Kohima, the capital town of Nagaland in the north eastern part of India is a picturesque town, situated amidst lush green wealth of the nature. Kohima in Nagaland, a typical Naga town is a pretty hill station, with panoramic views of the rugged Naga hills, displaying the exotic tribal culture of the northeast. The home of the brave and daring, yet simple and innocent, Naga tribes, Kohima Nagaland is unspoilt and replete with some attractive sites to see and do. Sheltered in the eastern frontiers of the Himalayan mountain range, Kohima in Nagaland is noted for its unhurried pace of life, calm and serene environs and fresh, unpolluted air, which make a welcome change for a exhausted city sniffers.

The British incursions into the Naga territory beginning in the 1840s met with stiff resistance from the independence loving Nagas who had never been conquered by any empire before. The stiffness of the resistance can be gauged by the fact that it took nearly four decades for the British to conquer a territory that is less than 10,000 square kilometres( the eastern region was left free). Kohima was the first seat of modern administration as the Headquarter of Naga Hills District (then under Assam) with the appointment of G.H. Damant as Political Officer in 1879. When Nagaland became a full fledged state on 1st December 1963, Kohima was christened as the state capital.

In 1944 during World War II the Battle of Kohima along with the simultaneous Battle of Imphal was the turning point in the Burma Campaign. For the first time in South-East Asia the Japanese lost the initiative to the Allies which they then retained until the end of the war. This hand-to-hand battle and slaughter prevented the Japanese from gaining a high base from which they might next roll across the extensive flatlands of India like a juggernaut.

District map of Nagaland with Kohima cityKohima has a pleasant and moderate climate - not too cold in winters and pleasant summers. December and January are the coldest months when frost occurs and in the higher altitudes snowfall occurs occasionally. During the height of summers, from July-August, temperature ranges an average of 80-90 Fahrenheit. Heavy rainfall occurs during summer Kohima is located at 25.67° N 94.12° E.[3] It has an average elevation of 1261 metres (4137 feet).

The town of Kohima is located on the top of a high ridge and the town serpentines all along the top of the surrounding mountain ranges as is typical of most Naga settlements.

Airport : The nearest airport is at Dimapur. Indian Airlines operates Boeing services from both Calcutta and Delhi every alternate day. Guwahati and Imphal are also connected to Dimapur by air.

Railhead : The nearest railhead too is Dimapur, and the Northeast Frontier Railway runs a number of trains from Dimapur to Guwahati. Guwahati is in turn well connected to the rest of the country.

Road Transport : Nagaland State Transport runs buses from Dimapur to Kohima and the journey takes around 4 hours. From Guwahati, one can find a number of luxury private buses. Taxis and mini-coaches are also available, albeit at slightly exorbitant rates, from Dimapur.
Staying in Kohima, Nagaland Kohima offers very few choices as far as lodges are concerned. A few good private hotels and the Tourist Lodge are the few places to stay.

Kohima : The state capital, Kohima, is located on National Highway No.39, less than three hours drive from Dimapur. Kohima is a picturesque hill station perched at an altitude of 1,495 metres above sea level. The Japanese beat a retreat from Kohima during the Second World War, and the War Cemetery is a symbolic memorial raised to commemorate the supreme sacrifices made by the officers. The Catholic Cathedral at Aradura Hill is an important landmark, as it happens to be one of the largest cathedrals in the entire north-east and houses the biggest cross in the country, made of wood.

Nagaland State Museum : The State Museum in Kohima treasures a rare collection of articles of different tribes which speak about the history and traditions of the Nagas.

Sales Emporium : Located in the heart of Kohima, the emporium sells a variety of Naga art and handicraft items.

Zoological Park : The zoo in Kohima has some rare species of animals and birds, including the rare Blythe's Tragopan.