Dzukou Valley, Nagaland is one of my favorite places that I’ve seen so far. It is on my list of the top 5 places to visit in India. I found it to be stunningly beautiful and peaceful.
There is something beautiful about the green landscapes that make me feel like I am finally home. They make me feel like this is where I belong. Hence, when I first heard about the place and saw the pictures, I knew I had to go there.
I ended up staying in that place for two nights.
Getting to Dzukou Valley, Nagaland
Getting there can seem to be a bit of a hassle to some. Let me try and break it down for you so that it easy to understand.
- You have to get to Kohima first and get a ride, sharing or private, up to the Dzukou Valley entry point. This is where you have to pay an entry fee and make a record of the cameras that you are carrying, plastic bags, eatables, etc.
- Once you are done with the formalities, you can either start walking up or get a private taxi to take you up to the parking.
- Now once I was at the parking, my guide asked me if I wanted to take the short cut or the long cut. The short cut was steep for 1 km and then almost like a walk in the part for the rest of the trek. But the long cut was only a walk in the park, but for much longer. It very gradually took to the height. And, carrying the backpack that I was, I did not want to be wearing it and walking for all that long distance. So I opted for the short-cut.
- In I think 3(ish) hours, we made it to the dorms.
The thing to remember: It is mandatory to hire a guide for Dzukou Valley.
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Staying in Dzukou Valley
Once you get to the top, there are two options;
- you can stay in the dorm that costs INR50/- or,
- stay in the cabin that costs INR1500/-.
But with the dorm, blankets and pillows cost extra, and with cabin they are complementary. I would suggest, whether you take the dorm or the cabin, do carry your sleeping bags. It’s better to carry and not use than to regret not carrying it in the cold.
I went there at the end of November, and I was glad to be carrying my sleeping bag with me. It turned out to be a blessing. Because I was a warm-weather person traveling in the North-East in the last week of November I obviously had to be prepared. And, truth be told, I was a bit on the overprepared side.
The third option for stay at Dzukou Valley is tents. You can carry your own. So just go there and pay a fee which if I remember correctly is INR50/- and pitch a private tent for you, your friend or group of friends. It will be one hell of an experience.
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Dorm, Tents or Cabin?
I stayed in the cabin and shared it with two more fellow travelers, so the price came down to 500/- each. I also did speak with people who stayed in the dorm and the tent the next morning. And they said that they were okay. “It wasn’t so bad”, said the girl who stayed in the dorm. It was a cold windy night. And every time I woke up because of the whistling of the wind, I was thinking about the people sleeping in the tent. If their tent would even make it all through the night.
To my surprise, they did make it through the night. And, didn’t regret the decision to have stayed in the tent.
Vegetarians, be prepared for Dzukou Valley, Nagaland
Once you are all settled down, have taken the time to relax and looked around the vicinity, it’s time for food!
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Now I don’t know if it was my bad luck or happens with everybody, but I really had to struggle. There was no vegetarian food available for the most part of the day. So all I had till dinner was bread, tea, and biscuits. There were a ton of cup noodles available, but all non-veg. Eggs were also available but I am a vegetarian so it’s a no-no for me.
The curry that they made during the day was non-veg, and for dinner was veg.
So my advice to you, based on my experience would be, carry ketchup, jam or some spread for bread, instant noodles or any instant curry because rice for one is readily available.
Calculate the number of meals you will need throughout the day, and then carry your food along with you.
Best time to visit
I would say weekdays and sometime during the onset and offset of winter. It gets overly crowded during the weekends and snowy in the winters.
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The best part
It is a beautifully secluded and silent place.
It is a great destination if you are looking for some time out from the busy world or planning a getaway with your partner. I was in love with that place the moment I saw it. And, it turned out to be even better than I expected. Although I wanted to leave sooner because of the cold, I am glad I stayed for two nights.
If you like being close to nature too, the serene, dancing shrubs, and breathtaking sunsets, you will love to be here.
Once you do, don’t forget to share your best moments with us 🙂
Dusk, dawn, daytime, stargazing in the night – everything is worth the while in Dzukou Valley, Nagaland. There are very few places where I have seen the stars so clear and so dense.