Asian Current

Kohima - the Switzerland of the East

This year take a vacation of your lifetime. Come off the beaten track. Come to Kohima and visit the cemetery of a division of British soldiers that laid their lives, fighting against the Japanese. The wonderful epitaph erected over the graves of 1400 soldiers and thoughtfully preserved by the British War Memorial Committee says.

When You Go Home
Tell Them Of Us And Say
For Your Tomorrow
We Gave Our Today

Kohima, popularly known as the Switzerland of the East is a sleepy little hill station situated at an altitude of 1495 meters and is the capital city of Nagaland, a tiny North eastern state in the Indian peninsula where an epoch battle was fought between the British army and the Japanese soldiers during the Second world War. Kohima is less than 3 hours drive from the airport at Dimapur through scenic roadways. Fairly good hotels with neat and clean furnishing are available en route. Cuisine preferred are mostly continental though local food may also be sampled.

The state of Nagaland is a narrow strip of mountainous territory lying to the east and south of Assam, north of Manipur and west of Mynamar. Meandering streams, high mountains, deep gorges and silent valleys together with a rich variety of flora and fauna has set this tiny state apart from the rest of India. Curiously enough, it is the only state in India where English is the official state language. No less than sixteen groups of Tibeto-Burman tribes inhabit the state whose arms are as colorful as their dresses. For sight seeing, a couple of days should be enough. Taxis and three wheelers are available throughout the day and a trip to the War Memorial and the cemetery will cost very little. A visit to the State Museum may be quite rewarding as relics of ancient Naga culture are preserved here with care and concern. Clay models of Naga warriors and their weapons are displayed in the Museum in a backdrop of wooded hills and terraced paddy fields. However, no orientation is made anywhere of the Naga Headhunters who once created terror in this close-knitted yet multi-tribal land of Nagas.

Another historic site not to be missed in Kohima is the Khonoma Gate, opening into the village of the namesake where the British once fought with bullets against the Nagas armed with rusty swords and poisoned arrows and were defeated. This is around ten kilometers from Kohima and the place is still remembered as a site of valor and courage for which the Nagas are well known. Another distinctive feature of Khonoma is its paddy fields. These terraced crop-growing fields yield at least twenty different varieties of paddy or rice during each cultivation phase and the produce is collected in twenty different containers for marketing to the plains people. It is common custom for the village elders to taste each different type of rice after harvesting that is celebrated with much éclat and fanfare.

Eastern Himalayan Mountains surround Kohima in all directions. A day’s journey to the Japfu Peak, 3048 meters above sea level is indeed worthwhile. Japfu is the second highest peak in Kohima from where a panoramic view of the town is absolutely enchanting. Mokokchung and Zunhebote, located at a distance of 160 and 150 kilometers respectively from Kohima are two picturesque small townships at high altitude, the earlier being the cultural center of Ao Nagas.