Kohima

Kohima, Nagaland's capital, sits amid the Naga hills at over 1,400 metres, its steep, terraced streets and surrounding villages reflecting the strong Angami Naga cultural identity that shapes much of the city's character. As the site of the pivotal 1944 Battle of Kohima, the town carries deep Second World War significance alongside its role as the permanent host of the annual Hornbill Festival at nearby Kisama, which transforms the wider area into Nagaland's most significant cultural showcase each December.

Kohima's markets and surrounding villages offer visitors an introduction to Naga tribal diversity, cuisine and craft traditions, and the town's position as the gateway to the wider Naga hills — Khonoma, Dzukou Valley and Japfu Peak are all within reach — makes it the natural base for exploring Nagaland's central districts.

Kohima served as a critical battleground during the 1944 Battle of Kohima, fought alongside the simultaneous Battle of Imphal, an engagement widely regarded by military historians as the turning point that halted Japan's advance into India during the Second World War.

Dimapur has the nearest airport, about 74km away, roughly 2.5-3 hours by road.