NAGALAND (NORTHEAST INDIA) : TOWNS & VILLAGES Nagaland joined the Indian Union on 1st December, 1963. This hilly state has a population of only about 1.9 million : these few people are composed of 16 different major tribes. Since 1947 Naga insurgents have battled for an independent Nagaland but failed. Some remote areas are still partially under rebel control. Nagaland’s capital, in the South of the state, is scattered across a series of forested ridges and hilltops. Other main cities are Dimapur (west), Mokokchung & Wokha (center), Mon (north). Mon region (Konyak tribe) is the most traditional one, with a lot of still traditional remote villages. Dominique LAURENT Meet me on mosttraveledpeople.com or thebesttravelled.com AUTOMATIC NO COMMERCIAL USE WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL
Kohima (capital city of Nagaland)
Kohima
Kohima : Government building
Kohima : Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians (also called Cathedral of Reconciliation, in connection with WWII)
Kohima War Cemetery (Kohima was a site of intense fighting against the Japanese during a 64-day WWII battle)
Kohima: Heritage Hotel (British colonial architecture)
Between Kohima & Khonoma village : a Naga monument (though Nagaland is part of India, this kind of monument is tolerated ; Naga insurgents have battled in vain for independence and a truce exists, though some places are still unsafe)
Khonoma village (historic site of 2 major British-Angami tribe battles in 1847 & 1879) : way to fort thru a ‘kharu’ (gate)
Khonoma village : old Angami fort
Khonoma village : stela (middle) & door ornaments
Rice terraces from the ridge above Khonoma village
Khonoma village : a ‘morung’ (Angami tribe) (‘morungs’ were bachelor dormitories)
Khonoma village : inside a ‘morung’’
Khonoma village : inside a ‘morung’
Mokokchung : downtown (known for its shops all painted in blue)
Mokokchung : a ceremonial building adorned with tiger wood sculptures
Ungwa village : Baptist church (the vast majarity of Naga people are Christians)
Ungwa village : a ceremonial house adorned with tiger and hornbill wood sculptures (Ao tribe)
Ungwa village : huge log ceremonial drum (Ao tribe)
Kisama Heritage village : ceremonial drum (Phom tribe)
Misty dawn in Mon (northern Nagaland)
Mon (northern Nagaland)
Konyak tribe traditional dwelling
Longwa village : Konyak tribe traditional house
Konyak tribe traditional dwelling
Longwa village : church (Konyak tribe)
Longwa village : chief’s longhouse (Konyak tribe) (straddling the border between Nagaland and Myanmar !)
Longwa village : backside of the chief’s longhouse with a ceremonial drum (Konyak tribe)
Longwa village : ceremonial drum
Longwa village : inside the chief’s longhouse
Longwa village : inside the chief’s longhouse
Longwa village : inside the chief’s longhouse (mythical animal)
Longwa village : inside the chief’s longhouse
Longwa village : inside the chief’s longhouse (buffalo skulls, called ‘mithun’)
Longwa village : inside the chief’s longhouse
Longwa village : another longhouse
Longwa village : megaliths (erected in memory of heroes)
Longwa village : tombs of late Konyak chiefs
A Konyak elder : his face is tattooed (Konyak men were headhunters : until the end of the 60’s - last known case of headhunting - they tattooed their face when they got heads from headhunting !
Old Mon village : longhouse decorated with ‘mithun’ skulls
Typical Naga dishes (Chakhesang tribe)
Sheanghah Chingnyu village : traditional Konyak house
Sheanghah Chingnyu village : chief’s longhouse (Konyak tribe)
Sheanghah Chingnyu village : chief’s longhouse adorned with ‘mithun’ skulls
Sheanghah Chingnyu village : chief’s longhouse (‘mithun’ skulls)
Sheanghah Chingnyu village : human skulls (from headhunting)
Sheanghah Chingnyu village : inside the chief’s longhouse (note the stuffed tiger on the right)
Sheanghah Chingnyu village : inside the chief’s longhouse (deer skulls)
Basket & ‘rain coat’ (made of grass) (right) & human skulls sculptured on a ceremonial drum (above) END