Kohima

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The town of Kohima was initially known as Kewhira, and it was a considerable village before urbanisation hit the region and Kewhira extended and became present-day Kohima. The territory has a rich history of victory and struggle of the Naga clan against the British. This was the only territory that the British couldn’t conquer, the naga clan were not ready to surrender to the British powers and kept them from taking over their land, less than 10,000 square kilometres was occupied by the British and rest was still under the control of the Naga.

This wasn’t the only battle that took place on the territory of Kohima, the great battle of Kohima was considered to be the turning point during the Burma campaign, it was the Naga region that prevented the Japanese from getting across the border from that end of the country, clans were known to be very brutal and skilled in their battle tactics which kept the Japanese at bay. However, some would say that the region still hasn’t come to rest as the tensions between the government and the state of Nagaland. These tensions have resulted in conflicts and the creation of private militia over the years since the war of Kohima ended, the main problem being the demand of a separate state by the people of Nagaland.

CULTURE AND PEOPLE

People of Kohima are very traditional and cultural; they are always ready to help their people out as they take great pride in their identity and their people. There are several communities that reside in the region now, Sangtam, Konyak, Angami, Rengma, to name a few. The most prominent language spoken is Nagamese, English and Hindi are also expressed in the area but not as much. The main religion followed in Kohima is Christianity, with about ninety per cent of the population being Christian.

Festivals are a huge part of the naga culture, and they are celebrated in their traditional easy some of the main festivals are the Hornbill festival, Moatsu festival and the Ngada festival. Most of these festivals are celebrated in February, December, May and November.

The main occupation of the people in Kohima is weaving we have several professional weavers from this part of the country with very high-quality goods being produced and is also exporters of raw material. The region has also come up with an industry of its own because of urbanisation and development in the area but is still relatively weak and has a low employment rate.

FOOD AND SHOPPING ITEMS

The most well-known food taken by the individuals of Kohima is meat and rice. The flavour of the food increments as it is eaten on the banana leaves. The other most delightful foods of Kohima are fish seared rice, Poora Mach, Dal and eggs, Poora haah and Koat Pitha. The essential items to be purchased in Kohima are woven bamboo, ancestral wraps, adornments, beadwork and in vogue garments. Handloom items are quite fascinating in Kohima markets. The primary business sectors in Kohima are Central market, Naga bazaar, Wholesale Market and Government Sales Emporium where the items are accessible at genuinely sensible rates.

THINGS TO DO

Visiting the Kohima war cemetery is a grave encounter as you stroll past 2337 remembrances and graves that are placed on the slopes. Travelling to Mt. Japfu is one of the most energising journeys encounters you can experience and thus is an unquestionable requirement for all travelling enthusiasts. The second most elevated top in Nagaland, Mt. Japfu is reached through the town of wigwam. The Bhut jolokia viewed as one among the hottest chillies on the planet which is developed in Kohima. This hot fiery stew is utilised as a fixing in the vast majority of the plans for utilisation. All the while, this bean stew likewise discovers its application on the wall and as smoke bombs as a preventive measure to keep wild elephants under control. Touphema village is one of the most beautiful villages in the region with the Nagaland government specifically backing this small village they have been able to recreate their old and traditional way of constructing huts and other artefacts such as clothes and weapons. This is open for tourists throughout the year. Shilloi lake is another must-try location in Kohima where a boat ride can mesmerise you, as it is breathtaking.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Winters is considered a more suitable season for visiting Kohima as the weather is pleasant and chilly at the time, in October up to May. One should avoid summers as the monsoons are extremely strong, sometimes causing cloudbursts which can be very dangerous if you happen to get stuck in one.

AVAILABILITY OF ACCOMMODATION

There is plenty of places to stay for everyone and are available for all kinds of budgets. Although there is a slight scarcity of hotels and home stays during monsoons as a lot of places have to shut down due to the heavy rainfalls.