how crowded…
Guide · 7 min
Best time to visit Northeast India, month by month
The best time to visit Northeast India, month by month: weather, festivals, crowds and…
Guide · 4 min
Capital of Nagaland: Kohima, the Hill Capital Explained
Kohima is the capital of Nagaland, not Dimapur. History, why the confusion exists, what…
Guide · 7 min
Dimapur to Kohima for Hornbill, Sumo, taxi
Every way to reach the Hornbill Festival: Dimapur shared Sumos vs private taxis vs…
Guide · 4 min
Dzukou Valley in October: green season
Dzukou in October: the valley still green after monsoon, clear October light, trek conditions…
More guides in the journal (151 total).
Explore Kohima
- Where to stay in KohimaHotels ₹1,500-5,000; festival weeks price everything up.
- Dimapur to Kohimaroad
- Kaziranga to Kohimaroad
- Delhi to Kohimaflight + train + road
- Things to do in Kohima
- Things to do in Dzükou Valley
- Things to do in Khonoma
Facts checked against the official Nagaland tourism portal · Last verified 2026-09-26