Best time to visit Kohima — dry winter and Hornbill, the long monsoon, the Dzükou lily
When to visit Kohima: dry winter days of 16.1–19.0°C and the Hornbill Festival (1–10 December), clear October–November, the rainy May–September. IMD normals.
ArticleVerified 2026-10-23
Things to do in Kohima — the war cemetery, the museum, Kisama, Khonoma and Dzükou
Things to do in Kohima: the war cemetery, the Nagaland State Museum, Kohima Village, Kisama and the Hornbill Festival, Khonoma, Japfü and the Dzükou Valley.
Kohima is a small capital with a large history. Seven things to do, nearest first, with our measured road times from the centre.
Photos: Ly.n0m (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
1. The Kohima War Cemetery
About 0.8 km and 2 minutes away, on Garrison Hill, where the Battle of Kohima turned in April 1944. The Kohima War Cemetery holds 1,420 Commonwealth burials and a memorial to 917 soldiers who were cremated; the tennis court where the fiercest fighting happened is marked in white lines.
2. Kohima Village
The old Angami village of Kewhira, from which the city takes its name and which by oral history is more than 700 years old. Walk its lanes and look out over the city; ask before you photograph people and homes.
3. The Nagaland State Museum
About 3.3 km and 7 minutes away on Bayavü Hill, run by the Department of Art and Culture and open since 25 November 1970, with sculpture, dress and other artefacts from across Nagaland. We have no verified opening hours.
4. The Kisama Heritage Village
About 10.8 km and 22 minutes south, the Kisama Heritage Village has a morung of each of Nagaland's 17 ethnic groups and hosts the Hornbill Festival from 1 to 10 December.
5. Khonoma
About 18.3 km and 37 minutes west, Khonoma is the Angami village that resisted the British until 1880 and has protected its forest for Blyth's tragopan since 1998.
6. Look up at Japfü
Mount Japfü, about 15 km south of the city, rises to about 3,048 m and gets winter snow; Wikipedia says it holds the record for the tallest rhododendron tree, about 20 m high, found in 1993.
7. Walk to the Dzükou Valley
The high meadows behind Japfü, walked from Viswema (45 minutes away) or Jakhama (34 minutes). Read the Dzükou Valley guide first; we give no walking time we cannot source.
When to come
October to February for clear, dry weather, December for the Hornbill; see the best time to go and how to reach Kohima.
Places around Kohima
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How to reach Kohima — Dimapur by air or rail, the road up, and the Inner Line Permit
How to reach Kohima: Dimapur airport 66 km and Dimapur station 69 km by road, Guwahati 335 km, and the Inner Line Permit (tourist ILP, 15 days, online).
Dzükou Valley from Kohima — what is published about the walk, and what is not
The Dzükou Valley near Kohima: high meadows at about 2,438–2,452 m behind Mount Japfü, walked from Viswema or Jakhama, with flowers from May to September.
Manali in March and April — blossom below, snow above, and nobody here
Manali in spring: days around 17 °C in March and 21 °C in April, orchards in flower, the high meadows white, the pass shut, the tunnel open. The quiet season.
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The Kullu valley's temples in one place: Raghunath in the town, the stone temple at Bajaura, the ridge shrine at Bijli Mahadev and the carved wood at Bhekhli.
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Questions people ask
What are the main places to see in Kohima?
In the city, the Kohima War Cemetery on Garrison Hill and the Nagaland State Museum on Bayavü Hill, both within 7 minutes of the centre on our routing. Out of town, the Kisama Heritage Village, about 22 minutes south, and the village of Khonoma, about 37 minutes west, and the walk to the Dzükou Valley.
How many days do I need in Kohima?
Two days cover the city and Khonoma comfortably; add a day for Kisama and the Hornbill Festival in December, and another for the Dzükou Valley walk from Viswema or Jakhama. Count a travel day each way from Dimapur, which is about 105 minutes below the city on our routing.
Is Kohima safe for tourists?
Kohima is the state capital and receives visitors through the year, above all at the Hornbill Festival. Carry your Inner Line Permit, respect village rules and ask before photographing people. For the Dzükou Valley, go with a local guide. We cannot verify local conditions on a given day, so ask in the city before travelling.