Kohima WWII History Walk

Walk the battlefields of 1944 — the tennis court, Garrison Hill and memorials — with a local historian.

At a glance

Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 2–3 hours
Best season: Year-round; October – May for clear weather
Base: Kohima (Kohima)
Permits: Nagaland ILP required; foreigners also need a PAP. Verify before travel.

About this experience

In April–June 1944, Kohima was the scene of one of the decisive battles of World War II in Asia. Japanese forces advancing toward India were halted by a small garrison and then pushed back by relieving British and Indian troops, with fierce fighting across Garrison Hill, around the Deputy Commissioner's bungalow and even across its tennis court. Many Naga villagers supported the Allied forces as guides, porters and scouts.

A history walk with a knowledgeable local guide starts at the Kohima War Cemetery, where terraces of graves mark the battlefield and white lines trace the tennis court. You will see the 2nd Division memorial with the Kohima Epitaph and the Indian memorial. Depending on time, the walk extends to other sites such as Jail Hill, Aradura Spur or the Kohima Peace Memorial, and to the WWII museum at Kisama.

Veterans' families and military history enthusiasts visit from across the world, especially around the battle's anniversaries in April. The walk is respectful and reflective, and pairs well with visits to Naga villages whose histories are intertwined with the war.