The
Hornbill Festival in Nagaland is one of the most popular carnivals of Naga tribes in
Northeast India. The Hornbill Festival holds the deep village culture of
Nagaland and the cultural and religious significance of Naga tribes and
sub-tribes, attracting a large number of tourists every year. The article is about the
Hornbill Festival in Nagaland-Celebration 2025, including the date, venue, and stay options.
 |
| Hornbill festival Nagaland Image from: google |
Hornbill Festival 2025 Location
The Hornbill Festival is organized by the Naga people every year and is the most popular carnival of the Naga tribe, celebrated in the Naga Heritage Village, known as Kisama Heritage Village, near Kohima, in the state of Nagaland, in India. The Hornbill celebration is organized every year from the 1st day of December to the 10th of December, 2025; the duration of the utsav is 10 days. The village is 12 km away from the capital city, Kohima.
Hornbill Festival Ticket Price
To enter the main entry gate of the Hornbill
Festival, you have to pay Rs.100 per person as entry fees. At the festival,
villagers from different Nagaland villages come here and present their own culture
and traditions. You will see here they are of one village, and you will get a
lot from villages. There are a lot of villages in Nagaland; so many different
tribes come here. So, they are of different tribes of different villages, and
they also represent their own culture, tradition, food, etc. Here are the types
of houses of every village tribe; they make a model of their house. You can
explore that house, go inside, and get to know about their lifestyle, culture,
food, tradition, etc.
On the occasion, every day you will get to see different shows here according to the set program in the schedule. The utsav is called the “Festival of festivals”, because a lot of programs go together. There will be organized daily cultural sports like sword fighting, sumo wrestling, cultural dance, etc. Everyone can participate in that festival, even if they are not local or tribal.
History of the Hornbill Festival
The vibrant celebration of Naga culture is known
as the Hornbill Festival, first held in 2000 in Kisama
Heritage Village, Nagaland. It is a unity of culture organized on a common
platform to share their culture, traditions, and heritage. Before the
celebration, each of the tribes and sub-tribes celebrated their unique
traditions in their own village. The function makes the unity of Naga people.
Culture of Nagaland
What a wonderful culture and heritage the Naga
tribe has. We all should have respect for others in any community, like
Naga, Mizo, Kashia, Assamese, etc. Very distinct and very unique people with
their rich culture and heritage. Always proud of them despite modernization,
and yes, surely Nagas are different from the rest of the country. No wonder
they always stand out. Hornbill Utsav is one of the most
effective methods to make unity and express the culture of the Naga people
in the world.
Image: www.kohima.nic.in 
Traditional Hut Nagaland
How to visit Kohima Hornbill Festival
Dimapur city is
well connected by train, bus, and also flight to other major cities in India.
From Dimapur you will reach Kohima by bus, shared car, or reserved taxi. Kohima
town is situated in a hilly place and is 70 km from Dimapur city. In Dimapur
ISBT, several types of buses are available to reach Kohima, and the time taken is
around 3 hours; the bus fare will be Rs.120 to Rs.150 per person.
The other option is a shared taxi. In front of the
Dimapur railway station gate, you will find a shared taxi stand. The share taxi
fare will be Rs.300 to Rs.350, and the time taken will be 1 hour 30 min to
reach Kohima town.
Kohima is
the main gateway of Kisama Heritage Village, and the distance is around 12
km. Bus service and shared taxis are the only public transport to reach Kisama
village. From Kohima, bus service is available at Rs150 to reach the spot where
the Hornbill Festival is organized,
and there are also shared taxis at Rs500 to Rs600 to visit the Kisama Heritage Village.
Best time to visit Hornbill Festival Nagaland
October to February is
the best time to visit Nagaland. If you want to enjoy the Hornbill
Carnival in Nagaland, you must visit before 1st December,
due to the fact that the festival starts 1st December and runs
up to 10th December every year. So, you must plan the trip for December.
Homestay near Hornbill Festival
There are fewer homestays in the village where the carnival
is organized. So, you must book the homestay in advance. If your tour plan is
on the Hornbill celebration, you must book a homestay or tent 15 to 30 days in
advance due to their unavailability and the large number of tourists who gather
together at that time. Some homestays you will find are about 5 to 6 km away
from the place where the Hornbill is arranged. You will try to book a homestay
near Kisama village.
Some Homestays near Hornbill Festival
Zutso Homestay:
Zutso Homestay is located at Kisama village, perfect for nature lovers, and it
is just 10 to 15 minutes walking distance from the carnival area. According to reviews, it has a 4.9 rating, is a great
place to stay, has a location that is very beautiful, has an owner whose
behavior is so good, is close to nature, and is near Kisama Naga Heritage.
Contact Number 07630805519
Hills Homestay:
The homestay is very near to the celebration venue, within walking distance, and
a great place. Excellent reviews, that is, a 4.9 rating; the location is Kisama
village, Nagaland. Phone: 07005766794
ATSI Homestay:
The homestay is around 12 km away, located in Viswema village in Nagaland. The
phone numbers are 8974656930 and 9612272480, and the room rent is Rs.500 to
Rs.1000 per night.
A tent is
also another option to stay in if you have no homestay. A large number of
visitors come here and stay in tents. To stay in a tent, the tent price will be
Rs.1000 to Rs.1600 per night with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Tour Package Nagaland
To book
camp (tent), homestay, and Nagaland tour packages, or for permits, you may
contact Travespert travel agents about the Nagaland tour services; call 7002722770
or 8721810080. Travespert set up camp for the stay of visitors during festival
time, one km away from the Hornbill
Carnival area, and you can book a tent from them. In camps, you get
common washrooms and Western toilets. And for breakfast you will get bread, jam,
a banana, an egg and tea. And for dinner, Dal, rice, and curry.
Hotels are
available in Kohima town, which is 12 km from Hornbill Village.
Inner Line Permit (ILP)
To visit Nagaland or the
Hornbill Festival, you must have an Inner Line permit. You will collect the
permit before visiting Nagaland. Online and offline processes have to apply to
get a permit. For an online permit, open Google Chrome and search for ILP Nagaland; the official website of Nagaland
will be found. Fill up the form and apply for a permit; permit fees will be
Rs.200, and permit validity will be 30 days. To apply for an Inner Line
permit, you have required an Aadhar card and a passport-size photograph.
Conclusion: The Hornbill Festival in Nagaland offers stunning beauty, true peace, the culture of Nagaland, and a joyful experience. A large number of visitors visit the Kisama Heritage Village to enjoy the Hornbill Carnival in December. The Naga tribe people start to celebrate the famous Hornbill Festival 2025 on 1st December every year.