Mon, Nagaland, India
The most unspoiled part of the state, Northern Nagaland is a rugged and divinely beautiful country where antiquity still thrives in tribal villages composed of thatched longhouses, many of whose inhabitants continue to live a fairly traditional hunting and farming lifestyle. The most accessible villages are the Konyak settlements around Mon (where traditional houses abound). Some villages still have morungs (bachelor dormitories) and religious relics from pre-Christian times. Village elders may wear traditional costumes and Konyaks of all ages carry the fearsome-looking dao – a crude machete (originally used for headhunting) as a standard accessory.
Visiting a Naga village without a local guide is hopelessly unproductive. You’d also do well to have your own sturdy vehicle, as there’s virtually no public transport and roads are atrocious.
Visit India Epic India Route © Monika Newbound
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