Flora and Fauna
The flora of Nagaland is dominated by the growth of the thick wooded trees like the mahogany and timber. Palm, rattan and bamboo trees are also found in the forests of the state. The government has reserved a part of the forest region exclusively for the state's inhabitants, who earn their livelihood through trade of the forest products. Most of the dense regions of the forests in Nagaland are impenetrable and remain inaccessible to the people.
The interiors of the forests are rich in the fauna of Nagaland. Ferocious animals like the leopards and the bears reside in these interiors. A variety of arboreal monkeys are found in the forests of Nagaland. Elephants, deer, wild oxen, sambar and buffaloes also reside in the wooded forests. The Indian Hornbill is one of the most popular birds of the state.
Eco Hotspot
Touphema Tourist Village
At a distance of 41 km north of Nagaland capital Kohima,the Tuophema tourist village offers exquisite traditional Naga life in the lap of nature. The resort offers all the modern comforts with an ethnic setting. The interiors of the resort provides fascinating insight into the history, tradition and ancient myths of the Naga people.
Visitors are offered warm Naga hospitality which include guided walk to nearby peaks or rice fields, hunting trips, cultural expeditions and visits to local homes.
As part of the Naga hospitality, tourists are also offered local dishes with home made rice beer.A recently refurbished Museum inside the village offers an extensive ethnographic collection including wood carvings, musical instruments, textiles, handicrafts traditional artifacts, jewellery ans archaeological finds.
Dzükou Valley
Situated at an altitude of 2438.4 metres above sea-level, behind the Japfu Peak, this valley is 30 Km to the south of Kohima. The entire valley is overshadowed with a type of tough bamboo brush to make the place appear like a mown lawn. The serpentine stream that flows through Dzukou becomes frozen during winter. In summer, wild herbs sprout along the river banks. Lilies in white and yellow and a hundred of other species of flowers in varied colour adorn the valley in summer. Rhododendrons in white and other colours ornament the hills surrounding the vale. This is one of the best trekking spots in the North-Eastern Region. A base camp for Trekkers' is being constructed on the way from the Jakhama route.
Other Attraction
The various crafts and art that were known to the early Nagas and are still carried out to this day are
Basketry : Naga storage and carry baskets women from fine strips of cane and bamboo are well known and sought after for their utility as well as aesthetic value. The cane baskets of Khonoma village are particularly well known for their intricate weaves. The cane baskets and containers woven by the Khiamngan weavers in the Tuensang District are also known for their fineness and delicacy of work that gives it a lace-like appearance. Headgears and mats are also woven from fine bamboo and cane strips. In the recent years, entrepreneurs have utilized the skills of these craftsmen to weave beautiful cane furniture that are being marketed in the local as well as outside market.
Weaving: Naga women are excellent weavers and the colorful shawls, bags and jackets woven by them are extremely popular. The 'backstrap' or the loin loom is commonly used for weaving, although, in recent years the fly shuttle loom has become popular with the weavers. Each tribe uses distinguishing colors and motifs that are often based on tribal folklore. Earlier, natural dyes extracted from barks, roots and plants were used for dyeing cotton yarn and woven fabrics. In addition, woven cloth was embellished with beads, cowrie shells and goats hair to denote the wealth and status of the weaver. Body cloth symbolizing Feast-giving and Head-taking added to the variety of clothes woven on the backstrap loom. The art of weaving is still popular amongst the Naga women, especially in the rural areas and the woven products of Nagaland have found its way into the National as well as International marker.
Other Attraction
Shopping
As Nagaland has a rich history of art and craft it makes for an ideal destination for the lovers and handicrafts.
Be it a utility item or an objet d'art, the artifacts speak volumes for the rich aesthetic sense and skilled craftsmanship of the Nagas. Out of fine strips of bamboo and cane they weave exquisite baskets, bags, furniture and from cotton they weave shawls and jackets. Colors, designs and motifs vary from tribe to tribe based on their folklore. They use natural dyes and beads and shells to embellish the artifacts, which turn out to be fantastic items for shopping in Nagaland.
While shopping in Nagaland one can look for shawals ,baskets ,metal wares and wood carved items.
Although there are not plush commercial complexes, you can shop at Government Emporia and private shops by the locals. Colorful bazaars offer wide variety and good bargain leading to delightful shopping in Nagaland.
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