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A stone-paved lane leading down into Khonoma village, with houses on terraces and forested hills behind
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Photo: Ly.n0m · CC BY-SA 4.0
1 night · 2 dayscultureTemples & heritagerelaxed

Kohima in two days — the city and its battle, then a day in Khonoma

A two-day plan for Kohima: the war cemetery, the state museum and Kohima Village on day one, and Khonoma, the green Angami village, on day two. Free to copy.
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Two days in Kohima: the first in the city, with the Kohima War Cemetery and the state museum, the second in Khonoma, the Western Angami village that fought the British and now guards its forest. For the Hornbill Festival in December, see the three-day festival plan; for a single day, the one-day plan.

Photos: Ly.n0m (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Shyamal (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Ly.n0m (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

Who this is for

Travellers interested in Naga history and village life, and anyone who wants a slower look at Kohima than a single day allows.

Day by day

Day 1

The city

3 stops · 13 min on the road

Garrison Hill and the museum, with an easy afternoon.

  1. 09:00
    Kohima War Cemetery
    monument · 2 min from Kohima · about 1 h there
    The cemetery on Garrison Hill, where the 1944 battle was fought across a tennis court now marked in white lines.
  2. ↓ 5 min by road · 3 km
    10:30
    Nagaland State Museum
    museum · 7 min from Kohima · about 1 h there
    The state's collection of Naga sculpture, dress and artefacts on Bayavü Hill, open since 1970. We have no verified opening hours.
  3. ↓ 8 min by road · 4 km
    13:00
    Kohima
    town · 1 min from Kohima · about 1 h there
    The afternoon in the city: Kohima Village, the old Angami settlement of Kewhira, and the views from its lanes. Ask before photographing people and homes.
Day 2

Khonoma

1 stop

A whole day in the Angami village west of the city.

  1. 09:30
    Khonoma
    village · 37 min from Kohima · about 2 h there
    About 37 minutes from Kohima. The village that held out against the British until the treaty of 27 March 1880, and that has protected about 20 km² of forest for Blyth's tragopan since 1998. Walk the stone lanes and the morung square; ask the village before going into the forest.

Getting there

Dimapur airport and station are about 105 and 107 minutes below Kohima on our routing. See how to reach Kohima.

Where to stay

Both nights in Kohima. We have no verified lodging or prices in the city or in Khonoma.

Know before you go

  • Carry your Inner Line Permit; the tourist permit is valid for 15 days.
  • Khonoma is a living village: ask before photographing people or going into homes and the forest.
  • October to February is dry and clear; carry a warm layer for the evenings.

Places on this route

Kohima War Cemetery — the tennis court where the 1944 battle turned
Kohima War Cemetery — the tennis court where the 1944 battle turned
monument · 2 min from Kohima
Khonoma — the Angami village that fought the British and now guards its forest
Khonoma — the Angami village that fought the British and now guards its forest
village · 37 min from Kohima

Going together

No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.

Start a groupHow groups work

Other ways to do it

All Kohima itineraries →
One day in Kohima — the war cemetery, the state museum and the Kisama Heritage Village
One day in Kohima — the war cemetery, the state museum and the Kisama Heritage Village
Day plan · First visit · Temples & heritage
A one-day Kohima plan: the war cemetery on Garrison Hill, the Nagaland State Museum, and the Kisama Heritage Village of the Hornbill Festival. Free to copy.
Best Jan–Feb · Oct–Dec
See the plan →
The Hornbill Festival in three days — Kisama, the battle ground, and Khonoma
The Hornbill Festival in three days — Kisama, the battle ground, and Khonoma
2 nights · 3 days · culture · festival
A three-day Hornbill Festival plan: a full day at Kisama, Kohima's war cemetery and cathedral, and the Angami village of Khonoma, with the permit and dates.
Best Dec
See the plan →

More places nearby

All of Kohima →
Kisama Heritage Village — the Naga village of morungs and home of the Hornbill Festival
Kisama Heritage Village — the Naga village of morungs and home of the Hornbill Festival
monument · 5.3 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
A wide view over the houses of Shillong spread across forested hills under a sky of towering white clouds
Shillong
223 km away · 4 itineraries · 6 places
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Cherrapunji
242 km away · 3 itineraries · 3 places
Pastel-coloured buildings of Gangtok climbing a steep, forested hillside, seen from a viewpoint across the valley
Gangtok
576 km away · 5 itineraries · 11 places
The huge copper-coloured seated statue of Guru Padmasambhava on its painted base on Samdruptse hill under a grey sky
Namchi
595 km away · 2 itineraries · 3 places
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Questions people ask

Is Khonoma worth a full day?

Yes, if you like villages and history. It is about 37 minutes from Kohima on our routing, a settlement of terraced fields, stone lanes and morungs, with a story of resistance to the British and of protecting its forest since 1998. Ask the village before going into the sanctuary forest.

What is Kohima Village?

The old Angami village of Kewhira, from which the city takes its name. By oral history it is more than 700 years old, and it is divided into four clans. It sits on a hill in the city, and its lanes give some of the best views of Kohima; ask before photographing people and homes.

Can I see the Hornbill Festival on this plan?

This plan works any time of year. In December, from the 1st to the 10th, swap the museum for the Kisama Heritage Village, about 22 minutes south, or follow the three-day Hornbill plan, which gives the festival its own day and keeps Khonoma for the last.