Dimapur tourism and travel guide

Most of Dimapur is in the plains. It is situated on the banks of the river Dhansiri, which originates from the mountainous Laisang peak flows through Nagaland and Assam, and is a tributary of the river Brahmaputra. Summers can be hot and extremely uncomfortable in Dimapur, with a humidity factor of 93%. Winters are cool and pleasant; the temperature rarely goes below 10 deg. C.

The landscape is green, and there are several waterfalls in Dimapur.

The Kachari Ruins, a collection of monoliths, temples, gates, and walls, are the remnants from the Kachari dynasty that ruled the area in the 10th century. The mysterious mushroom-shaped pillars are the main draw here.

For traditional merchandise, the Diezephe Crafts Village is an interesting place to visit. You can admire and buy traditional pottery, handicrafts, baskets, and handloom shawls, among others.

Dimapur has a cosmopolitan environment, and people from different states across India live in this city. The local Naga community was traditionally made up of several tribes. Most people in Nagaland practice Christianity; in Dimapur, there is a high concentration of Catholics.

The traditional social practice in this region depends on the tribe they come from. In some tribes, marriage is not permitted between members. Some tribes encourage pre-nuptial relationships; in others, it is taboo. Some Nagas pay a bride price to the girl's family before marrying the daughter.

Dance and music are an essential part of Naga culture. There are food influences from all over the world, and you can get any cuisine you want, just like in any major city in the country. However, to experience Dimapur fully, you should try the local delicacies rather than stick to the known ones. A traditional Naga meal will have meat, pork, snail meat, chicken or mutton, smoked, dried, or fermented. Rice is eaten twice a day and is a staple, either boiled or steamed, and the meal is served with several homemade spicy sauces.

Some of the easily available and typical dishes to try out are:

• Hinkejvu, a simple everyday dish made with Colocasia, shredded cabbage leaves, mustard leaves, and some French beans. The vegetables are all steamed in water with just a pinch of salt. The dish is fresh and flavourful.

• Akibiye, made of Colocasia and bamboo shoots in a thick gravy, tastes great when eaten hot with steamed rice.

• Galho a warming soup made of assorted seasonal greens, rice, and vegetables or smoked pork. It is somewhat similar to a North Indian khichdi. It mostly used an assortment of seasonal greens and is flavored with smoked pork or chunks of pork fat.

Dimapur has Nagaland's only airport is just 4 km from the main city center and is well-connected to other parts of the country. There are direct flights to Dimapur from Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. The railway station is also a major transport hub with trains arriving from different cities. State transport buses and private cab operators run services to Dimapur from Imphal, Manipur, and Shillong, Meghalaya.