Nagaland Art & Craft Tour

On arrival at Dimapur station/airport, you will be driven to Khonoma that is about a distance of 87 kilometres. It will take about 4 hours of time. In between, you will be visiting Mezoma Village where you can explore the Wood and Bamboo Craft Unit, quite well known in the state. Once you reach the village of Khonoma, there is an overnight stay.

Shawl Weaving, Basket Making, Spear Making, Morung Visit
The day starts with an in depth exploration of Khonoma. It is the first Green Village of the Country. While touring the entire place, you will check out the local women weaving fine shawls in different colours as well as designs. Spear making art and cane basket craft can also be seen as an activity among the men of the village. The surprising part is that you get to meet National Winners in cane basket making here at the village itself. A visit to Morung is also scheduled. It is supposed to be a ceremonial gate according to the locals from where the history and culture of the place is passed on to the coming generations. There are some forts to cover as well. This is followed by a picnic lunch and then a short discussion on how the famous Jhum cultivation is done that was practiced by the past generations along with Alder trees. It was one of the most scientific ways to be followed.

Have breakfast at Khonoma. Starting off from Khonoma, there is a short drive of about 1 hour to Kohima which covers a distance of about 20 kilometres. Here you will find some fine weavers as well as a range of wood carvings. A visit to the Sale Emporium is also scheduled thereafter. Some of the other attractions of the place included in the sightseeing are State Museum, War Memorial and a visit to two close by villages Kigwema and Kisama. Here you will be able to cover one of the exclusive festivals of Hornbill that is organized annually. The festival is inclined towards agriculture and is celebrated with great passion. It is held during the first week of December at the Naga Heritage Village. This follows an overnight stay at Kohima.

About at a distance of 45 kilometres, it will take about 1 hour from Kohima to Touphema, post-breakfast. Along with the golden chance to visit the Touphema Village, one also gets to see Tseminyu Village that perfectly falls under the tribe of Rengma Naga. The people are known here for their sheer ability in fine weaving. In fact, it is their main way of livelihood. There are about 16 different tribes that reside in Nagaland and each one of them has an expertise in a specific art or craft. For lunch, you will be driven back to the Touphema Village. The time in the afternoon can be used for the exploration of the hamlet, especially the stone from where the villagers are known to take their designs for shawls. For a well spent evening, the itinerary gives you a showcase of cotton spinning by the local women along with singing the traditional music and songs of the state. This is followed by an overnight stay.

Longsa Village Visit, Lotha Village Visit
It will take you about 6 hours of drive from Touphema to Mokokchung which covers a distance of about 120 kilometres. The lunch is a packed one that will be given during the drive. Here, the tour is moving towards another Naga tribe Ao Naga. In between, stops are made at Longsa and Lotha villages for exploration of traditional art and culture. Here, the speciality lies in the various designs and shapes of shawls as well as baskets. This is followed by a visit to Longkhum Village before reaching the final destination of Mokokchung.

Earthen Pot Making Experience, Aliba Visit, Chungtia Villages Tour
About at 40 kilometres from Mokokchung, lies the beautiful village of Changki that you will be exploring today. The place is renowned all over the country for the art of earthen pot making. The local artisans are actually experts in making pots with mud. It is at Changki Village that scrumptious lunch will be served.
A drive back to Mokokchung with visit to Chungtia and Aliba village is scheduled for the time after lunch. There is an overnight stay at Mokokchung.

Ilenden Village Tour, Mishing Village Exploration
The distance from Mokokchung to Johrat is about 130 kilometres and will take about 5-6 hours of your time. Shifting from hills to plains will also bring a change in the weather and make the temperature rise. You will get to see a lot of more local weavers on the way making bamboo mats. This is done by using the renowned Bamboo technology. You will also come across the small enterprises that the Nagas are beholding even in the villages and one such is the Ilenden Village. Traditional shawls can be seen in creation at the Mishing Village in Assam thereafter.
A drop is given at the airport/station in Johrat where you can fly back home with some evergreen memories of the Nagaland Art and Craft Tour.