Kohima (;

Angami Naga The Angamis are a major Naga ethnic group native to the Northeast Indian state of Nagaland. The Angami Nagas are predominantly settled in Kohima District, Chümoukedima District and Dimapur District of Nagaland and are also recognized as one of ...

: ''Kewhira'' ()), is the

capital Capital may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** List of national capital cities * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences * Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...

of the

Northeastern The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each se ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

n state of

Nagaland Nagaland () is a landlocked state in the northeastern region of India. It is bordered by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, Manipur to the south and the Sagaing Region of Myanmar to the east. Its capital cit ...

. With a resident population of almost 100,000, it is the second largest city in the state. Originally known as ''Kewhira'', Kohima was founded in 1878 when the

British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...

established its headquarters of the then Naga Hills District of

Assam Province Assam Province was a province of British India, created in 1912 by the partition of the Eastern Bengal and Assam Province. Its capital was in Shillong. The Assam territory was first separated from Bengal in 1874 as the 'North-East Frontier' n ...

. It officially became the capital after the state of Nagaland was inaugurated in 1963. Kohima was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. The battle is often referred to as the ''

Stalingrad Volgograd ( rus, Волгогра́д, a=ru-Volgograd.ogg, p=vəɫɡɐˈɡrat), geographical renaming, formerly Tsaritsyn (russian: Цари́цын, Tsarítsyn, label=none; ) (1589–1925), and Stalingrad (russian: Сталингра́д, Stal ...

of the East''. In 2013, the British

National Army Museum The National Army Museum is the British Army's central museum. It is located in the Chelsea district of central London, adjacent to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the home of the "Chelsea Pensioners". The museum is a non-departmental public body. ...

voted the

Battle of Kohima The Battle of Kohima proved the turning point of the Imperial Japan, Japanese Operation U-Go, U-Go offensive into British Raj, India in 1944 during the World War II, Second World War. The battle took place in three stages from 4 April to 22 June ...

to be ''Britain's Greatest Battle''. Kohima constitutes both a

district A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions o ...

and a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

. The municipality covers . Kohima lies on the foothills of Japfü section of the

Barail Range The Barail Range is a tertiary mountain range in Northeast India with an area of approximately 80,000 ha between Brahmaputra and Barak basins stretching from Nagaland & Manipur to the east and Assam & Meghalaya Meghalaya (, or , meaning "ab ...

located south of the District () and has an average elevation of 1,261 metres (4137 feet).

Etymology

Kohima was originally known as ''Kewhi–ra''. The name, Kohima, was officially given by the British as they could not pronounce the Angami name of ( Tenyidie for "the land where the flower ''‘Kewhi’'' grows"). It is called after the wild flowering plant ''‘Kewhi’'', found in the mountains. Most local people prefer to use ''‘Kewhi–ra’''.

History

Kohima was originally a large village named '' Kewhira'', which is located in the northeastern part of the present day Kohima Urban Area. The village is divided into four large clans ('' thinuo''): ''Tsütuonuomia'', ''Lhisemia'', ''Dapfhütsumia'' and ''Pfüchatsumia'' (T, L, D, and P Khel respectively).

Colonial era

The

East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Southea ...

Administration Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal ** Administrative assistant, Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an admini ...

started to expand into Kohima beginning the 1840s. The progress made by the company armies in annexing the region continued after the

Indian Rebellion of 1857 The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising in India in 1857–58 against the rule of the British East India Company, which functioned as a sovereign power on behalf of the British Crown. The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 in the fo ...

, although now under the auspices of the

British Indian Army The British Indian Army, commonly referred to as the Indian Army, was the main military of the British Raj before its dissolution in 1947. It was responsible for the defence of the British Indian Empire, including the princely states, which co ...

. Kohima was the first seat of modern administration as the Headquarters of Naga Hills District (then under

) with the appointment of Guybon Henry Damant as Political Officer in 1879.

Battle of Kohima

In 1944 during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

the

along with the simultaneous

Battle of Imphal ) , partof = the Operation U-Go during the Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian theatre of World War II , image = Imphalgurkhas.jpg , image_size = 300 , caption = Gurkhas advancing with Grant tanks ...

was the turning point in the Burma Campaign. For the first time in

South-East Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainland ...

, the

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

lost the initiative to the

Allies An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...

, which the Allies then retained until the end of the war. This hand-to-hand battle and slaughter prevented the

Japanese Army The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force ( ja, 陸上自衛隊, Rikujō Jieitai), , also referred to as the Japanese Army, is the land warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Created on July 1, 1954, it is the largest of the three service b ...

from gaining a base from which they might have easily gone into the plains of India. Kohima War Cemetery, Kohima, Nagaland (89)

Kohima has a large cemetery known as the

Kohima War Cemetery Kohima War Cemetery is a memorial dedicated to soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Division (United Kingdom), 2nd British Division of the Allies of World War II, Allied Forces who died in the Second World War at Kohima, the capital of the Indian state ...

for the Allied war dead; it is maintained by the

Commonwealth War Graves Commission The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations mil ...

. The cemetery lies on the slopes of Garrison Hill, in what was once the Deputy Commissioner's tennis court, which was the scene of intense fighting known as the

Battle of the Tennis Court The Battle of the Tennis Court was part of the wider Battle of Kohima that was fought in North East India from 4 April to 22 June 1944 during the Burma Campaign of the Second World War. The Japanese advance into India was halted at Kohima in Ap ...

. The

epitaph An epitaph (; ) is a short text honoring a deceased person. Strictly speaking, it refers to text that is inscribed on a tombstone or plaque, but it may also be used in a figurative sense. Some epitaphs are specified by the person themselves be ...

carved on the memorial of the 2nd British Division in the cemetery has become world-famous as the Kohima poem.

''When You Go Home, Tell Them of Us and Say,'' ''For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.''

The verse is attributed to

John Maxwell Edmonds John Maxwell Edmonds (21 January 1875 – 18 March 1958) was an English classicist, poet and dramatist and the author of several celebrated martial epitaphs. Biography Edmonds was born in Stroud, Gloucestershire on 21 January 1875. His father ...

(1875–1958), and is thought to have been inspired by the epitaph written by

Simonides Simonides of Ceos (; grc-gre, Σιμωνίδης ὁ Κεῖος; c. 556–468 BC) was a Greek lyric poet, born in Ioulis on Kea (island), Ceos. The scholars of Hellenistic Alexandria included him in the canonical list of the nine lyric p ...

to honour the Greek who fell at the

Battle of Thermopylae The Battle of Thermopylae ( ; grc, Μάχη τῶν Θερμοπυλῶν, label=Greek, ) was fought in 480 BC between the Achaemenid Persian Empire under Xerxes I and an alliance of Greek city-states led by Sparta under Leonidas I. Lasting o ...

in 480 BC.

1963–present

When Nagaland became a full-fledged state on 1 December 1963, Kohima was named as the state capital.

Killings of Kekuojalie Sachü and Vikhozo Yhoshü

On 20 March 1986, two students Kekuojalie Sachü and Vikhozo Yhoshü were killed in indiscriminate firing by

Nagaland Police The Nagaland Police is the law enforcement agency for the Indian state of Nagaland. The headquarters of the Nagaland Police is located at Nagaland Police Headquarters in Police Reserve Hill, Kohima. It is headed by the Director General of Polic ...

when they participated in a peaceful protest called by the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) to rally against the state government's decision on the introduction of

Indian Police Service The Indian Police Service ( IPS) is a civil service under the All India Services. It replaced the Indian Imperial Police in 1948, a year after India became independent from the British Raj. Along with the Indian Administrative Service (IAS ...

(IPS) cadres and the extension of the Disturbed Area Belt from 5 to 20 km along the Indo-Myanmar (Indo-

Burma Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John Wells explai ...

) border. The event was so tumultuous that it led three Cabinet ministers and five State Ministers of Nagaland to resign.

1995 Kohima Massacre

On 5 March 1995, when a convoy of the 16th

Rashtriya Rifles The Rashtriya Rifles (RR; ) is a counter-insurgency force in India, formed in 1990, to specifically serve in the Jammu and Kashmir region. They also maintain public order by drawing powers from the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Po ...

of the

Indian Army The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four- ...

was traversing through Kohima, a tyre burst from one of the convoy's own vehicle led the armed troops to mistake the sound of the tyre bursting for a bomb attack. The troops reacted immediately and started firing at civilian populace. A total of 7 were killed and 36 were left injured. The incident is widely referred to as the 1995 Kohima Massacre.

2017 Nagaland protests

On 2 February 2017, the office building of the

Kohima Municipal Council The Kohima Municipal Council is the local council of Kohima. It was initially known as Kohima Town Committee (KTC) and had eight wards and four Government nominees. Yusuf Ali was the first Ex-Officio Chairman and Dr. Neilhouzhu Kire was the first ...

was burned down by a

mob Mob or MOB may refer to: Behavioral phenomena * Crowd * Smart mob, a temporary self-structuring social organization, coordinated through telecommunication Crime and law enforcement * American Mafia, also known as the Mob * Irish Mob, a US crimin ...

as part of the boycott of the Civic Elections. The fire significantly damaged adjoining government and private buildings. On 19 February, in response against the backdrop of widespread protests and civil unrest in the state,

T. R. Zeliang Taditui Rangkau Zeliang (born 21 February 1952) is an Indian politician who served twice as the Chief Minister of Nagaland, a state in India, from May 2014 to February 2017 and from July 2017 to March 2018. A leader of the Naga People's Front, ...

announced his resignation as the Chief Minister of Nagaland.

Geography

Topography

Kohima is located at 25°67' North, 94°10' East, in the southern part of Nagaland. It lies north of the Japfü– Barail intersection with

Pulie Badze Pulie Badze, is a mountain peak in Kohima District of Nagaland, standing at an elevation of overlooking the capital city of Nagaland, Kohima, it is the centerpiece of Pulie Badze Wildlife Sanctuary Pulie Badze Wildlife Sanctuary is located i ...

to the southwest overlooking the city. The hills on which Kohima is located has an elevation ranging from .

Climate

The city experiences a

subtropical highland climate An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ( ...

(

Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (born 1951), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author and ...

: ''Cwb''), with greater contrast between summer and winter than in other continents due to the

monsoon A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal oscil ...

s but mild temperatures even for latitude and altitude. The months of June to September concentrate much of the precipitation. Kohima has pleasant winters with little rainfall and very warm, very rainy summers. The coolest months are from December to February, when frost may occur and in the highest altitudes occasional snowfall is possible. During the height of summers, from June to August, temperatures range on average from , with heavy and frequent rainfall.

Environment

Water supply and availability

Most Wards in Kohima experiences severe water shortages during the dry seasons. The current water resources from the reservoirs of Zarü River and the streams from the slopes of

do not fulfill the needs of the rapidly growing population of Kohima. With the augmentation of the Zarü River project and several other upcoming water projects to be supplied from

Dzüko Valley The Dzüko Valley is a valley located at the borders of the states of Nagaland and Manipur in Northeast India. This valley is well known for its natural environment, seasonal flowers and flora & fauna. It is situated at an altitude of 2452 m abo ...

and others. The water supply is expected to cover more wards.

Administration

The

(KMC) was established in 2005 under India's Constitution (Seventy-Fourth Amendment) Act, 1992. It has waste management, drainage and trade licensing and other responsibilities. Other departments of the

state government A state government is the government that controls a subdivision of a country in a federal form of government, which shares political power with the federal or national government. A state government may have some level of political autonomy, or ...

, which sit in Kohima, also have a role in the administration of Kohima. The "City Development Plan" for the town, for example, was written by state Urban Development Department.

Wards

Kohima is divided into nineteen sectors with a total of thirty-three administrative wards under the authority of the

, covering an area of about . Each ward has its own council government and handles many of the functions that are handled by city governments in other jurisdictions.

Public safety

Police and law enforcement

The Kohima Police of the

is the police force responsible for maintaining security, law and order in the Kohima Metropolitan Area. It is headed by a

Superintendent of Police Superintendent (Supt) is a rank in the British police and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries, the full version is superintendent of police (SP). The rank is also used in most British Overseas Territories ...

(SP). Kevithuto Sophie is the current SP of Kohima. The municipal area of Kohima is served by two police stations—

Kohima North Police Station Kohima North Police Station, is a police station located at Keziekie Ward near the Kohima Village entry gate in Kohima, Nagaland, India. Established in 1933, it is the oldest police station in Nagaland. As of April 2022, the highly controversi ...

and Kohima South Police Station. In 2020, the Kohima North Police Station became the first police station and a government facility in the entire North Eastern Region of India to receive the International Standard Organization (ISO) 9001 Certification for quality management system.

Demographics

Census data

As of 2011, Kohima had a population of 99,039 of which males and females were 51,626 and 47,413 respectively. Kohima has an average literacy rate of 90.76%, higher than the national average of 79.55%. The city's population is composed of the 17 Ethnic Groups of Nagaland. The population of the Angamis, Aos and

Lothas The Lotha Nagas, also known as Kyong, are a major Naga ethnic group native to Wokha District in the Indian state of Nagaland. Origins Scholars have presented several theories about the migration of the Lothas and the other Naga tribes, base ...

are the largest in present-day Kohima Urban Area.

Religion

The major religion in Kohima is

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

which is practised by 80.22% of the population. Other religions includes

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...

(16.09%),

Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...

(3.06%) and

Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...

(0.45%).

Economy

Commerce

Kohima has numerous shopping centers ranging from traditional markets to modern shopping malls. There are many dedicated markets for local products such as traditional handlooms and handicrafts. Some major shopping areas of the city are: * Bamboo Market * Khedi Market * Kohima Trade Centre * Main Town Area * Mao Market * Super Market * Tibetan Market * T–Khel Market

Tourism

Tourism plays an important role in the city's economy. The number of tourists visiting Kohima has been increasing significantly each year.

Cityscape

Historical sites

*Kohima War Cemetery Kohima War Cemetery is a memorial dedicated to soldiers of the 2nd British Division of the Allied Forces who died in the Second World War at Kohima in April 1944. There are 1,420 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War at this cemetery.

Parks

*Sakhrie Park Sakhrie Park is a recreational park located at Middle Tsiepfü Tsiepfhe Ward (Middle AG) located between the

Asian Highway 1 Asian Highway 1 (AH1) is the longest route of the Asian Highway Network, running from Tokyo, Japan via Korea, China, Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran to the border between Turkey and Bulgaria west of Istanbul wh ...

and the Tsiepfü Tsiepfhe Road (AG) . *Sokhriezie Park Sokhriezie Park is a centrally located lake that sits below the PHQ Junction. *Kohima Botanical Garden Kohima Botanical Garden is located at

New Ministers' Hill Ward New Ministers' Hill Ward is a ward located under Nagaland's capital city, Kohima. The ward falls under the designated Ward No. 15 of the Kohima Municipal Council. Education Educational Institutions in New Ministers' Hill Ward: * Little Flower H ...

and is looked after by the

Nagaland Forest Department Nagaland () is a landlocked state in the northeastern region of India. It is bordered by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, Manipur to the south and the Sagaing Region of Myanmar to the east. Its capital cit ...

Culture

Cultural centers

The

Kohima Capital Cultural Center The Kohima Capital Cultural Center is a cultural center located at Police Reserve Hill, Kohima, Nagaland, India. The center has a multipurpose hall and provides various facilities for citizens. The main hall with a seating capacity of 1800 is ...

is a cultural center which has a multipurpose hall that provides various facilities for its citizens. The

Regional Centre of Excellence for Music & Performing Arts The Regional Centre of Excellence for Music & Performing Arts (RCEMPA) is a cultural center located at Jotsoma, Kohima District, Nagaland Nagaland () is a landlocked state in the northeastern region of India. It is bordered by the Indian st ...

(RCEMPA) is a contemporary arts and music centre located in

Jotsoma Jotsoma is an Angami Naga village located about west from the state capital, Kohima. The total population of the village is about 2,458. Kohima Science College, Doordharshan Kendra Kohima, Water Supply Reservoir (Public Health Engineering), S ...

, about west of the city centre.

Events and Festivals

*NAJ Cosfest The NAJ Cosfest is an ''

Otaku is a Japanese word that describes people with consuming interests, particularly in anime, manga, video games, or computers. Its contemporary use originated with a 1983 essay by Akio Nakamori in ''Manga Burikko''. may be used as a pejorativ ...

''-based cosplay festival held every year in the month of July. The annual event was started in 2013 and is organized by the Nagaland Anime Junkies. The cosfest is one of the biggest cosplay festivals in

North East India , native_name_lang = mni , settlement_type = , image_skyline = , image_alt = , image_caption = , motto = , image_map = Northeast india.png , ...

. *Hornbill Festival The Hornbill Festival is the biggest annual festival in North East India. The festival is held every year from 1 to 10 December with the purpose to promote the richness of the Naga heritage and traditions. The main venue is located at the

Kisama Heritage Village Kisama Heritage Village (also Naga Heritage Village) is a Heritage Village located on the slopes of a hill between Kigwema and Phesama Villages in the Kohima District of the Indian state of Nagaland. The Heritage Village is the venue of the annu ...

, located south of the city centre.

Fashion

The inhabitants of Kohima have been historically characterized as "fashion-conscious". Numerous fashion stores are located across the city and a number of fashion related events are held annually. The southern wards starting from Main Town and beyond are the most fashionable areas of Kohima.

Museums

The

Nagaland State Museum The Nagaland State Museum is a museum located in Bayavü Hill, Kohima, Nagaland Nagaland () is a landlocked state in the northeastern region of India. It is bordered by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, ...

is located in Bayavü Hill and displays a comprehensive collection of artefacts including ancient sculptures, traditional dresses, inscriptions of the Naga people.

Religious sites

center, Kohima Ao Baptist Church The Mary Help of Christians Cathedral or commonly known as the Kohima Cathedral is a prominent landmark in Kohima. The 16 feet high carved wood crucifix is one of Asia's largest crosses. It is the biggest Catholic church in Nagaland and was constructed in 1998. There are numerous Protestant churches in Kohima.

Kohima Ao Baptist Church Kohima Ao Baptist Church is a Baptist church located in Midland Ward, Kohima, Nagaland, India affiliated with the Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang. KABA was one of the first Ao churches established outside the Mokokchung District, Ao region. It serves a ...

and

Kohima Lotha Baptist Church Kohima Lotha Baptist Church is a Baptist church located in the locality of Lower Chandmari Ward, Kohima, Nagaland, India. The church building was opened in 2017, although the congregation had been formed since 1956. It is one of the biggest Lot ...

are some of the biggest churches in Kohima. The Kohima Jain Temple, the oldest

Jain Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...

temple in North East India was established in 1920.

Media

The most widely circulated newspapers in Kohima are ''

The Morung Express ''The Morung Express'' is an English language newspaper published from Dimapur in Nagaland, India.Nagaland Post ''Nagaland Post'' is an English newspaper published from Dimapur in Nagaland in India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous c ...

'', ''

Eastern Mirror ''Eastern Mirror'' is a daily English language newspaper published from Dimapur in the Indian state of Nagaland. History On 16 November 2015, ''Eastern Mirror'' along with four other state newspapers—'' Capi'', ''The Morung Express'', '' Nag ...

'', ''

Nagaland Page ''Nagaland Page'' is a daily English newspaper published from Dimapur in the India state of Nagaland. It was founded in 1999 and edited and published by Monalisa Changkija. See also *List of newspapers in Nagaland References {{Reflist Extern ...

'' and the local newspaper '' Capi''. The city was also home to the now defunct ''

Kewhira Dielie ''Kewhira Dielie'' (lit. ''Kohima News'') was a monthly Tenyidie newspaper published from Kohima. It was the first modern newspaper from present-day Nagaland, India. The newspaper was a single-sheet legal sized paper printed on both sides and ...

'', the first modern newspaper published from Nagaland. Kohima is home to several television networks: Nagaland Cornerstone TV, Doordarshan Kendra Kohima which operates the

DD Nagaland DD, dd, or other variants may refer to: Arts and entertainment *"D.D.", a track on mixtape ''Echoes of Silence'' by The Weeknd * DD (character), a character in ''The Saga of Seven Suns'' novels by Kevin J. Anderson *DD National or DD1, an Indi ...

, etc. State-owned

All India Radio All or ALL may refer to: Language * All, an indefinite pronoun in English * All, one of the English determiners * Allar language (ISO 639-3 code) * Allative case (abbreviated ALL) Music * All (band), an American punk rock band * ''All'' (All a ...

has a local station in Kohima, which transmits various programs of mass interest like ''

AIR FM Tragopan FM Tragopan (AIR FM Tragopan 103 MHz) is a radio channel broadcast from All India Radio Kohima station. It was launched on 2 October 2017, and is available on 103 MHz frequency in Kohima. It also available on DD Free Dish. The FM was ...

'', etc.

Transportation

Airports

Kohima is served by the

Dimapur Airport Dimapur Airport is a domestic airport serving Chümoukedima–Dimapur and its neighbouring areas. It is located between the districts of Chümoukedima and Dimapur, from where National Highway 29 (formerly NH-39) passes just beside the airpor ...

located in

Chümoukedima Chümoukedima (), formerly spelled Chumukedima, is a municipality in the Chümoukedima District of the Indian state of Nagaland. It is the third-largest urban agglomeration in Nagaland after Dimapur and Kohima. Chümoukedima was designated as th ...

–

Dimapur Dimapur () is the largest city in the Indian state of Nagaland. As of 2011, the municipality had a population of 122,834. The city is the main gateway and commercial centre of Nagaland. Located near the border with Assam along the banks of the ...

, from the city centre of Kohima. The currently under construction Kohima Chiethu Airport once completed will serve as the main airport for the Greater Kohima Metropolitan Area.

Roadways

Kohima is connected by road with NH 2 and NH 29 which pass through the city. The Dimapur–Kohima Expressway is a tolled expressway connecting Kohima with Dimapur.

Highways passing through Kohima

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...

– Kohima –

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

Asian Highway 2 Asian Highway 2 (AH2) is a road in the Asian Highway Network running from Denpasar, Indonesia to Merak and Singapore to Khosravi, Iran. The route is connected to M10 of the Arab Mashreq International Road Network. The route is as follows: ...

Denpasar Denpasar (; Balinese script, Balinese: ᬤᬾᬦ᭄ᬧᬲᬃ) is the capital of Bali and the main gateway to the island. The city is also a hub for other cities in the Lesser Sunda Islands. With the rapid growth of the tourism industry in Bali ...

– Kohima - Khosravi * : Dibrugarh (Assam) – Kohima – Tuipang (Mizoram) * : Dabaka (Assam) – Kohima – Jessami (Manipur)

Rail

Kohima is not connected with the rail network. The nearest railway stations are the

Chümoukedima Shokhuvi Railway Station Shokhuvi Railway Station, coded SHKV is a railway station in Chümoukedima District, Nagaland. It serves as a station for the eastern part of the Chümoukedima–Dimapur Metropolitan Area. The station consists of two platforms and three tracks. ...

and the

Dimapur Railway Station Dimapur Railway Station is a railway station on the Lumding–Dibrugarh section. It is located in Dimapur District in the Indian state of Nagaland. It serves Dimapur and its surrounding areas. History The -wide metre-gauge railway earlier la ...

. An extension of the railway line from Dimapur to Kohima was proposed and surveyed in 2009. Due to a dispute over land acquisition the track was resurveyed and an alternative alignment was proposed in 2013 and is expected to be completed by 2026. Once completed the

Kohima Zubza Railway Station Kohima Zubza Railway Station coded ZUBA is a railway station currently under construction in Kohima District of Nagaland in India, which will serve Kohima, the capital of Nagaland on the Dhansiri–Zubza line The Dhansiri–Zubza Line is a sing ...

on the

Dhansiri–Zubza Line The Dhansiri–Zubza Line is a single-track railroad under construction between the two major cities of the Indian state of Nagaland—Dimapur and Kohima. The line starts from Dhansiri junction near Dimapur Railway Station to Kohima Zubza Railway ...

will serve as the main railway station of Kohima.

Cycling

Regardless of its hilly terrain,

cycling Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from two ...

has become an increasingly popular way to get in and around Kohima. A

bicycle-sharing system A bicycle-sharing system, bike share program, public bicycle scheme, or public bike share (PBS) scheme, is a shared transport service where bicycles are available for shared use by individuals at low cost. The programmes themselves include bot ...

was launched in September 2020.

Education

Kohima is home to some of the most prestigious educational institutions in Nagaland.

Universities and Colleges

Nagaland Institute of Medical Science and Research Nagaland Institute of Medical Science and Research (NIMSR), popularly known as Kohima Medical College, is a medical college and hospital in Kohima in the Indian state of Nagaland. It is the first Medical College in the Indian state of Nagaland. On ...

* Model Christian College *

Alder College Alder College, is a college in Kohima, Nagaland, India. The college was established in 1992. It offers undergraduate courses in Arts and is affiliated to the Nagaland University. Departments Arts *English *History *Political Science *Sociolog ...

* Baptist College *

Capital College of Higher Education Capital College of Higher Education, is a college in Kohima, Nagaland. The college was established in 2004. It offers undergraduate courses in Arts and is affiliated to Nagaland University. Departments Arts *English *History *Political Science * ...

Kohima College Nagaland University is a Central University established in the state of Nagaland by an Act of Parliament by the Government of India in 1989. It is headquartered at Lumami, Zünheboto District. Two other permanent campuses are located at Meriem ...

Mount Olive College The University of Mount Olive (UMO or Mount Olive) is a private university in Mount Olive, North Carolina. Chartered in 1951, the university is sponsored by the Original Free Will Baptist Convention and accredited by the Southern Association of Co ...

Oriental College Punjab University Oriental College, commonly known as Oriental College, is an institution of oriental studies in Lahore. It is located next to Government College University, Lahore. It was founded by Adi Brahmo Samaj preacher Pundit Navin Cha ...

* Kros College * Modern College *

Kohima Law College Kohima Law College is a college imparting legal education in Kohima, Nagaland, India. It was established in the year 1975. This college is affiliated to Nagaland University. This college is also approved by the Bar Council of India The Bar ...

The following are major Universities and Colleges located in the Greater Kohima Metropolitan Area: * St. Joseph's College,

Jakhama Jakhama is a Angami Naga#Southern Angami, Southern Angami Naga people, Naga village located 18 km south of Kohima, the capital of Nagaland. It hosts the St. Joseph's College, Jakhama. Demographics Jakhama is located in Jakhama Circle of ...

Kohima Science College The Kohima Science College, Jotsoma (KSCJ) is an autonomous government institute for undergraduate and postgraduate science education located at Jotsoma in the state of Nagaland, India. The college was established in 1961 with science educatio ...

Sazolie College Sazolie College, is a college in Jotsoma, Kohima District, Nagaland, India. The college was established in 2005. It offers undergraduate courses in arts and is affiliated to Nagaland University. Departments Arts *English *History *Political Scie ...

, Jotsoma *

Japfü Christian College Japfü Christian College (JCC) is a co-educational residential Christian College located at Kipfüzha in the Indian state of Nagaland. History Japfü College was established in 1996. The college takes its name from the nearby Mount Japfü. ...

Kigwema Kigwema is a village in the southern region of Nagaland, India. It is located in Jakhama Circle of Kohima District. The village is located south of Kohima, the capital of Nagaland. Etymology The name ''Kigwema'' originates from the words ''k ...

Nagaland University Nagaland University is a Central University established in the state of Nagaland by an Act of Parliament by the Government of India in 1989. It is headquartered at Lumami, Zünheboto District. Two other permanent campuses are located at Meriem ...

, Meriema Campus

Notable secondary schools

Ministers' Hill Baptist Higher Secondary School Ministers' Hill Baptist Higher Secondary School is a private school in Kohima, Nagaland, India providing both High school and Higher secondary school education. The school was previously known as ''Ministers' Hill Baptist English School''. Camp ...

Little Flower Higher Secondary School Little is a synonym for small size and may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Little'' (album), 1990 debut album of Vic Chesnutt * ''Little'' (film), 2019 American comedy film *The Littles, a series of children's novels by American author John P ...

Mezhür Higher Secondary School Mezhür Higher Secondary School is a private school in Kohima, Nagaland, India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, a ...

* Rüzhükhrie Government Higher Secondary School * Fernwood School *

G. Rio School G is the seventh letter of the Latin alphabet. G may also refer to: Places * Gabon, international license plate code G * Glasgow, UK postal code G * Eastern Quebec, Canadian postal prefix G * Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, ...

* Dainty Buds School *

Vineyard School A vineyard (; also ) is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice. The science, practice and study of vineyard production is known as viticulture. Vineyards ...

* Northfield School * Coraggio School *

Stella Higher Secondary School Stella or STELLA may refer to: Art, entertainment, and media Comedy * Stella (comedy group), a comedy troupe consisting of Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black and David Wain Characters *Stella (given name), including a list of characters with t ...

* Chandmari Higher Secondary School * Mount Sinai Higher Secondary School * Bethel Higher Secondary School

Sports

Indira Gandhi Stadium, inaugurated in 2003 is the multipurpose stadium of the city. It includes a

running track An all-weather running track is a rubberized, artificial running surface for track and field athletics. It provides a consistent surface for competitors to test their athletic ability unencumbered by adverse weather conditions. Historically, v ...

and a football field.

Football

Kohima is home to Kohima Komets, an

association football Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...

club that plays in the top division

Nagaland Premier League Nagaland Premier League is the top state football leagues in India, state-level association football, football league in the Indian state of Nagaland. It is managed by Nagaland Football Association (NFA). Structure It featured the best 10 teams ...

Wrestling

The Naga wrestling enjoys widespread popularity in Kohima with people from all over Nagaland coming to witness the

Naga Wrestling Championship The Naga Wrestling Championship is a wrestling tournament organized by the Nagaland Wrestling Association. Initially held as an annual event, it has now been held biennially since 1974 and is the biggest sport event in Nagaland, India India ...

held every two years at the Khuochiezhie Local Ground located in the heart of Kohima. The first Naga Wrestling Tournament was held in Kohima in 1971.

Notable people

References

External links

Official sites

Official websiteKohima Smart City
(Official website) {{Authority control Cities and towns in Kohima district Hill stations in Nagaland Populated places established in 1878 1878 establishments Indian capital cities Tourism in Northeast India