The Travel
Our travel started from Perambur on 28th Feb @ 09:00Am. The train was late by more than one hour and we boarded the train at 10:15Am.
We wanted the travel to be simple and interactive with common people, so we opted to take a train that leads to North East.
Tinsukia Express ()
New Tinsukia Express was filled with passengers who were eager to meet their families after long years since they have come for employment in southern states of Tamilnadu and Karnataka. The coach was filled with luggages in which they are taking back some lovely gifts for their families.
The train crossed through all eastern states of India and flew across all east flowing rivers of India starting from Krishna, Mahanadhi, Godhavari, Ganges and Bhramaputra. We could find all the river delta’s are spiritually grown and well developed.
The river ganges had massive 109 shutters on its checkdam which was a visual treat. One Bihari friend gave us the alert that the train is going to cross the Ganges and do not miss out the splendid scenery. The Bhramaputra was more than a river and looked like an ocean.
Nagaland
Culture & History
Violence & Background:
Women:
People & Culture:
Food:
Environment
Economy
Dimapur
Dimapur is the only city in Nagaland that is connected with railways. Dimapur also has an airport and from Dimapur there are helicopter services to major city of Nagaland run by the Nagaland state transport.
Our train was delayed by six hours and that spoiled our plans at Dimapur. The railway station was filled by military people who were returning after vacation. We could see armed forces every where around. Our accommodation was booked very near to the railway station where we had to take rest after a very long train travel.
The next day we headed to Kohima, the state capital of Nagaland as per our schedule.
Kohima
It took almost four hours to reach Kohima from Dimapur, although the distance was just about 70 Kms. The people of Kohima follow a wonderful road discipline where we never heard honking of any vehicle. The roads are steep and narrow but still the drivers follow the traffic regulations without blocking the opposite vehicles. Pedestrians and crossing vehicles are given preference.
Sundays in Kohima are fully shut down. No shops, restaurants or any other amenities will be available on Sundays. Churches are active on Sundays since 90% of population in Kohima are Christians. Kohima is a fully occupied mountain and urbanized region of Nagaland. Hence, we can see more resources being exploited for the urban needs. The mountain is fully covered with construction.
We can also see the impacts of urbanization in Kohima, Kohima suffers from water scarcity. The power demand is very high in Nagaland but there are no power generation or oppurtunities to generate power in Nagaland.
Kisama - The Naga Heritage Village
Near Kohima, at about 20 Kms is Kisama Village. Kisama Heritage Village is a model village where the traditional houses and dormitory constructions of 16 tribal communities are constructed for visitors. Kisama is the place where the famous Naga Hornbill Festival is celebrated in the first week of December. The hornbill festival is organized by the state government of Nagaland to preserve their culture.
Second Sales Market
In Nagaland we can see second sales markets on weekends where the street is full of second hand used products for sales. One can buy clothes, sandals and other stuffs on cheaper rates. People in Nagaland buy these items with interest and no hesitation. This is actually a good practice to reuse the resources.