About
Kohima is a hilly district of India’s North Eastern State of Nagaland which shares its boundaries with Assam State and Dimapur District in the West, Phek District in the East, Manipur State and Peren District in the South and Wokha District in the North. Kohima, one of the earliest of the eleven districts of the state, is the first seat of modern administration as the Headquarters of Naga Hills District (then under Assam) with the appointment of G.H. Damant as Political Officer in 1879.
Nagaland became a full state on 1st December 1963 and Kohima was declared as the state’s capital. Since that day parts of Kohima district have been carved apart three times. First when Phek district was founded in 1973. Secondly, in 1998 when Dimapur was created and proclaimed a district. Third in 2004 when Kohima district again produced a district named Peren district, one of the youngest districts in Nagaland.
The name Kohima is derived from the fact that the British could not pronounce the ancient name of the village where the town of Kohima is situated "KEWHIRA". The North-Eastern half of the Kohima Urban area currently consists of Kohima village, known as ‘Bara Basti’, the second largest hamlet in Asia.
History & Traditions
Kohima is located in the south at a height of 1444 meters above sea level. It is the capital city of Nagaland. Kohima shares its borders with Dimapur and Peren District in the West. It also shares its borders with Zunheboto and Phek District in the East. To the South it is next to Manipur State.. To the North it is next to Tseminyu District. Kohima is one of the oldest among the eleven districts of the state. It was the place where modern administration started. It was the Headquarters of Naga Hills District, which was then part of Assam. When Nagaland became a state on 1st December, 1963 Kohima was named as the capital of the state. Since that time parts of Kohima district have been taken out four times. The first time was, in 1973 when Phek District was created. Then in 1998 Dimapur was taken out. Made a separate district. In 2004 Peren District was created. This was the time that Kohima district gave birth to a new district. The new district was called Tseminyu District. This happened in the year 2021.
The word Kohima is originated from “KEWHIRA” which is the name of the village where the town of Kohima is located. Kohima village popularly known as ‘Bara Basti’ is the second largest village in Asia and forms the North-Eastern section of Kohima Urban area today.
The Angami Nagas are the dominant indigenous people of Kohima District . But the capital city Kohima is a cosmopolitan metropolis with a pot pouri of all the tribes of Nagaland and also mainland India settling here.
Kohima has a mild humid subtropical climate. Kohima has a pleasant and temperate climate winters are not very cold and summers are lovely. The coldest months, December and January, are the months of frost, and snow falls at times in the higher altitudes. The peak summer months of July and August are the hottest, with average temperatures of 80 to 90 °F . Summer is marked by heavy rains.
Economy
Agriculture is the main basis of Kohima’s economy. People rely on agriculture for their livelihood and agriculture also contributes a lion’s share to the economy of the capital city ( Rice is the main food and it covers the largest percent of total agricultural land. Here they grow potatoes and sugarcane which are key cash crops and produce good revenue.The main activity of the people here is agriculture. The climate is particularly suitable for cultivation of different crops. The government has taken some steps to boost the production. The government has done numerous things to boost productivity, from irrigation projects to seed farms.
Kohima city is not much industrially developed. One of the major industries of Kohima is cottage and small scale industry. Cottage and small scale businesses including cane and bamboo items, timber products and handloom products form a major chunk of Kohima’s revenue. Tourism also contributes to a considerable amount of revenue to Kohima and it is no surprise that Kohima has a beautiful tourism potential. The present micro and small industries in Kohima are:
Take, for example, Kohima in Nagaland, which has significant financial depth and high levels of self-employment and informal livelihoods. SMEs contribute 2% of employment in registered MSMEs. 79% of MSMEs are in services and 21% in manufacturing. EPFO covers 3% of the labour force. Bank deposits per person of working age are several times the national norm. Its DPIIT One District One Product products are Naga Mircha, Pickles. Higher-secondary enrolment (classes 9-12) is 87%. The workforce is tribal majority.
Tourism
Kisama Village Heritage
Kisama is 12 km away from Kohima on National Highway number 39. The Hornbill Festival is held on a mild slope at the foot of a steep mountain peak.
The Heritage Villages is a historic Naga hamlet meant to give an authentic sensation of a true Naga village and the experience of journeying back in time.
Most of the tribal culture and traditions of Nagas have been lost after their conversion into Christians. Only recently are they seeking to restore their past.
Hornbill festival was initially launched by State Government. The festival is very large in the decade. Today the Hornbill Festival is one of the fastest growing festivals in India and attracts foreigner as well as Indians. It is now celebrated every year from December 1 to December 7 by the State Tourism and Art and Culture Departments.
The Heritage Village is formed in a traditional manner to preserve the Naga Village alive. Nagas lived in tribes and villages during their head hunting days and demonstrated outstanding bonding traits within one village or tribe. The Nagas lived in groups and hunted in groups for the primary motive of survival. Some authors have compared the administration of the Nagas to the autonomous Greek communities. In an age without education (no written script, no proper kind of instruction) the only way they had to study was the Morung where they would gather and acquire many kinds of skills, even head hunting. Morung is like a modern coffee house, a place to learn from and distinguish each other. Split each village.
Touphema Tourist Village.
Touphema Tourist Villageis one of the oldest heritage villages of Nagaland and is a magnificent replica of a typical AngamiNaga hamlet. It is set up with cabins and rooms that are built to seem like traditional huts / cottage.
Travelers opting to stay here get a chance to obtain an insight into the Naga social system along with culture and governance by visiting the village. Take a brief walk around the village and you are taken way back in time as you observe all around you how Naga tribes have lived all through the centuries, till date. Visitors to the village can also try out a few renowned Naga specialties such as Ghalo and Bamboo Baked Fish along with Rice Beer. The Angami Sekrenyi annual festival is celebrated in the village in the month of February with tremendous enthusiasm. Worth the visit always this time of year.
Most of the traditional village buildings have their roofs made of corrugated iron without chimneys to release the smoke from the internal cooking fires. Probably one of the reasons why there is always a lingering smell of it in the air.
Situated on a gentle hillock with a panoramic view of the surrounding valleys, Touphema offers a chance to stay in quaint little huts, enjoy pleasant evenings around bonfireswith cultural dances just adding to rustic feel of the entire place. The scenic locales offer some of the best photo opportunities there are and the Naga tradition of serving local dishes with homemade rice beer is just super!
Demographics
In 2011 Census Kohima district reported a population of about 26.79 lakh. That which is reported included both rural and urban populations.
The district is home to many communities and ethnic groups. Assamese is the main language which is spoken on a wide scale, also in use are English, Hindi, Tenyidie and other native languages which characterize different areas.
Schools, colleges and universities in the area attract students from Kohima as well as other parts of Nagaland and the North East.
The population is in towns, villages and tea gardens. Kohima is the main urban center which also includes Dimapur, Dzükou Valley and other towns which in turn serve local communities.
In Kohima we see a mix of many communities which in turn forms a diverse social and cultural character.
Administration
Administration in Kohima is responsible for handling the affairs of the city and the surrounding Kohima area. The administrative headquarter of the district is the capital of Nagaland, Kohima. This administration is headed by the Deputy Commissioner. Supervises major operations such as revenue collection, development projects, elections, disaster response and other government activities.
The terrain of the city makes it difficult to administer. Kohima is a hilly town and the communities are generally near together. This makes transport and road infrastructure particularly critical. Many streets are narrow and winding which impacts on the way people move and services are supplied. The district comprises both rural areas. In the parts village level institutions have a vital role in dealing with local issues and communal matters.
The District Administration in association with Kohima Municipal Council and other local organizations manages the services. These include keeping the city clean through sanitation and waste management maintaining roads and ensuring facilities are accessible to inhabitants. Support is also given by government departments, in sectors. These departments include education, healthcare, agriculture, public works and social welfare. All these regions help in the running and growth of Kohima.
FAQs
Q1. Which are the major rivers in Kohima?
Dzüko River, Chathe River, and Jotsoma stream system are large among the primary rivers that run through Changlang.
Q2. What percent of people in Kohima district are literate?
District official figures based on the 2011 Census put the literacy rate at 85.23%.
Q3. Which are the primary jobs in Kohima?
Agriculture is a mainstay of income for many families in the district. Also people are into government services, business, fisheries, handicrafts, transport and other local activities.
Q4. In Kohima district, how many revenue circles are there?
There are seven revenue circles.
Q5. What are the languages of Kohima district?
English, Hindi, Tenyidie are the main languages.
Q6. Approximately how many people live in Kohima district?
According to the 2011 Census, the population of the district is 267,988.
Q7. Do tourists require a permit for Kohima?
Sure, before going to Nagaland travellers should check the latest entry rules out.
Last Updated on October 27, 2026
