Hornbill & Tea Festival

Hornbill & Tea Festival

9 Days / 8 Nights

Plan for a tour to the state preserving and practicing its centuries’ old traditions, Nagaland, the North Eastern State in India.

If you are desirous to be a part of the pomp celebrations involving numerous events and joyful moments, then it will be ideal to plan for visiting Nagaland during the first week of December, when the annual Hornbill festival is celebrated there. Ideally, this itinerary is crafted to take you to the exact locations where the Hornbill and Tea festivals are on. The plan includes visits to few other scenic locations blessed with nature’s beauty in abundance, making your trip memorable.

Detailed Itineary

  • Day 1 : Dimapur - Kohima

    Once you arrive at Dimapur airport, our representative from Indian Panorama will receive you and you will start your drive to Kohima. Reach Klohima in three hours’ drive and check into hotel. Rest of the day is at your leisure. Kohima is the capital city of Nagaland inhabited by Angami, Rengma and Zeliangrong communities. This place is the epicenter from where the tourists and the local residents move to the locations where the hornbill festival is in full swing.

  • Day 2 : Kohima - Hornbill Festival

    Post breakfast, proceed to Kisama Heritage complex where the Hornbill is celebrated. The full day is for you to enjoy the tribal performance, getting yourself drenched in the vibrant and colorful moments of the festival. Cultural Dances, War Dances, Folk songs, Indigenous Games, Music, Fashion Show, Handlooms and Handicrafts, Local Cuisines are the different aspects you can enjoy in the festival throughout the day. You also have an option of exploring the nearby villages to know about their culture and traditions. Return to hotel after the day long celebrations. Overnight Stay in Kohima.

  • Day 3 : Hornbill Festival, Kohima

    This day is also with full of festivities and events to be enjoyed in the Kisama Heritage Complex. Meanwhile, you can also plan to visit Khonoma Village, at a distance of 20kms from Kohima. The village is an ideal location for eco-tourism where the abundantly found Aldar trees and Jhum fields play a major role in fixing nitrogen in the soil and preventing Soil erosion. After exploring culture and tradition of the village, you can return back to mingle in the festivals. Return to hotel after strolling in the night bazaar. Overnight stay in Kohima.

  • Day 4 : Kohima - Kaziranga (Assam)

    Post breakfast, have a brief visit to Kisama Heritage Complex. Be a part of the festival for few hours and later in the afternoon, start your drive to Kaziranga in Assam. Kaziranga is renowned for its National Park listed in the World Heritage Site. More than 75% of the population of one-horned Rhinoceros is found in this park. Lying on the Southern Bank of Brahmaputra, being the oldest National Park of Assam, Kaziranga National Park is homeland to Asiatic Water Buffalo, Elephants, Tigers, Deers and around 400 species of Birds. Spotting the animals will be wonderful experience.Reach Kaziranga and check into the hotel. Rest of the day is to relax. Overnight stay in Kaziranga.

  • Day 5 : Exploring Kaziranga

    Full day is for you to explore and have an insight of Kaziranga National Park, acclaimed as the World Heritage Site. More than 75% of world’s total population of Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros is found in this park. An early morning Elephant safari will give you an excellent view of the jungle from the back of the elephant. Jeep safaris post breakfast and post lunch can take you to the different regions inside the woods near the herd of forest elephants, rhinos and other forest animals. Before returning to the hotel, enjoy a cultural show in the evening coupled with a visit to Kaziranga Orchid Park cum Biodviersity Reservation Centre. Overnight Stay at Kaziranga
    Note: Kaziranga National Park remains open from 1st November to 30th April every year.

  • Day 6 : Kaziranga - Majuli - Jorhat

    After an early breakfast, start your drive to Neematighat. You can reach there in Two hours from where a ferry will take you to the world’s largest inhabited riverine island Majuli. The island is popular for monasteries following Vaishnvism and dance form of Satra. You can interact with Vaishnavite monks there to know about the tradition and the evolution of Sri Vaishnavism, a subsect of Hinduism in that region. Please note you may have to remove your foot wear to enter into the monasteries.Enroute to those monasteries, you will be visiting the Mishing villages, inhabited by Mishing tribes, believed to have originated from Tibeto-Burman Clan. The Mishing villages are best known for the fertile agricultural owing to the presence of Mighty Brahmaputra River and the Bamboo houses built on long stilts as a protection from floods and wild beasts. After exploring the scenic locations, continue your travel mainland at Jorhat and check into the hotel. Overnight stay at Jorhat.

  • Day 7 : Jorhat - Sivasagar - Dibrugarh

    Post breakfast, start your drive to Dibrugarh, the gateway to the hidden land of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh and Northern Myanmar. The camellia town with its lush green tea gardens is an undisturbed haven. En route to Dibrugarh, visit the ancient monuments, temples and palaces of the Ahom dynasty at Sivasagar, reigned by the Ahom Chieftains for a period of close to 600 years. Sivasagar is found to be frozen with time dotted with the ancient relics, taking us back to historic past. Continue your drive to reach Wakro, the homeland of Msihmi tribes, known for their unique dressing styles and haircuts. Mishmis are nature worshippers and festival lovers. They believe that every day is to be celebrated. Reh is the most importAfter reaching Dibrugarh, check into the hotel and rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay in Dibrugarh.

  • Day 8 : Dibrugarh Tea Tour - Tea Festival

    After breakfast, go for a tea tour to the tea estates dotted across the region. Experience the different types of tea products and the differences in their taste and quality. Also have a tea tasting session along with one of the experts. After the aromatic experience, drive for another 90 minutes to reach Tinsukia. Later in the afternoon, plan to witness the Tea Festival, a celebration by the people in the Upper Assam. Enjoy the vibrancy of colors, traditional dance and art forms, folk music and ethnic varieties of food and handicrafts. Later in the evening, drive back to Dibruagrh and rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay in Dibrugarh.
    Note: The factories cannot be visited if they are non-functional. The ideal period is between March to November when the entire region is embraced with a lush green carpet. Also, Mondays are the weekly holidays for the tea factories.

  • Day 9 : Diburgarh - Fly Out

    Based on the schedule of your departure, drive to Dibrugarh Airport to fly back to your homeland. OvernightTour Ends with Beautiful Memories!

FAQ

The Hornbill Festival is an annual cultural event in Nagaland that celebrates the traditions, customs, and art of the indigenous tribes. Held in December at the Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima, it features colourful dance performances, traditional music, local cuisine, and vibrant displays of handicrafts and handlooms. The festival is a major attraction for both domestic and international tourists.

The Tea Festival in Assam, typically held in November, showcases the region’s rich tea culture. Visitors can enjoy tea tastings, explore lush tea gardens, and experience local dances, arts, and ethnic food. It’s a vibrant celebration of Assam’s tea legacy and its cultural heritage.

A Nagaland cultural tour offers an immersive experience of the rich heritage of the Naga tribes. You’ll explore traditional villages, and festivals like the Hornbill Festival, and enjoy authentic tribal dances, music, and handicrafts. Visitors can also discover eco-tourism initiatives and interact with local communities to understand their history and lifestyle.

Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is renowned for its population of one-horned rhinoceroses. It also houses a wide range of wildlife, including tigers, elephants, and various bird species. A wildlife tour here includes safaris, nature walks, and birdwatching, offering visitors an unforgettable wildlife experience.

Assam’s tea garden tour offers a deep dive into the tea production process. Visitors can stroll through sprawling tea plantations, participate in tea-tasting sessions, and learn about the art of tea cultivation. The lush greenery, coupled with the fragrance of fresh tea, creates a unique experience.

North East India hosts a variety of unique festivals like the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland, the Tea Festival in Assam, Baisakhi in Sikkim, and Losar in Arunachal Pradesh. These festivals celebrate the region’s diverse cultures, music, dance, traditional crafts, and cuisine, offering travellers a chance to experience its rich heritage.

The Hornbill Festival is held annually in early December at the Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima. It is a celebration of the indigenous Naga tribes’ culture, featuring traditional dances, music, crafts, and rituals. The festival attracts thousands of tourists every year and is a key event in Nagaland’s tourism calendar.

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