Kisama Heritage Village — the Naga village of morungs and home of the Hornbill Festival
What it is
The Kisama Heritage Village, also called the Naga Heritage Village, stands on a hill between the villages of Kigwema and Phesama south of Kohima; Kisama is made from their names. It was built in the form of an old Naga village, with a morung, the traditional youth dormitory of a Naga village, for each of the 17 ethnic groups of Nagaland.
Photos: Aravind Manickam (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
The Hornbill Festival
Every year from 1 to 10 December, Kisama is the main venue of the Hornbill Festival, the state's festival of festivals, organised by its tourism and art and culture departments since December 2000. Every Naga people takes part with dances, songs, crafts, food and games. Our Hornbill Festival guide has the details.
Getting there
It is about 10.8 km and 22 minutes from the centre of Kohima on our routing, above the highway that runs south towards Jakhama and Viswema. We have no verified opening hours outside the festival.
Combine it with
The one-day plan pairs Kisama with the Kohima War Cemetery. Read things to do in Kohima and the best time to go.
Plans that include this
All 2 plans that stop here →
Nearby places
All of Kohima →
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Questions people ask
Where is the Kisama Heritage Village?
On a hillside between the villages of Kigwema and Phesama, above the highway south of Kohima; its name joins theirs. It is about 10.8 km and 22 minutes from the centre of Kohima on our routing, and Wikipedia gives 12 km. Taxis run out from the city.
What is there to see at Kisama?
The heritage village is laid out like an old Naga village, with a morung, a village's traditional youth dormitory, for each of the 17 ethnic groups of Nagaland. Every December it is the main venue of the Hornbill Festival, with dances, crafts, food and games.
Is Kisama worth visiting outside the Hornbill Festival?
Yes, for the morungs and the setting, though it is far quieter. We have no verified opening hours or entry rules for the rest of the year, so ask in Kohima before you go. In festival week, from 1 to 10 December, expect crowds and plan transport early.