The Hornbill Festival is a celebration held every year from 1 - 10 December, in Nagaland, Northeast India. It is also called the 'Festival of Festivals'. The Hornbill Festival provides a colorful mixture of dances, performances, arts and crafts, parades, games and sports, food fairs and religious ceremonies. The festival both exposes the culture and tradition of various Naga tribes.
The Hornbill Festival is organized by the State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments, Government of Nagaland. The 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 revive and protect the rich culture of Nagaland and display its extravaganza and traditions.
Day 1 Dimapur- Kohima (3 hrs)
Meet a representative at Dimapur Airport, the commercial hub of Nagaland, get surface transfer to Kohima, the state capital of Nagaland (2 ½ hrs). Enroute we shall see locals selling vegetables, fruits and other indigenous products, which are produced locally.
Overnight Kohima Hotel Eastgate/similarDay 2 : Hornbill Festival
Morning we shall start our day by visiting some local market and World War II cemetery. We shall spend the rest of our day in Hornbill festival filled with songs and dances, and people in full festive mood with colorful attires. We shall also see shops where you can pick up souvenirs to take home for your dear ones. We then shall have lunch at the festival where you can taste local food. We shall also visit Phesama village in the afternoon.
Overnight Kohima Hotel East Gate/similarDay 3 : Hornbill Festival
Morning we shall start our day by exploring Kigwema village and get some idea about the village life where we’ll come across huge wood carvings in front of rich men’s houses. Afterwhich we shall spend the rest of our day in the hornbill festival. Lunch at Hornbill festival. We shall be looking forward to see more fascinating and ethnic culture of the Nagas. We shall participate in the night carnival at Kohima where we shall see people selling different items from Christmas decorations to chicken barbecue. One of the most interesting aspect of the carnival is the whole street being filled and flooded with people taking their family and friends for fun and dinner
Overnight Kohima Hotel EastgateDay 4 : Kohima- Khonoma- Kohima
Today after breakfast, we shall drive to Khonoma village, explore the village which is 20 km from Kohima. Khonoma village is the first Green Village of the country. This village has taken an odd step by declaring 27 sq kms of its territory as "Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary" (KNCTS). At Khonoma you will find Culture, History and Nature intact together. Later drive back to Kohima.
Overnight Kohima Hotel EastgateDay 5 : Kohima- Khezhakeno – Kohima (2/3 hrs)
Today we shall drive to Khezhakeno village, Chakhesang Naga village. It is a legendary village, many of the present Naga villages migrated from this village.
Overnight Kohima Hotel EastgateDay 6 : Kohima Hornbill Festival
Today full day at hornbill festival till the closing ceremony where there will be fireworks and war cry. Evening at your leisure
Day 7 : Kohima - Dimapur (3 hrs)
We journey down to Dimapur to connect your flight for onward journey.
TOUR END
Cost Inclusion:
Cost Exclusion:
- Experience Hornbill Festival, the biggest Festival of the Nagaland
- Get to see the culture of all different tribes
- Excursion to Khonoma - the first green village in India and the legendary Khezhakeno village
- Local Cuisine and Wine
- Photography
- Rock Concerts