Khonoma: Wonderful village of Nagaland
Hello all,
I am sure we must have bored you all with back-to-back three posts of waterfalls around Vadodara. But what can we do? Yeh Dil Mange more…so I just thought, let’s take a break for them this weekend and let me take to a magical, enchanting, and fascinating wonderland of India – NorthEast.
North East fascinates me. I don’t know why. Maybe because these states are least explored, their simplicity, their closeness with their roots, the geography of the location… I have not traveled to all the states. Just Nagaland and Dooars, which is also called doorway to Northeast India.
Let’s go back to May. I still have not shared our thrilling experience in the Khonoma village of Nagaland with you all. Khonoma is a small quiet village known as ‘The First Green Village of Asia.’ When I think of Khonoma, I can see the drifting clouds with paddy fields below playing hide and seek with us. Suddenly you turn around, and the clouds are gone revealing the gorgeous view of lush green fields, which will take your breath away…and that is why it is also called the “Village of drifting clouds”
When we went there, the weather was not at its best. There were clouds all over the place, and we could not see a thing. But still, we were amazed to walk among the cobble-stoned paths of the village, which are made by local people only. The village walk starts at the UKU cafe, and we enter this charming village. At the first gate, there are prominent stone-made tribal symbols and motifs, mainly from the Angami tribe. There are circular symbols that are considered ‘guarding eyes.
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It is the village of the Angami tribe of Nagaland. They were recognized for their aggressive hunting and misuse of adjacent rainforests in the past. But gradually, things started to change. The elders of the community started understating the importance of nature and making their kids and youth understand the same. And slowly and steadily, they banned hunting as well as cutting trees and started preserving the flora and fauna of the adjoining enchanting rainforests. And finally, they formed Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary (KNCTS). Gradually once fading population of animals and birds started increasing, and the Nagaland government took this into notice in 2001. After that, in 2005 the village got recognition as “Asia’s first green village” and got a grant of 3 crores from the central Govt. Now all of these are maintained by Khonoma Youth Organization
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The most marked feature of Khonoma after rice fields is their homes. All homes are built with wood and covered with black slanted roofs. Each and every home reflects its simplicity and closeness to mother nature. The front of each home is decorated with colorful flowers. And they have graves of their family members just in front of their homes. They celebrate death. They think that the dead person should be near to them.
We were fascinated with Morungs also. These are schools for various skills like basket weaving, wood crafts, and ancient stories as well as wisdom. These were done by elders of the village. These Morungs are display centers of Angami Naga handicrafts, old utensils, music instruments, etc.
And when weather permitted, we finally had a look at the beautiful paddy fields below. We were mesmerized. Floating clouds in front of us and lush green rice friends below us. They practice shifting cultivation here, which is also called Jhum. In this, they burn the local patch of forest and trees, and that ash work as fertilizer for their crops. they grow vegetables here like potatoes, cabbage, carrots, etc. After a few years, when the land loses its fertility, they shift their farming to another land so that the previous soil can regain its fertility. Each of the houses has its own paddy fields. They work independently, from sowing, leveling, maintenance, and harvesting. We went there in the afternoon, and we saw non one in the village apart from a few elderly people as most of the people were working in the fields. 
Little far from Khonoma on the way to Dzuleke, our guide showed us Chiikhie-U, the face of the Goddess of animals and birds on the hill. They say the face changes its expression according to the environment. and it was this face that showed the path of conservation to village elders and motivated them to stop hunting and deforestation. 
Places you should not miss:
UKU cafe: Amazing set up with very warm and welcoming hosts.
Dovipie Inn : It is a beautiful 6-room Inn. We took our lunch from there and had it on the riverside near Dzuleke.
So next time you travel to Nagaland, don’t miss this lovely village. You can specially plan a trip to the state for this village and Dzukou. And all this was possible due to our trip organizer Mr. Ratan from Experience Destination and our extremely helpful and knowledgeable guide Mr. Christopher.
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Thank you.
With love
SaSha.
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Excellent. Keep posting such type of new travel places particularly north east of India. I am also travelholic. I have left with only North east in India. Thanks.
Sure. We are also planning to visit North East first and then the rest of the India.
Thank you so much for your feedback.