Nagaland

Nagaland is a mountainous state in the far northeast of India, bordering Myanmar, celebrated for its rich tribal heritage and vibrant festivals. Its capital is Kohima. Home to numerous Naga tribes, it is known for the colourful Hornbill Festival and a strong warrior and community tradition.

Nagaland is a rugged, forested land of north-south hill ranges and valleys, with a pleasant, cool climate and heavy monsoon rains. Mount Saramati is its highest peak. Agriculture is largely terraced and shifting cultivation on the hillsides.

Nagaland is home to many distinct Naga tribes, each with its own language, dress and customs, united in the famous Hornbill Festival held each December. The population is overwhelmingly Christian, and folk music, dance and crafts are central to identity.

The Naga peoples long lived in independent village communities resistant to outside rule. After British contact and a prolonged movement for self-determination, Nagaland became a full Indian state in 1963, the 16th state of the union.