Dzukou Valley
One of the famous Nagaland treks and with most stunning scenery is Dzukou Valley Trek. The valley is located between Nagaland and Manipur’s borders. Politically, both states share the same landscape.
Dzukou Valley Trek, which is located at the foot of the Eastern Himalayas, has a wonderful environment because to its traditional mountain landscape, weather, and flora (Dzukou Lilly) and wildlife. As a result, this magical valley is one of the North East’s most popular tourist destinations.
The name of the valley has several different etymologies. The phrase “Soulless and Dull” roughly translates to “Dzukou” in Viswema, the native language of the Angami people.
The definition has little to do with how the area currently appears; rather, it derives from the fact that the early Viswema’s thought this area to be unsuitable for settlement and agriculture due to the region’s rugged topography and unfavorable climate. However, according to some local legends, Dzukou means “cold water” because of the icy streams that flow through the valley. It might have also been a reference to how the Himalayas affected the area.
Due to the enormous diversity of unique Himalayan flora that blooms in the valley area every year, the location is also known as the Valley of Flowers. Of all the attractions in Dzukou Valley, this floral beauty draws tourists from throughout the nation and the world to take in the vibrant scenery of this typically chilly and quiet location.
The Dzukou Lily, which grows uniquely in this area, is the most well-known of the blooms. One of Dzukou’s finest attractions is the flowering season, when the rare species of aconitums, euphorbias, and other exotic Himalayan flowers blossom alongside the white and pink lilies.
MUST DO THINGS IN DZUKOU VALLEY TREK GUIDE :
Apart from witnessing the scenic beauty of Dzukou Valley trek, the must-do things in your tour to the Paradise are-
1. Trek through the valley region’s rocky terrain. From Viswema village, the Dzukou Valley Trek is a 17 KM hike that takes 5 to 6 hours to complete. It is a 3- to 4-hour hike of around 15 kilometres from Zakhama village. The Japfu mountain hike, one of the most well-known treks in the area, is another option.
2. Consider staying at one of the Nagaland homestays to get a feel for the community before or after visiting the valley. You might spend some time at a village or farmstead and observe rural Nagaland daily life.
3. Discover the state’s capital and most populous area, Kohima. The typical tourist activities are available here, like dining at neighbourhood restaurants and trying out regional food, shopping for artisan goods made locally, ethnic fabrics, or souvenirs.
4. You can also experience camping in the approved areas of the valley or the campgrounds around Japfu Peak. After the rainy season, when the weather is mostly dry and conducive to outdoor living, is the greatest time to go camping. The flower bloom is also visible at this time of year.
5. Visit the countryside and explore the natural caves that are concealed among the valley’s folds.
6. To complete the circuit, ascend through Viswema and return from Jakhama.
7. Enjoy the night time stargazing and lose yourself in the beauty of night sky at this Paradise.
8. Ascend to the sacred/holy cross and enjoy the divine beauty.
9. Take a bath in the river’s clear, chilly water. The beauty of the nature and a relaxing bath in the water is so therapeutic which will make you feel afresh all over.
10. While cooking, try getting engaged into the story telling next to a bonfire. It will get everyone super connected.
Read: The Ultimate Nagaland Travel Guide!
PLACES TO SEE ALONG WAY DZUKOU VALLEY TREK:
You can also discover the following places near Dzukou Valley if you plan for extra 2-3 days, for a complete tour package!
1.KOHIMA :
Everyone should include Nagaland’s capital on their list of places to visit. For everyone who enjoys spending time in unspoiled nature, Kohima, is absolute paradise situated 1500 metres above sea level . Awe-inspiring mountains and forests surround it. Adventures like trekking, hiking, and camping are also possible in this area. The Angami tribe resides in this area.
Do stop at the Commonwealth War Cemetery while you’re here. It has the tombs of more than 1400 soldiers who lost their lives defending India against Japanese invasion during World War.
2. DZULEKE :
As far as the eye can see, a lush, green jungle surrounds the charming settlement of Dzuleke. With only less than 100 homes, nature has abundantly blessed the area, and technology has not yet infected people’s lives with its annoying venom. The charming settlement is about 18 kilometres forward of Khonoma Village and 40 kilometres from the state capital Kohima.
For Naga locals, Dzüleke is a favourite picnic location. In the monsoons, the river gurgles loudly; in the autumn, it becomes a small stream of immaculately clean water with deep planks on the edge of the farms and picnic areas. Dzüleke’s small population and deep connection to ethnic culture provide an ideal window into rural life.
The little town of Dzuleke, which is located in the isolated hills of Nagaland and focuses on ecotourism. Nature is the only thing that can nourish your spirit when there is no internet or mobile access. Wildflowers line the peaceful street, and bright, vivid flowers adorn the rustic patios of every house. A super clean river yelps hidden in the forest canopy. Happiness permeates every nook and cranny as the soft breeze whispers through the warm afternoon. Croplands reflect out in a seductive shade of green.
3. KISAMA HERITAGE VILLAGE :
Located at the outskirts of Kohima, Kisama Heritage Village, is a place where you can experience real Naga culture. The renowned Hornbill Festival is held annually in this same location. This village and each of Nagaland’s festivals work to revive the region’s otherwise suppressed culture.
The Kisama Heritage Village, also known as the Naga Heritage Village, protects Nagaland’s culture and traditions. This village is an amalgam of Kigwema (KI), Phesama (SA), and MA. It was built by the government with the intention of protecting tribal values and way of life. This is merely a display of the best Naga tribal customs, traditions, and ways of life. It resembles an outdoor museum more. The Hornbill festival, which the community celebrates, is primarily for the general public to witness as a visual spectacle. This community is the outcome of the Nagaland government’s efforts to protect and revive the various distinctive customs and civilizations of the Naga tribes. Visit this village to see it for yourself.
4. KHONOMA VILLAGE :
Khonoma, Asia’s First Green Village, is tucked away in the Nagaland highlands and is quite the enchantress. The greatest rain woods in the state may be found around the village. In 2005, word of the community-driven efforts of the locals to save the local flora and fauna spread like wildfire. The hamlet, which was formerly notorious for its aggressive hunting and constant exploitation of the forest, is now united in its preservation of 2000 hectares of forest by outlawing these activities.
Khonoma Village is also renowned for being the final stronghold of the Naga warriors, who steadfastly resisted the British Empire. You can also go to the village’s highest point, where a gate with traditional carvings will greet you. Moreover, 20 distinct varieties of paddy are grown on the terraces of the local hills.
5. JOTSOMA VILLAGE :
The Angami Tribe rules over the normal settlement of Jotsoma village, which is on the way to Khonoma. Although an overnight stay is not advised due to the questionable lodging options, one of the nearby hotspots for flora and animals is Pulie Badze. To reach the top of a hill marked by a giant cross sign, the journey passes through beautiful surrounding woodland. From the hilltop, you can see Kohima Town in its entirety and Mt. Japfu in the distance.
The Jotsoma village is one of the picturesque locations. It is extremely necessary to hike to this village in order to experience Nagaland’s natural beauty. The Doordarshan Kendra, a water reservoir, and the famed Mt. Puliebadze are all located in the charming town of Jotsoma. It is one of the quietest places in Nagaland, with a population of little more than 3000.
6. NAGA BAZAR :
A visit to Kohima wouldn’t be complete without going shopping and seeing around the area where livestock is traded. Here, you may find a variety of foods that are part of Naga cuisine. While touring this area, you will come across several of women selling handicrafts, fishery products, and poultry who are dressed in traditional Naga attire. Therefore, be sure to stop by the Naga Bazaar, which is among the most popular tourist destinations in Kohima.
THINGS TO CARRY FOR YOUR DZUKOU VALLEY TREK:
Trekking to Dzukou Valley is a full comprising trek even if it takes a half day to reach the top. The nights turn out to be very minimal so you need to carry the basic necessary things.
- CARRY AROUND 2-3 TREK PANTS and T-SHIRTS: For the trekking part, old good trek pants can do wonders. It will make you comfortable, easy to climb and walk up. Normal t-shirts will help in the daytime to beat the heat.
- CARRY A JACKET: Dzukou can get unexpectedly cold during night, therefore it is advisable to keep a jacket handy.
- KEEP A RAIN COAT ALONG WITH: The area is prone to rainfall, keeping a raincoat can do wonders at times.
- A PAIR OF TREKKING SHOES: A sturdy pair of shoe is essential for the trek so as to get the perfect grip while walking up.
- CARRY A POWER BANK, SUNGLASS, SUNSCREEN AND WATER BOTTLE: A power bank can be of ultimate help if you are exhausted with your device’s charge. A sunglass and sunscreen will help you unresolve the heat. Water bottle is a must.
- SOAP PAPER and TOILET PAPER: You might be in great use of these as the washrooms at the top are in a very basic state. Also do carry a sanitizing spray.
- CARRY PACKAGED FOOD ITEMS: If you take a guide(which is suggested), he will help you to get a kitchen, utensils and firewood from the main kitchen where you can cook your own food but you have to carry the raw items from the town. If nit, you can have food from the main kitchen but its limited. There is a small shop where you will get cup noodles, biscuits etc. You can keep a few packets of instants food items or snacks for your safety.
WHERE TO STAY IN Dzukou Valley Trek?
Technically, there is a basic rent house available that looks over the valley. It offers two refugee camps and five private rooms with few amenities. You can easily rent mattresses, blankets and also pillows if you find it difficult to carry on your own.
If you have the right gear, Dzukou Valley is an amazing place to camp. The valley is a very popular camp site for tourist and there are many natural campsites available. The main site is smack in the centre of the valley and you can stay in until and unless you pay the entry fee.
There are two special guest house available too. However, it is often not easily accessible by all as it requires official booking from the authorities.
How to Reach Dzukou Valley Trek ?
Guwahati To Dimapur
. Guwahati being the nearest place to Nagaland, outlanders first have to come to Guwahati and from there they can choose which way to go.
- By train
- Book a flight ticket from Guwahati(GAU) to Dimapur(DMU)
. Dimapur to Kohima
From Dimapur it is a lengthy and bumpy journey to Kohima. it takes around 4 to 5 hours to get to Kohima and the best way is to go is with a shared taxi. You can also book a private cab but it will cost a lot more.
. Kohima to trek point
There are two ways from where you can start your trek.
- Viswema route- this one is for beginners and it is a little bit easy.
- Zakhama route- it is not a straight route and is comparatively more difficult than the Viswema route but takes less time.
It is suggested that you go upwards through Viswema and come down through Zakhama.
So far you need to book a cab for both ways to get to the starting point of the trek on the first place you need to pay entry fees to enter the valley.
Dzukou Valley Trek Itinerary
Day 1
On the first day you will reach Dimapur at around 5 am in the morning. From there you’ll be booking your cab and directly head out to Kohima. It is a long journey on bumpy roads. The roads are still crude and under construction but the views are breathtaking.
Once you reach Kohima, you can directly head out to the starting point of the trek or you can stay the night in Kohima and rest as the bumpy journey will already drain out all your energy. We prefer staying the night at the guest house in Kohima and explore nearby places and markets in the capital city of Nagaland. The markets are open till 5 pm in the evening and you can still get out for walking around.
Day 2
On this day your actual journey just gets started. After having breakfast, get on the cab to reach the starting point of the trek. Do not carry plastic up there, even if you do so keep them with you without littering. The road to the trek point is also something you’ll never forget but it is totally rocky and undulating. it takes around an hour to reach the point with a cab. it is an hour and a half long uphill path. It has amazing views and you’ll see other local people and children coming down from the valley with bamboo bushes. it is very normal for them to go up and down without any sign of tiredness as they are habituated. But for beginners it is very relentless, so better start working out on your body in advanced.
After the uphill climb of about 1 to 1 and half hours you’ll finally be in Dzukou valley. The moment you reach the valley you’re definitely going to be mesmerized by the surroundings which is impossible to put into text or words. We stopped for some time to properly get to feel the area with the absence of any humans having an appearance like that of Windows default wallpapers. Only the sounds of grass and leaves rustling, bug buzz of cicadas and the wind along with our footsteps could be heard while we resumed the trek. Among the vegetation it was a green background with the only presence of bamboo shrubs.
With enough sightseeing it was time to go to our dorms. The road to accommodation was actually double the distance and one must cross a dozen more hills in the trek. A beginner may need 3 to 4 hours but one who is familiar with such adventures can cover up the distance in 2 and a half hours. We reached the place of stay with an ample amount of tiredness but it was covered up by the nearby trees without any leaves, the stumps with their naked branches was a pure beauty. It was around 5:30 in the evening and most of our fellow trekkers opt out to stay at the dorms while the others set out to live in the tents. After a couple of hours food was prepared in the dormitory’s authentic kitchen, dinner was served simple. In a matter of time it was pitch black dark as the night sky took over, a sky full of stars. Bonfire was set up under the night sky which couldn’t stop twinkling after which one by one, everyone was sleeping.
Day 3
The next morning was not another day to waste so the campers and us started waking up at around 5 in the morning. It was the chilliest feeling ever, even brushing teeth felt like putting ice inside the mouth. We noticed a wooden platform kind of thing nearby on the edge, still wrapped up in blankets we went and saw the valley down below which had zero visibility. The area was covered by thick clouds appearing as a fluffy white blanket around the whole world. The transitioning of the cloud cover clearing out into the deep green valley was as beautiful as a sunset near the sea.
We brought some loaf along made sandwiches and tea, breakfast was done. After putting on the boots and running shoes it was another beautiful day to explore. While we were going downhill the trees on the path were seen marked by psalms from the Bible. Reading those in the morning had positive vibes on everyone as all living beings big and small is forever grateful to God. A further beyond we could see a large cross standing tall at a distance. It was windy at that time we reached a helipad which presented us with a 360 degree wide brilliant view. After rumbling down for a couple hours we nearly reached a point which can be referred to as a dead end. It was a place beyond the pines with streams flowing into brooks which was like an adventure save point we stopped by washed our faces with the crystal clear water and clicked a lot of pictures. There was a cave like geographic structure with colorful engravings of the names of every hikers over time which was called the Spirit Wall, so we had another new story to tell. It took one and a half hour to get back to our campsite to have our lunch as the stomachs were already growling. As it was dusk the sun dipping below the horizon beyond the valley was magical. As the night sky arrived an usual bonfire was set and for activity, it was decided a karaoke night. After a nice singing session we cooked our dinner and went to sleep.
Day 4
As it was the last day in the valley we had to pack up all the things and clean up the mess and get the area cleared. Oh a fun fact! There’s a saying that if you do not shout out your name before leaving Dzukou valley your soul that’s inside you gets left behind there. It becomes mandatory for everyone ultimately, after capturing some more memories in photos and videos we came back down the hills of the valley as our vehicle was waiting at the entrance of the trek. In a matter of time we got back to Kohima had some food then reached Dimapur quite advanced for boarding the train, the night was passed in the train itself.
Day 5
By the time we opened our eyes we already came back to Guwahati. This is how it ended.
FAQs
- What is Dzukou Valley famous for?
- Dzukou Valley is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, including lush green landscapes, colorful flowers, and pristine streams. It’s a popular trekking destination in Northeast India.
2. How can I reach Dzukou Valley?
- Dzukou Valley is located near Kohima, the capital of Nagaland. Travelers typically reach Kohima first and then embark on a trek to Dzukou Valley. The most common starting point for the trek is the village of Zakhama.
3. When is the best time to visit Dzukou Valley?
- The best time to visit Dzukou Valley is during the post-monsoon season, from September to November, and the pre-monsoon season, from March to June. These months offer pleasant weather and lush landscapes.
4. Are permits required to visit Dzukou Valley?
- Yes, permits are required to visit Dzukou Valley. Travelers need to obtain permits from the Nagaland Tourism Department, and it’s recommended to check the latest permit requirements and fees before planning a visit.
5. Is camping allowed in Dzukou Valley?
- Yes, camping is allowed in Dzukou Valley, and it’s a popular activity for trekkers. There are designated camping sites, and it’s essential to follow Leave No Trace principles to protect the environment. Additionally, camping permits may be required, so check with authorities
