Hornbill Festival Guide: Dates, Tickets, Stays & Tips
Updated · Nomadic Travel team
Nagaland's Festival of Festivals runs 1–10 December. Here's how to plan permits, stays, transport and the best things to see at Kisama.
The Hornbill Festival is Nagaland's grand annual celebration of culture, held every year from 1 to 10 December at Kisama Heritage Village, about 12 km from Kohima. Launched by the state government in 2000, it brings together Nagaland's tribes for ten days of dance, song, games, food and crafts. Here's everything you need to plan a smooth trip.
Why it's called the Hornbill Festival
The great hornbill is revered in Naga folklore and its feathers and beak motifs appear in traditional headgear and carvings. Naming the festival after the bird symbolises the shared identity of Nagaland's many tribes.
What happens at Kisama
- Main arena performances: war dances, harvest songs and folk games by tribal troupes in full traditional attire.
- Tribal morungs: each tribe's traditional house serves food, rice beer and hosts mini-performances.
- Crafts bazaar: Naga shawls, beadwork, wood carvings and bamboo products — see our handloom guide.
- WWII museum on the festival grounds.
- Evenings in Kohima: night carnival, food stalls and rock concerts.
Permits: don't forget your ILP
All Indian visitors from outside Nagaland need a Nagaland ILP, applied for online at ilp.nagaland.gov.in. Foreign nationals currently need a Nagaland ILP and a Protected Area Permit — the PAP requirement was reinstated in December 2024. Verify current rules before you travel; see our Nagaland tour packages page for details.
Where to stay
Kohima has limited hotel capacity, and rooms sell out months ahead for festival week. Options include hotels in Kohima, village homestays in Kigwema and Jakhama (walking distance from Kisama), and organised festival campsites. Book two to three months in advance — or let us handle it with our Hornbill Festival tour package.
Getting there
Fly or take the train to Dimapur, then drive about 2.5–3 hours to Kohima. Shared taxis and buses run between Kohima and Kisama during the festival, but traffic can be heavy; a private vehicle saves time.
How many days to spend
Two to three festival days are ideal, ideally spread across the ten days. Combine them with Kohima's War Cemetery, Khonoma and perhaps a Dzukou Valley trek.
Photography etiquette
What to pack
- Warm layers — December nights in Kohima are cold
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Cash for food stalls and crafts
- Printed ILP and ID
- A small torch for evening walks
