Things to Do in Nagaland: Festivals, Nature & Sustainable Handicrafts

Nagaland is a hidden gem in India’s remote Northeast – a mountainous land of lush forests, waterfalls, and 16 distinct tribal cultures. Its people are known for colourful traditional festivals, rich folk art, and spicy local cuisine. In this travel guide we’ll highlight the top places to visit in Nagaland and things to do in Nagaland. You’ll read about must-see cultural events, thrilling outdoor adventures, delicious Naga dishes, and where to shop for authentic handmade gifts from Nagaland. Along the way we’ll feature Runway Nagaland– a craft hub where travelers can meet artisans, browse bamboo baskets and tribal jewellery, and support sustainable local craft.

Celebrate Nagaland’s Festivals

Every December, Kisama Heritage Village – just outside Kohima – erupts with the Hornbill Festival, often called the “festival of festivals.” Thousands of locals and visitors gather on the grounds beneath a huge stage to “get immersed in the unique and colourful Naga tribal dances, food, music and folklore – all in one place. The multi-day Hornbill showcase brings together performers from all 18 Naga tribes, each presenting vibrant traditional dances, music and sports Union tourism officials even hail Hornbill as the largest tribal festival in the world. In one place you can see hornbill folk dances, listen to tribal drumming and rock concerts, sample local game meats and rice beer, and shop for handicrafts. Attending Hornbill (usually Dec 1–10) is a bucket-list experience and easily one of the top things to do in Nagaland.

Aside from Hornbill, Nagaland’s tribes celebrate many smaller annual festivals. For example, the Aoleang Festival (first week of April) is the spring fest of the Konyak tribe in Mon district. Aoleang lasts six days with colourful dances, songs, feasts and ancestor rituals, offering a rare glimpse of head-hunter heritage and community spiri. The Angami tribe’s Sekrenyi (late Feb) is a purification festival with day-long singing by youth. The Ao people celebrate Moatsu (late May) to pray for a bountiful harvest. In short, if your trip lines up with any of Nagaland’s seasonal feasts – especially Hornbill or these tribal spring festivals – you’ll witness pageantry and taste the local vibe in full swing. Hornbill festival season is often listed as the best time to experience local handicrafts, since all the artisans gather in Kisama.

Trekking, Wildlife and Scenic Beauty

Nagaland’s terrain is amazingly diverse and green. It’s home to misty valleys, high peaks and rainforests that will delight nature lovers. The state’s location in the Purvanchal Himalayas means “accessible mountain peaks, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and valleys” abound. Out of season or off-festival, many travelers head for the hills. For example, the Dzukou Valley (on the Nagaland–Manipur border) is famous for its wildflowers and sunrise views. You can take a moderate day-hike through rhododendron forests and meadowland at Dzukou. The Mount Saramati trek is another top adventure – Saramati is Nagaland’s highest peak, offering panoramic Himalayan vistas on a multi-day backpacking route. Closer to Kohima, the surrounding mountains and forests offer camping and mountain-biking trails (e.g. the Rain Forest Trail). One might even spend a night under the stars atop the Kohima Hills. The northeastern jungles also shelter wildlife: in Ntangki National Park (Peren district), jeep safaris can reveal wild elephants, hornbills, sloth bears and more.

Across Nagaland, you’ll encounter eco-tourism initiatives and conservation-conscious villages. Khonoma Village (an Angami settlement west of Kohima) is known as India’s first “Green Village” – its community has transformed former hunting grounds into thriving bird sanctuaries and farm-to-table homestay. A guided nature walk here reveals organic fields and pristine forests, led by villagers intent on protecting their environment. Similarly, forest trails around Japfu Peak (Mt. Japfu) offer mossy rhododendron woods; the 45-foot Thadokhu/Kilung Falls and serene Shilloi Lake are perfect for short nature walks and picnics. Whether you prefer high-altitude trekking, jungle jeep tours or peaceful village stays, Nagaland’s outdoors are spectacular.

Savour the Local Cuisine

No visit to Nagaland is complete without trying its hearty, spicy cuisine. Naga food is centered on rice, meat and vegetables – often cooked in bamboo or smoked, and always generously seasoned with chilies and native condiments. In markets you’ll see piles of bright chili powder and jugs of axone (fermented soybean), a pungent ingredient in many dishes. Popular daily foods include smoked pork and fish curries – frequently cooked with sour bamboo shoots. For example, at the Kohima night market you can feast on tender smoked pork or pickled bamboo shoot curry, often served with chutney made from tiny red chilies. Don’t miss akhuni (fermented soybean) dishes and spicy naga sauces that give a kick to every meal. And to wash it down like a local, try zutho – a traditional home-brewed rice beer. Zutho is a mildly fizzy, light-colored drink fermented from sticky rice; it’s popular for sharing with friends over a meal. In sum, sampling Naga cuisine – from homestyle bamboo chicken to fiery pork – is one of the most delicious things to do in Nagaland.

Authentic Handicrafts & Sustainable Shopping

One of Nagaland’s great charms is its crafts tradition. Everywhere you go you’ll find vibrant textiles, baskets and jewelry, each tied to a tribe’s heritage. For shopping, major cities like Dimapur and Kohima have markets overflowing with handmade goods. In Dimapur Market (the state’s commercial hub) you can browse aisles of traditional Naga shawls, bamboo crafts and handwoven textiles. If you wander Kohima’s Evening/Street Food Market, you’ll also see stalls of bamboo-woven baskets, cane planters and tribal accessories alongside steaming street food. Smaller bazaars in tribal regions are also excellent: for example, Tuensang district is famous for expert bamboo basket-weaving, selling sturdy woven containers in the town market. Mokokchung (Ao cultural center) is the place to pick up intricately woven shawls and mekhalas (wraps) in bright patterns. And during festival time the Kisama Heritage Village becomes a giant crafts fair, with artisans from every tribe demonstrating weaving, blacksmithing, beading and more.

For eco-conscious travelers, Nagaland’s crafts are a shining example of sustainable tourism. Artisans here make goods from locally available natural fibers: bamboo, banana fibre, and water hyacinth, for instance, all grow abundantly in the region. When you buy a handwoven bamboo basket or a banana-fiber bag, you’re supporting a zero-waste craft tradition that’s kind to the environment. “We showcase the beauty and cultural significance of various art forms,” says Runway Nagaland, a local craft collective which works directly with artisans. Runway Nagaland’s online store features hundreds of sustainable products — from bee wax wraps and water-hyacinth trays to “Nagaland tribal jewellery” made of wood, metal and beads. These authentic handmade gifts from Nagaland make wonderful souvenirs. Nagaland’s tourism guidelines even advise travelers to “support fair trade” by buying crafts only from verified sources, so you can feel good about every purchase.

Runway Nagaland: Meet the Artisans

A highlight for many visitors is Runway Nagaland, a craft workshop and retail space in Dimapur. Founded in 2011, Runway Nagalandis “a pioneering force in promoting tribal art and empowering artisans”. At Runway’s Alcove Building store (Thilixu village, Dimapur) you can actually meet the weavers and craftswomen behind the products. They’ll show you how they dye fabrics with traditional techniques or weave bamboo into baskets and planters. The shelves are stacked with gorgeous Nagaland bamboo crafts – from plant-holders and trays to sturdy picnic baskets – plus classic tribal necklaces and earrings inspired by local motifs. Buying at Runway means you’re getting genuine Naga handicrafts and directly supporting the tribal artisan community. If you can’t make the trip, Runway Nagaland’s online store also ships worldwide, making it easy to bring Nagaland home. In short, a visit to Runway Nagaland(or shopping their site) is a must-do for handicraft fans seeking authentic Nagaland souvenirs.

Tips & Practical Info

To make the most of your Nagaland adventure, remember that many experiences hinge on timing. Festival seasons (December for Hornbill, April–May for spring festivals) are busiest but most rewarding. Monsoon (June–Sept) can be very wet in the hills. If you’re not in a festival rush, consider visiting in late winter or early spring, when the landscapes are in bloom and cool. Also note that Nagaland requires an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for tourists – this can be arranged in advance or on arrival at Dimapur Airport or Kohima entry points.

Nagaland is accessible via Dimapur Airport (with flights from Kolkata, Guwahati and other Indian cities). From Dimapur you can hire taxis or shared jeeps to Kohima (about 3 hours’ drive) and beyond. Local buses and jeeps connect most towns on the national highway. Within cities like Dimapur and Kohima, autorickshaws and cabs are available. English is widely spoken, but it’s polite to ask about local customs before photographing people or tribal ceremonies.

Don’t forget to include some shopping time in your itinerary: support sustainable crafts by stopping at local markets and art shops. Beyond Runway Nagaland, the dimapur and Mokokchung markets, plus pop-up stalls at Hornbill, are treasure troves. Remember the keywords – pick up some Nagaland bamboo crafts, a piece of Nagaland tribal jewellery, or other authentic handmade gifts from Nagaland – and you’ll have lifelong keepsakes of your trip.

Nagaland may not be on every tourist map yet, but its combination of warm tribal hospitality, wild natural beauty and vibrant culture makes it unforgettable. Whether you’re dancing at Hornbill, trekking misty valleys, sipping rice beer around a bonfire, or shopping for handwoven crafts, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Nagaland that go beyond the ordinary.