The Hornbill Festival is the festival of the colourful and the mighty Nagas. One of the largest celebrations of the indigenous warrior tribes of Nagaland. The week long festival, organized by the State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments, is named after the hornbill, the bird which has a formidable presence in the folklores of most of the state’s tribes. The festival unites the populace of the state. People from all corners of the planet come here in the first week of December to witness the grandeur of the rich Naga culture and heritage that is reflected in their colourful performances, crafts, sports, food-fairs, games and ceremonies. Display of traditional arts, which includes paintings, wood carvings , sculptures are sure to catch the eyes of every art enthusiast and connoisseur. The high points of the festival are Traditional Naga Morung Exhibition and sale of art and crafts, fashion shows, traditional dances, traditional musi, beauty contest, traditional archery, Naga wrestling, indigenous games, rock concerts, music concerts, herbal medicine stalls, art galleries, and many more.
Come, allow us take you to this distant land of folklores and warriors. A treat for all the senses. The Hornbill festival.
What you should know about the Hornbill Festival :
Hornbill is not the state bird of Nagaland though the festival is named after it.
During the festival you can come close to 17 major tribes of Nagaland.
The festival is held in the beautiful village of Kisama, 12 kms far from Kohima.
Alcohol is strictly prohibited in Nagaland. However, you can enjoy the local rice beer at the event.
In the winter seasons Kohima usually shuts down by 5pm, except for during the festival.
The biggest Rock Concert of the country is held in Kohima during this festival.
The festival has various eateries, handicraft stalls, souvenir shops where bargaining is a very common sight.
Inner Line Permits are required for domestic tourists.
ITINERARY
Day 1
- We pick you up from a predetermined location, at Dimapur at 8 am
- Visit to Kachari ruins
- Visit to War cemetery
- Visit to Kohima museum ( Except on Mondays . The museum remains closed on Mondays and other national holidays).
- Visit to Cathedral
- Overnight stay at Kigwema
Day 2
- Post breakfast leave for Hornbill Festival point by transport
- Return to Homestay at Kigwema by 7.30 pm
- Overnight stay at Kigwema homestay
Day 3
- Post breakfast leave for Khonoma and Dzuleke sightseeing.
- Return to Hornbill Festival point. Attend Hornbill festival.
- Return to Homestay at Kigwema.
- Overnight stay at Kigwema homestay.
Day 4
- Leave early morning .
- Pfitsero and Glory Peak visit.
- Attend Hornbill Festival
- Nightstay at Kigwema
Day 5
- Post breakfast leave for airport/railway station (8am)
THINGS TO TAKE
This is a general guideline. Please do carry whatever clothes you are comfortable with. But this list will help you to be better prepared for the cold climate.
Tour Gear:
- You can carry trolley /duffel bags/rucksacks
- Water bottle or a hydration pack.
- A Hand held torch
Clothing:
- Thermal Bodywarmer Upper and Lower- 1.
- Fleece jacket/a light warm woollen sweater- 1.
- A padded jacket
- Umbrella/Raincheater/Poncho
- Woollen socks - 3 pairs. Regular socks: 2 pairs
- Undergarments - 1 for each day of the trip.
- Pair of Warm Gloves - 1.
- Woolen cap - 1.
- Sun cap or Biker Scarf for protection from sun- 1.
Footwear:
- Sneakers or closed shoes- 1 pair.
- Lightweight Slipper/Sandals/kitos - 1 pair.
FYI
- Region : Nagaland
- Duration : 4nights 5 days
- Maximum Altitude : 4800 feet roughly.
- Average temp: Temperature during daytime in winter months can hover around 15 degree C while at night can plummet to 8 or 9
- Stays : Stays will be in home-stays on sharing basis. Homestays have sharing basis in different capacities.
- Min age: 6years if accompanied by parents. 16 years if unaccompanied by parents.
- Min batch strength : 6
- Max batch strength : 12
- Program may get modified in case of extreme weather conditions or non availability of a home-stay on the route. In the latter case, we may, alter the route slightly but the tour will be completed.
- For queries call : 9874358754
- Please note that the minimum batch strength is 6 . If we fall short of the requisite number, the tour will be called off and your tour fees will be refunded in full without any cancellation charge deducted. However, if you still want to go ahead with the tour, it will be our pleasure to conduct it for you. In such a case your tour fees will be a little higher and the amount will be disclosed to you well before the date of journey.
FAQ
- What are the dates of the Hornbill Festival:
December 1st to December 10th.
- How to reach Dimapur:
You will get trains from Howrah to Dimapur. Also regular flights from all major airports to Dimapur are available.
- What time will you drop me/us at Dimapur airport after the completion of the tour?
Expect to reach Dimapur around or a little before 12 noon. So book your flight tickets accordingly.
- Can I cancel my overnight stay at your selected accommodation at Kigwema, on the spot, after I reach there?
We are really sorry but on spot cancellations cannot be done.
- Can I change some portion of the itinerary?
We cannot accommodate a change in our itinerary.
- What kind of accommodation can we expect?
Our accommdations are in Kigwema, a village , which is within 3 kms from the Hornbill festival ground. Staying close to the festival ground is important as transport becomes less towards late evening. And during the first half of the days the roads remain jampacked with vehicles making the movement of the vehicles very slow. Accommodations are on shared basis. Homestays that are available in Kigwema, have sharing basis in different capacities. Mostly on triple sharing basis, some are quadruple too. Toilets are western with geysers. Some toilets are shared some are attached. If a guest/couple wishes to book accommodations on double sharing basis, that can be arranged with an extra charge.
- What kind of food can we expect?
Both vegetarian and non vegetarian food will be served in breakfast and dinner.
- What kind of transport can we expect? Non ac sumo and such carrying 6 to 7 passengers.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
- Cancellations will be subject to cancellation charges.
- Cancellations will have to be intimated to Soma's Camps by email only.
- 25% of the total trip fee is not refundable on cancellation at any point of time.If you fail to pay your trip fee( in case of part payments) within the scheduled date and ignore repeated intimations, your registration maybe cancelled and the booking amount forfeited.
- Trip has to be booked at least 40 days prior to the date of journey.
- Cancellation between 40 to 22 days prior to departure date : 50% of the trip fee will be refunded.
- Cancellation between 21 and 11 days prior to departure date : 30% of the trip fee will be refunded.
- Cancellations made from 10 days to the day of departure or no showing up : no refund.
- Cancellation by Soma's Camps in the unforeseen eventualities of riots, political or industrial unrest like Railway operators strike, Airlines strike, it may be necessary to cancel the tour in the best interests of our clients. In such an eventuality our clients will be informed as soon as possible. The trip fee paid by the clients will be refunded in full OR we will provide you with an alternate set of program dates.
- Cancellation by Soma's Camps in the unforeseen eventualities of pandemic, epidemic,any other long term natural or biological disaster or man-made, disasters like war and others, it may be necessary to cancel the tour in the best interests of our clients. In such an eventuality our clients will be informed as soon as possible. 70 % of the trip fee paid by the clients will be refunded.
- If a particiant tests positive in the RTPCR test within the window of 72 hours of prior to joining our program she/he will have to mail the report to somascamps@gmail.com . The traveller will receive a travel voucher of the same amount, by mail, from our side which he/she can use within one year, in any other trip/program.
Other Terms & Conditions
- Payment: Payment for the trip can be done online through credit/debit card or net banking or NEFT or by account payee cheques.
- Non-liability: Soma's Camps is not responsible for any loss/damage of your gears/equipment or other belongings on the trip.
- Regarding proper disposal of non bio-degradable waste:At Soma's Camps, we to prefer to leave nothing other than footprints behind. Kindly help us to maintain that by taking care of your non bio-degradable wastes.
- Emergency during the trip: If for any reason you have to leave the trip midway, Soma's Camps can make arrangements for your return to the nearest rail head/airport. In such a case pay the trip facilitator the amount of the transport before you start for the railhead/airport.
- Please understand when we say 'trip fee', we mean the full amount not partial payment
- Program may get modified/cancelled in case of inclement weather.
- Cost escalation during the trip, due to change in itinerary owing to natural reasons or unforeseen conditions like Landslides , Road Blockage, Bad Weather, Social or Political Unrest, Strikes, sudden shut down of any govt office etc, will have to be borne by the participant.
- Soma's Camps do not owns the stays along the route. Maintenance of the stays are solely with the owners.
- Please note that the minimum batch strength is 6. If we fall short of the requisite number, the trip will be called off and your trip fees will be refunded in full without any cancellation charge deducted. However, if you still want to go ahead with the trip, it will be our pleasure to conduct it for you. In such a case your trip fees will be a little higher and the amount will be disclosed to you well before the journey.
- The tour price is based on current rate of accommodation and transport, if petrol/diesel prices increase after 31/10/24, tour price will also go up accordingly since this trip has transport uses everyday, multiple times.
