Tribal villages, WWII history, the green sweep of the Dzukou valley, and the colour of the Hornbill festival — a ride through one of India's least-known corners.
Nagaland sits at the very edge of the map — a land of misty blue ridges, terraced villages, and a warmth of welcome that surprises every first-time visitor. It rewards riders who are as curious about people as they are about roads.
Kohima and Khonoma
Kohima's ridge and war cemetery mark one of the turning points of the Second World War, where the Japanese advance into India was finally halted. Nearby Khonoma — India's first 'green village' — is terraced, forested, and fiercely proud, and a homestay there is the heart of the trip.
The Dzukou valley and the Hornbill
Trek an hour off the bikes into the Dzukou valley — rolling emerald hills and seasonal flowers with mist pouring over the ridgelines. Time your ride for early December and you can add the Hornbill festival at Kisama: a week of Naga music, dance, food, and colour unlike anything else in India.
You come to Nagaland for the ridges. You leave remembering the people.
Ride it October to April. Challenging roads, unforgettable hospitality.
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