Far from the bustling cities, the state of Nagaland in the northeast corner of India presents an array of colours – its people, their traditions, and their otherworldly ways are unlike anything you will ever witness. The fierce warrior clans of Nagaland are warm and welcoming, and very curious about their guests since the state opened itself to tourists.

In Nagaland’s small villages, you will meet tribes with tattoos on their bodies, donning traditional clothes and headgears adorned with feathers, tusks, and wood. It is impressive that the state has many languages and dialects, each exclusive to its tribe. A factor that binds them is their love for meats. If you’re an adventurous foodie, you will relish local meals that mostly have rice and wild meats such as pork, chicken, birds, and snakes. In fact, the state celebrates a variety of festivals and food is an unmissable part of their revelries.

All across the state, the bazaars are a medley of handcrafted items – as you shop for bead jewellery, shawls, masks, and wood carved products, you can also interact with the skilled artisans who painstakingly make these, and have a chat with them.

It’s best to go to Nagaland in the winter months. Plan your visit around the Hornbill Festival when the city of Kohima celebrates the Naga culture with great aplomb. Interacting with the tribes, you will discover the various traditional and cultural experiences of the tribes that are different from each other in many respects, but together make this state so unique.