Khonoma Village

Khonoma, about 20 km west of Kohima, is an Angami Naga village with a proud history and an inspiring conservation story. Perched on a ridge above terraced paddy fields and alder forests, it is said to be around 700 years old. In 1879–80 its warriors fought the British in the Anglo-Naga wars, and memorial stones in the village recall the battles and the fort.

In the late 1990s the village council banned hunting and logging in its forests and created the Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary, protecting the rare Blyth's tragopan and other wildlife. These efforts earned Khonoma recognition as India's first 'green village', and it has since become a model of community-based eco-tourism.

Visitors can walk the stone paths between the village's khels (clan quarters), see traditional houses with carved gates and morungs, learn about the ingenious terrace and alder-based farming, and stay in homestays run by local families. A local guide makes the visit far richer — and is the respectful way to explore.