80 Unbelievable Facts About Nagaland

Facts About Nagaland: Nagaland is a state in northeastern India. The state is bordered by the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Myanmar. The state capital is Kohima. Nagaland is divided into 7 districts. About 84% of the population belongs to the 16 Naga tribes. Nagas belong to the Indo-mongoloid race. Other minor tribes make up about 40,000 Chin people. Among them are 220,000 Assamese and 14,000 Bengali Muslims. Over 85% of the population are Christians, mainly Baptists. In Hindu-dominated India Nagaland shares this Christian heritage with the neighbouring states of Mizoram and Meghalaya.

Nagaland became a state on December 1, 1963. Its status as an integral part of India since 1956, and as an independent territory before it, has been controversial. Some factions have taken this as support and are anxious for independence.

Two bomb blasts in Assam and Nagaland on October 2, 2004 killed at least 57 people and injured more than 100 others. Authorities believe two separatist rebel groups, the United Liberation Front of Assam and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, are responsible.

Interesting Facts About Nagaland

Jhume (Shifting) cultivation is generally practised in the state.
The only city in Nagaland where no permission is required to enter is Dimapur.
The state has witnessed long episodes of insurgency and inter-ethnic' conflict.
Nagaland was formally inaugurated on 1 December 1963 as the 16th State of India.
The Nagaland Sugar Mill at Dimapur has installed capacity of 1000 tonnes per day.
Mineral Resources of Nagaland – Coal, limestone, iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium and marble.
Nagaland is the only Indian state which showed population drop between 2001 to 2011 census.
This is a sort of parent festival which portrays the glimpses of festivals of all different tribes.
Nagaland is one of the three states which has a Christian majority (Other two being Manipur and Meghalaya).
The Naga people did not call themselves by that name ‘Naga’. It was the outsiders who gave them the name ‘Naga’.
Rhododendron is the state flower of Nagaland. This species of woody plant blooms in late winters to early spring.
Longleng is the smallest district in the state. It has only 46 recognised villages and a population of 50,484 people.
The major tribes of Nagaland include Ao, Sangtam, Chakhesangs, Kukis, Kacharis, Angamis, Konyaks, Aos, Sumis, Changs, Lothas etc
The state tree of Nagaland is Alder, state animal is Mithun, state bird is Blyth’s Tragopan, and the state flower is Rhododendron.
Nagaland having an area of about 16,579 sq. km is the 10th smallest state of India and the 2nd smallest state of North East India.

Geographical Facts About Nagaland

In order to enter Kohima, Indian tourists need an Inner Line Permit (ILP). Whereas, Foreigners require a Restricted Area Permit (RAP).
This festival was started in the year 2000 by the state government to promote tourism and to promulgate the tribe’s culture of the state.
Dzukou Valley in Nagaland is also considered as the Heaven on earth. This valley feels like no other place in Nagaland and it’s totally green and unique.
The second highest peak of Nagaland is the Japfu Peak. Located to the south of Kohima town, it is also known as the ‘Switzerland of the East’ of Nagaland.
This state borders with Assam in the northwest, Arunachal Pradesh in north and Manipur in the south. It also shares an international boundary with Myanmar.
91% of the land area of the state is hilly and mountainous and the rest of 9% area which includes those bordering the Assam Valley is mostly plain and not hilly.
Kachari ruins located in Dimapur, Nagaland are the set of dome shaped pillars. These pillars were constructed in the 10th century during the Kachari civilization.
The Mokokchung district of Nagaland is where the famous Moatsu festival is celebrated. It takes place in the month of May every year and is organized by the Ao tribe.
Mithun is the state animal of Nagaland. This bovine that weighs around 1000 kg and with an average body length of 8-10 feet is also known as the cattle of the mountains.
The Naga dialects vary from village to village. They don’t have a common dialect and so have more than 60 spoken dialects, all belonging to the Sino-Tibetan language family.

Historical Facts About Nagaland

Mount Pauna is the third highest peak of Nagaland. It belongs to the Benreu range and offers you some of the most breathtaking and picturesque views you have ever witnessed.
Nagaland’s capital city is Kohima and its largest city is Dimapur. Dimapur is the economic capital of Nagaland. Dimapur is also the Nagaland’s port head and its largest city.
Nagaland is located at the easternmost part of India. It is bordered by the state of Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, Manipur to the south and Myanmar to the east.
Dimapur Airport is Nagaland’s only civil airport located in Dimapur, the main economic capital of Nagaland. It is located at 3rd Mile, Dimapur which falls in the National Highway 29.
Historical records show the present-day Naga people settled in Nagaland many hundreds of years before the arrival of the Ahoms (the most famous ethnic group of North East India) in 1228 AD.
Yes, it snows it Nagaland. The high altitude regions of Nagaland like Mount Saramati, Mount Japfu, and the nearby locations of Kohima are prone to snowfall but, only during the extreme winters.
Nagaland is also called the ‘Most Baptist State in the World’ because it is among the three Christian dominated states in India where the vast majority of the citizens follow the Baptist Church.
When Mahatma Gandhi the father of the Indian Nation was approached by the Naga leaders in 1947, he said, “Nagas have every right to be independent.” And, this thing only a very few people in India know.
Feel the tribal culture of Nagaland at Kisama Village. The Kisama Village located 10 km from Kohima, is a Naga Heritage Village aimed at protecting and preserving the cultural heritage of the tribal groups.

Facts About Nagaland Wildlife

Nearly, one-sixth part of the Nagaland state is forest-covered. The forest areas below 1,220 metres are tropical and subtropical evergreen forests. And, the forest areas above 1,220 metres are of coniferous type.
We all know that India got its independence on 15th August 1947. But, Nagaland declared its independence just one day before the independence of India. Yes, Nagaland declared its independence on 14th August 1947.
“Unity” is the motto of Nagaland state. The design of Nagaland state emblem is a circular seal with a Mithun Bison standing on a green hilly landscape, and its motto “Unity” and “Government of Nagaland” inscribed.
During, World War 2 a shocking number of nearly 4,000 British Empire troops lost their lives, along with 3,000 Japanese as well. Many of those who lost their lives were Naga people, particularly of the Angami tribe.
Mount Saramati Peak located near the Thanamir Village in the Kiphire district is the highest peak of Nagaland with a height of about 3,826 metres. It ranges from a natural barrier between Nagaland and Myanmar border.
Nagaland has a natural barrier between the state and Burma (now Myanmar) as Mount Saramati stands tall between the borders separating the two. The highest peak in the state which stands at 3840 meters is Mount Saramati.
The Nagaland Government has no land of its own in the state. The state’s land is fully under the control of the Naga Hoho lock, stock, and barrel organization formed by the local tribes to protect and uphold their local customs.
Nagaland is the first and only state among India’s 29 states that registered the rare phenomenon of population decline between the years of 2001 and 2011. Between this period, the population in the Naga state has dropped by 0.47%.

Social and Culture Facts About Nagaland

Nagaland is one of the three states that have a significant number of Christian populations. 90% of the people in Nagaland follow Christianity. The other central Christian states are Mizoram and Meghalaya, with 90% and 83% majority.
You will find all kinds of strange things in the local markets of Nagaland. Yes, they sell bullfrogs, insect worms, larvae and eggs of various insects, beef, dog meat, silk worms, snails, water frogs, spiders, etc. as local food items.
Kohima War Cemetery is located at Kohima city which is fully dedicated to the soldiers of the 2nd Military division of British Allied forces, who died in the 2nd World War at Kohima in April 1944. It is a memorial dedicated to soldiers.
In the word Nagamese, the word ‘Naga’ has been derived from the Naga word, and the word ‘Mese’ has been derived from the ‘Assamese’ word. Nagamese is a famous intertribal language of Nagaland that has the essence of the Assamese language.
Mount Tiyi is located at the Wokha district of Nagaland at an altitude of about 1969 meters above the sea level. Do you know that Mount Tiyi is a place of cultural importance for the Nagas as they believe that the departed souls live here?
Nagaland is often termed as the ‘falcon capital of the world’ because this state is the first in the whole world where by far the largest and most spectacular species of Falcon can be seen. Approximately, it has 50 falcons per square kilometres.
The majority of the economy of the state is dependent on agriculture. Agriculture covers over 70% of the state’s economy. The rest of the economy is contributed by the forestry, tourism, insurance, real estate, and miscellaneous cottage industries.
Nagaland is also known as the ‘Land of Festivals’. It’s beacuse each tribe of Nagaland celebrates its own festivals during different months of the year. This literally means that, all round the year, there occurs one or the other festival in Nagaland.

Strange Facts About Nagaland

Another strange fact about Dzukou Valley is that this place has the presence of white elephants and white lions. These are witnessed here in some of the secret parts of the valley which remained still untouched by humans. The mystery is yet to be solved.
Dzukou Valley Lily and the Rhododendron flowers are the only two rare and unique flowers found in Dzukou valley. Dzukou Valley Lily is only found here and nowhere else. And, the Rhododendron flower is so rare that it has been declared as the State Flower of Nagaland.
The Khonoma village in Kohima district is also regarded as Asia’s first ‘green village’. It’s called so because the locals of this village had made a Herculean effort to ban logging, deforestation, and hunting in 1998. This village is the home to the Angami Naga people.
Do you know the Naga Heritage Village, also known as Kisama Heritage Village, is the only best evidence of the rich culture and tradition of the Nagas? The main objective of this Heritage Village is to protect the essence of ethnicities of the Naga tribes in its true form.
World War 2 that was fought in Nagaland is also known as the ‘Battle of the Tennis Court’. It’s because this battle was fought between the Japanese forces and the British Army between April and May of 1944 around a Tennis Court resulting in over 10000 casualties over the area.
The Naga Shawl is the most significant piece of clothing in the Naga society and determines the social status of a person wearing them. Each tribe of the Naga community has its own distinctive design, pattern, and style of the Naga Shawl that differentiates them from the other.
The World’s Largest Electric Guitar Ensemble was held at Nagaland. On January 12, 2013, an electric guitar ensemble was held at 4th Mile, Dimapur, Nagaland. This made its name to the Guinness Book of World Record. The event was organized to promote unity and peace among the people.

Information About Nagaland

The origin of the name ‘Naga’ is still unclear. According to Burmese word “No-ka/Na-ga” meaning ‘people with pierced earlobes‘. From the Assamese word ‘Noga’ meaning ‘naked‘. From the Sanskrit word ‘Nan-ga’ meaning ‘naked‘. From the Bengali word ‘Nangla’ meaning naked, crude, and barbarous.
In North-East India, World War 2 was fought only in Manipur and Nagaland. There was a massive battle fought between the British allied forces of undivided Assam and the Japanese army in Manipur and Nagaland during World War 2. The battle was fought in three stages from 4 April to 22 June 1944.
The Naga people have no written historical records or pieces of evidence to prove their existence, origin, and the route of migration to their present habitation. Modern-day theories say that the majority of the Nagas immigrated from South-East through Indo-Myanmar border to the present-day Nagaland.
Since there are so many festivals, the Government of Nagaland launched the Hornbill Festival in 2000 to showcase all of the festivals, culture, and heritage of the Naga tribes at one single festival. This is sort of a big umbrella festival that showcases the various other festivals of the state all at once.
Have you ever heard about the Logwa Village in Nagaland? If you visit Longwa Village in Nagaland, you will be at two places at once, that’s half India and half Myanmar. The people of Longwa Village enjoys both the citizenship of India and Myanmar. The borderline between India and Myanmar passes through this village.
How one tribe communicates with the other? They speak English for intertribal communication i.e communication of one tribe with the other. English is the official language of Nagaland. They often use Hindi and Nagamese for intertribal communications well. Nagamese is a broken modified version of the Assamese language.
Do you know that Mon in Nagaland is the Land of Anghs? It’s called so because this unique region is known as much for its inhabitants as its beauty. The Konyak tribe is the primary inhabitants of this mysterious land and they are the ancestors of last head hunters in India. Konyaks from the past era were known as tattooed warriors who practiced headhunting.
Bhoot Jolokia also known as the red naga chili, is the hottest chili in the world as recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. Nagaland is the home to this chili. Bhoot Jolokia is so much hotter that, it may even cause death to a 150-pound person if he eats a 1/2kg of such a type of chili. It is about 400 times hotter than the famous Jalapeno Pepper Chili.
Hidimba is a powerful demon king in the Mahabharata (more than 3000 years ago). He was the brother of Hidimbi and uncle of Ghatotkacha, as well as a friend of the demon queen Kimira. In Dimapur, you can see a few of the old stuffs of Hidimba with which he and his sister used to play his outdoor games, still present on the outskirts of Dimapur town at Rajbari Palace.
There is nothing so common amongst the various tribes of Nagaland. The state is inhabited by more than 16 tribes. Some of the most popular tribes are Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Kachari, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Kuki, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Yimchunger, and Zeme-Liangmai. Each of the tribe is unique in character with its own distinct customs, language, and dress.
Nagaland is the home of the last surviving headhunting tribe. They are called head hunters because they used to fight and cut away the heads of the enemy warriors and store them as trophies in their communal house. Mon district and nearby villages are the home of these last surviving headhunters. You can literally see the sights of animal and human skulls in the local peoples’ house there.
Another interesting fact about the state’s geolocation is that the Longwa village in Mon district of Nagaland has houses that lie on India and Myanmar’s international borderline. Half of the village houses lie in our country and the other half on the other side of the border, in Myanmar. The Longwa village has immense natural beauty, and interestingly, the jurisdiction of Nagaland’s chief extends on both sides of the borders.
Blyth’s tragopan is the state bird of Nagaland. This vulnerable species is sighted in Mount Japfü and Dzükou valley, Satoi range in Zunheboto district and Pfütsero in Phek district. A Blyth’s tragopan inside the Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary at Pungro, along the foothills of Mt. Saramati, in Kiphire district. The Nagaland government has declared the bird as one of the five species to be included in the Recovery Programme of Endangered Species.
Tourists from other states of India are not allowed to enter the state of Nagaland without an ILP, which is issued by the state’s government. Nagaland is one of the few states that are protected by the Inner Line Permit. The other states are Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Manipur. The Inner Line Permit is issued for every tourist entering the state to allow their temporary stay. Although Nagaland’s largest city Dimapur does not require an Inner Line Permit.
The Hornbill Festival is the most important festival of Nagaland. In facst, this is the Festival of all the festivals for the Nagas. The Hornbill Festival is celebrated every year from 1st December to 10th December in the state of Nagaland. This festival is a very important festival for the people of Nagaland as it showcases and promotes the art, culture, and custom of Nagas. The Kisama village in Kohima is the main venue of the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland.
The tribes of Nagaland are rigid about their customs and their social stands too. Interestingly, the Naga shawls are famous as they are a symbolic representation of the social hierarchy prevalent in the state among the different tribes. The vibrant red Naga weaves come with vivid designs and patterns and are the most significant clothing piece in Naga society. Each tribe has its individual design or pattern that discern the social status of the person donning the shawl.
Nagaland is undoubtedly a tribal land. Nagaland is famous for being home to 16 prominent tribes along with other sub-tribes. The government and the state’s people are keen on preserving the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the tribes. Each tribe has its language and customs that are celebrated individually throughout the year. Though English is the state language, there is no particular “Naga” language. Other than English, the people of the different tribes widely use the Nagamese language, which is a Creole dialect, and has borrowed words from the Assamese to communicate with each other.

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