NOT INDIA’S Number One hill station, but Kohima is nice enough for a few days, as a base to explore the surrounding hills. The many markets and bazaars make for good entertainment, too.
Houses sit upon houses on the steeps hills of the Nagaland capital, Kohima.
For some, there are mountain views with the morning tea.
Getting out beyond the town to the hills isn't too hard.
Traffic snarls do occur, but they are not on the scale seen in major Indian cities.
There's an apparently very good museum here. We did see the cultural village. Don't. Unless the Hornbill Festival is on, it is just a sad, run-down gimmick.
One of two day trips we made was to the nearby Puliebadze mountain area.
There was some nice hiking, a sighting of the indigenous "mithun" bull, and a scary ride back with a driver apologising for not having a licence.
Besides trips to the hills, the next best thing about Kohima is its markets.
We chanced upon the Bamboo Market on the way back from Puliebadze.
No bigger than a suburban block, it packed in a great deal of north-east India, from produce.....
....street-side food vendors without a seat to spare....
....fish and other water creatures bound for the plate...
...and, no this is not the pet section. People up here aren't shy about what goes in the pot.
We did see dog-meat for sale, as well as several types of worms and other bugs.
I'm really not sure how you'd serve these up- or what they even are.
Of course, there is plenty of the more conventional fare, too.
And these bad boys are everywhere, 7-figures on the scoville scale. (Tabasco is about 4000). Bhut Jolokia, ghost chili, naga chili- handle with care. Makes for great chutney!
Naga Bazaar, near the stadium, is a bigger, friendly market closer to the main part of town.
Fun and fascinating as the stalls are, you will certainly want to take a look at the villages and hills further afield.
Getting to and from the mountain villages isn't so hard, but, on reflection, we would like to have stayed overnight.
A quick internet search for "hiking Kohima" will show plenty of places to spread your wings.
We day-tripped to Khonoma, a town visited by tourists, but by no means a tourist town.
Visitors are generally free to look in at the several community houses on the hill top town area.
But life goes on around.
The views are cool, and there are several places to stay in town.
From the steep rice terraces, the less lazy can head off for day or multi day walks in the Dzukou Valley. Next time!
We were content with just a day trip, which was still rewarding.
Houses are tightly knit, largely unfenced, with twisting, up-down paths taking you right past and sometimes through people's lives.
Folks rarely if ever seemed to mind the intrusion.
Despite, or because of being just a car ride from the city, Khonoma maintains its traditions and culture.
The village is divided into three clans, Merhü-ma, Semo-ma, and Thevo-ma. Several clan or community houses are used as places of gathering.
Hunting is banned in a large area around the village. There is a fort, and a museum, and cottage industries can be seen around the village.
Below the hilltop town, farmers toil in the fields.
I'd highly recommend staying here at least one night.
The capital wasn't a bad place by any means though.