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About Kohima |
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Kohima is the hilly capital of India's north eastern border
state of Nagaland which shares its borders with Burma. It lies
in Kohima District and is one of the three Nagaland towns with
Municipal council status along with Dimapurand Mokokchung.
Kohima, the state capital of Nagaland, is a beautiful city on
a hill. The mystic hill station is located 12m above sea-level
is simply interesting with nature’s beauty scattered all over
with generous extravagance. And the weather simply adds to the
spirituality that this city offers. The winding roads, the
lush green fields decking up on the sides of the hill, the
lively local markets all represent in bits and parts the
amusing experience one can get in Kohima.
The main town of Kohima is busy and crowded with shops and the
hustle activities simply reminds you of a subdued hectic
lifestyle amidst an otherwise marvelously relaxed and quiet
life. And you can surprise yourself at the various displays of
traditional Naga jewelleries, clothes, and artifacts among
other things ultra modern.
Kohima is the place where you can kick your shoes off lying on
the bed as you soak up the beautiful panoramic views of nature
alongside a hill and consider over the felicities of nature.
Its interesting culture, a leisurely pace of life, quiet and
calm environment with its fresh and unpolluted air makes a
welcome change away from the life in a mean crowded city. The
weather of Kohima is fairly subtropical with dry and bitterly
cold winters. Cafes and coffee houses are spread all over the
city. The streets of Kohima are just perfect for a quiet
leisurely walk.
Known for its juvenile beauty and the wonderful views of the
Naga Hills, Kohima also holds historical importance as the
site of the battle fought between the British and Japanese
troops during World War II. There are also a number of
beautiful villages in and around Kohima which are of
traditional and cultural amusements.It’s simply wonderful that
there are a lot places to visit in and around Kohima and a lot
of interesting things to do in Kohima.
Kohima will simply amaze you with what it has to offer; from a
walk down the rich Naga heritage to the modern music in a café
overlooking a remarkable view of the Naga Hills. Kohima is
much more than what meets the eye.
Kohima is the land of the Angami Naga tribe. The name, Kohima,
was officially given by the British as they could not
pronounce the Angami name Kewhima or Kewhira (Tenyidie for
"the land where the flower Kewhi grows"). It is called after
the wild flowering plant Kewhi, found in the mountains.
Earlier, Kohima was also known as Thigoma. Kohima is situated
at 25º40'N 94º07'E 25.67ºN 94.12ºE. It has an average height
of 1261 metres (4137 feet).Kohima town is situated on the top
of a high ridge and the town serpentines all along the top of
the surrounding mountain ranges as is typical of most Naga
settlements. |
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History of Kohima |
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The
British invasions into the Naga territory begins in the 1840s
met with stiff resistance from the independence loving Nagas who
had never been dominated by any empire before. The rigidity of
the resistance can be measured by the fact that it took nearly
four decades for the British to conquer a territory that is less
than 10,000 square kilometres (the eastern region was left
free). Kohima was the first seat of modern administration as the
Headquarters of Naga Hills District (then under Assam) with the
appointment of G.H. Damant as Political Officer in 1879. When
Nagaland became a full fledged state on 1 December 1963, Kohima
was named as the state capital.
In 1944 during World War II the Battle of Kohima along with the
simultaneous Battle of Imphal was the turning point in the Burma
Campaign. For the first time in South-East Asia the Japanese
lost the idea to the Allies which they then retained until the
end of the war. This hand-to-hand battle and slaughter prevented
the Japanese from gaining a high base from which they might next
roll across the wide flatlands of India like a juggernaut.
Kohima has a large cemetery for the Allied war dead which was
maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The
cemetery lies on the slopes of Garrison Hill, which was once the
Deputy Commissioner's tennis court which was the scene of
intense fighting, the Battle of the Tennis Court. The epitaph
carved on the memorial of the 2nd British Division in the
cemetery “ When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,For Your
Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today ” has become world-famous as the
Kohima poem. The stanza is attributed to John Maxwell Edmonds
(1875–1958), and is thought to have been motivated by the
epitaph written by Simonides to honour the Greek who fell at the
Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. |
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Geography and climate |
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Kohima lies north of the Japfü Barail intersection. Due to its
height, Kohima features a more moderate version of a humid
subtropical climate. Kohima has a pleasant and moderate climate
- not too cold in winters and pleasant summers. December and
January are the coldest months when frost occurs and in the
higher altitudes snowfall occurs occasionally. During the height
of summers, from July–August, temperature ranges an average of
80-90 Fahrenheit. Heavy rainfall occurs during summer. |
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Hornbill Festival |
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The Hornbill Festival was started by the Government of
Nagaland in December 2000 to encourage inter-tribal
interaction and to promote the cultural heritage of the
state. Hornbill Festival is Organized by the State Tourism
and Art and Culture Departments, Hornbill festival
showcases cultural displays under one roof. The festival
takes place between the 1st and the 7th of December every
year.
The week long Hornbill Festival is held at Naga Heritage
Village, Kisama which is about 12 km from Kohima. All the
tribes of Nagaland take part in this festival. The aim of
the festival is to stimulate and protect the rich culture
of Nagaland and display its traditions.
The festival is named after the Hornbill, which is
mentioned in the folklore of most of the state’s tribes.
People enjoy the colourful performances, crafts, sports,
food fairs, games and ceremonies. Traditional arts which
include paintings, wood carvings, and sculptures are on
display. Most Prominent Festival highlights of the
festival include Naga Morungs exhibition and sale of arts
and crafts, food stalls, herbal medicine stalls, flower
shows and sales, cultural medley - songs and dances,
fashion shows, beauty contest, archery, Naga wrestling,
indigenous games and musical concerts.
Additional attractions include Konyak fire eating
demonstration, pork fat eating competitions, literature
fest, Hornbill Global Film Fest, Hornbill Ball, Choral
Panorama, North East India Drum Ensemble, Naga King Chilly
eating competition, Hornbill National Rock Contest,
Hornbill International Motor Rally and WW-II Vintage Car
Rally. |
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Tourist Attractions in Kohima |
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1)
Khonoma Green Village- Khonoma is situated about 20 kms from
Kohima and is famous for its pristine natural beauty. Considered
a virgin territory it decorated with tall alder trees and
attractive terraces carved out of hill slopes, this place is a
amusement for nature enthusiasts, bird watchers, and animal
watchers. The Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary
is an ecological paradise.
2)
Dzulekie- Dzulekie is situated about 40km from Kohima at a
height of 2133.6m. The hilly landscape with lush green
sub-tropical forests are simply charming and the gorges and
streams add a hint of spirituality. It is also home of the
wonderful Mithun, the Naga Bison and a rare species of the
rainbow trout.
3)
Tseminyu- Tseminyu town is situated about 50 km from
Kohima.It is the ancient migration route of Naga tribes heading
northwards on the lookout for new settlements and is of great
historical and archaeological importance. It is Home of the
Rengma Nagas, the town is full of ancient Naga heritage in the
form of abandoned villages, broken pottery, age-old graveyards
and gravestones.
4) Dzukou Valley- Dzukou Valley is well-known for
its wonderful view of abundant natural beauty full of beautiful
flowers, orchids, rolling hills, and meandering streams. Also
known as the valley of flowers, it is a trekker’s delight and
believed to be one of the best trekking circuits in India.
5)
Japfu Peak- Japfu Peak is at a height of 3048m above sea
level.It is the second highest peak in Nagaland. It is situated
at 15 km from Kohima, this peak is a scenic paradise with
delightful view of the sunrise and the surrounding hills
including parts of the attractive Dzukou Valley. The world’s
tallest Rhododendron tree is found in the Japfu range.
6) Touphema Tourist Village- Tuophema Tourist Village is
situated in Tuophema which is about 41 kms from Kohima. This is
an ethnic tourist village with traditional huts and kitchens in
an ethnic setting with modern facilities available at disposal
where tourists can enjoy the ethnic Naga culture with the best
local brew and food on the menu.
7)
Naga Heritage Village, Kisama- The Naga Heritage Village,
Kisama is situated about 12 km from Kohima and hosts the biggest
annual Hornbill Festival in December every year. The main
attraction is the beautiful morungs (Naga boy’s dormitories)
constructed with the tribal architecture designs of each of the
Naga tribes. |
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