Nagaland & The Hornbill Festival

Discover historic Calcutta, which was the capital of British India until 1911. Begin your explorations with a heritage walking tour that includes the Writer’s Building – originally the headquarters of the East India Company. Then, visit the splendid Victoria Memorial – often referred to as the ‘Taj of the Raj’; the poignant Park Street Cemetery and St. John’s Church. Then, enjoy a traditional Bengali lunch at a private home before driving to North Kolkata, the bastion of Bengali culture and once home to many pioneering Bengali merchants and traders.

Fly to Dimapur and drive to Kohima, the capital of Nagaland and a charming hill station spread over many hills and ridges. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Set off this morning to Kisama Heritage Village, the venue for the colourful Hornbill festival. The little-known state of Nagaland is made up of sixteen warrior tribes, each with its own unique customs and traditions. While each Naga tribe celebrates its distinct seasonal festival, the spectacular Hornbill festival brings together all of them and offers visitors a spectacular insight into all aspects of Naga life. Your day at the Kisama Heritage Village will offer you the chance to witness fascinating tribal song and dance performances as well as visit the ‘morungs’ (an immaculate replica of a traditional community space that lies at the heart of each Naga village), where you will have the chance to interact with the various Naga tribes over a glass of a heady rice beer. Enjoy a relaxed stroll through the many handicraft and food stalls before attending a concert this evening featuring budding artists and bands from around the country performing all kinds of contemporary music.

Return to the festival to soak up the atmosphere. Watch dance performances, compete against Naga warrior tribes in traditional chilli-eating contests, and watch fierce yet amusing greased bamboo pole climbing and archery competitions.

Begin your day with a guided tour of Kohima, the picturesque capital of Nagaland that played an important role in World War II. Your tour includes a visit to the private museum with an interesting collection of World War II artefacts and the haunting war cemetery built on a terraced hillside. Kohima played a key role in World War II, where many of the Naga tribes fought alongside Allied forces against Japan on the tennis court of the British Deputy Commissioner’s house. From here, continue to the Angami Village of Khonoma, where you’ll relish a local lunch. Admire the traditional architecture of carved gateways and surrounding stone walls. You will also visit an authentic morung and watch young men practising indigenous games like wrestling.

Drive to Dimapur and fly to Kolkata. On arrival, proceed to your hotel located in the heart of Kolkata. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Today, you will be collected from your hotel and taken to the Calcutta International Airport. On arrival, check in for your onward flight.