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This December, join us for an enthralling photography experience in the festive atmosphere of the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland. Immerse yourself in the diverse cultural landscapes of Nagaland as you travel around the villages and interact with the indigenous people.
This photography tour will take you through some of the least-explored regions of India, The photography opportunities are immense, as you witness the cultural diversity in the Hornbill Festival and the village life of Nagaland, including walking into World War history!
This photography tour will be led by one of the finest travel photographers in the country. It will also feature unparalleled local knowledge offered by our fellow explorers and partners – GypsyFeet – who understand North-East India like no one else does.
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Darter ‘CULTURAL EXPERIENCES’ are photography holidays to interesting and often isolated places where you get up-close with traditions, festivals and everyday life of people with strong bonding to their roots. -
Tour Dates – 2025
Trip 1: Nov 30 – Dec 05
Trip 2: Dec 05 – Dec 10
Tour Price – ₹5*,***/-(Double Occupancy)Max group size: 10 only
Jump to: ◆ Overview ◆ Itinerary ◆ Tour Highlights ◆ Is this tour for you? ◆ Tour Price ◆ Tour Mentor ◆ Detailed Itinerary ◆ Sign Up
Further Reading: Photo-story: Rich cultural heritage of North-East India & Hornbill Festival.
Overview – Hornbill Festival and Village Life Of Nagaland
The Hornbill Festival, a unique and enthralling experience from the land of blue rolling hills of Nagaland, beckons you. Situated at an elevation of 1261 metres in the beautiful Kisama Valley, this festival brings together 17 tribes of Nagaland every December. This is a smorgasbord of Naga culture – a display of assorted traditional Naga culture in the form of dance and competition, a heritage motor car rally, Naga wrestling, a pork-fat greased pole climbing contest, great public art, fantastic momos, rice beer and much more. You can immerse yourself in the Naga handloom and handicrafts in Kisama Village and the night market in Kohima town.
What we find unique about the Hornbill Festival is how eclectic it is. Close your eyes, and mix this in with the gentle camaraderie and joyousness of the Naga people, set amidst the beautiful mountain surroundings of the Patkai range. Open your eyes now and let the colours and sights of this mesmerizing festival in, which will remain lingering for a lifetime. A colourful cornucopia of all things Nagaland, with almost unlimited photography opportunities!
Images from Hornbill Festival & Village Life Of Nagaland
The slideshow of images below give you a glimpse of what to expect during ‘Hornbill Festival & Naga Lifeworlds’ photography tour. Scroll down to ‘detailed itinerary‘ section for more images from the tour along with day-by-day travel plan.
Dates & Itinerary
Dates: Tour 1 – Nov 30-Dec 05, 2024 | Tour 2: Dec 05-10, 2024
Also, scroll down to see the ‘detailed itinerary’ section for more information on the tour plan and things we do.
Note: The itinerary is subject to change. Our lead photographer may make changes to the itinerary during the tour depending on weather, photography opportunities and any other local conditions that prompt for making alternate plans.
Tour Highlights
The tour includes visits to the most colourful festival of the North East – Hornbill Festival – in Nagaland, interaction with the native people of Nagaland, witnessing village life of different tribes and enjoying the local cuisines. Photography opportunities abound, and we’ll explore a diverse range of travel photography styles including intimate portraits, environmental portraits, festival photography, street photography and much more.
This tour is designed keeping photography in mind. It is led and mentored by our award-winning travel photographer, Manish Lakhani. Some photography-related aspects of this tour include –
Is This Tour For You?
This tour is intended for amateur as well as serious photography enthusiasts with an interest to visit and photograph the beauty of Nagaland and the celebrations of Hornbill Festival. No prior expertise or experience in photography is necessary, as our photographers will be there to assist you at every level. You may carry any camera – a simple aim-and-shoot or a DSLR. Travel enthusiasts who are not photographers, but keen to experience the multiple facets of Nagaland, can also benefit from the tour that is designed to soak in the experience.
Can I bring my non-photographer partner with me?
Yes, you can. We visit beautiful Villages in the Nagaland and also see the celebrations of Hornbill Festival. Having a good time during the trip is as much on the agenda as photography is. Your partner will enjoy the journey with the group.
I am not a keen photographer. But I want to visit Hornbill Festival and Nagaland with your group. Can I still join?
Yes. The answer is exactly the same as in the case of the previous question. We visit many beautiful villages in Nagaland, watching the Hornbill Festival and having a good time during the trip is as much on the agenda as photography is.
Have more questions? See our photography tours FAQ or reach out to us using the form at the end of this page.
Tour Price
Tour Price: Rs.59,950 (Double Occupancy)
The cost includes
The cost does not include
Cancellation Policy:
– 50% of the tour fee is charged as a cancellation fee for cancellations between 59 days and 45 before the start of a tour.
– 80% of the tour fee is charged as a cancellation fee for cancellations between 44 days and 31 days before the start of a tour.
– No refund for cancellation within 30 days of the tour start date or for a no-show.
Accommodation
We will be staying at a charming and comfortable homestay in Kohima managed by a local family.
Arrival & Departure
We have organized group pick-up for participants from Dimapur on Day 01 at the following schedule.
On Day 06, the following departure options are recommended.
Please contact us if you need any information on reaching Dimapur.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: From Dimapur airport/Railway Station, we drive to Kohima. After introductions, we will have a photography session and briefing about the trip in the evening.
Day 02 and 04: We will use these days to explore rural life and landscapes in Nagaland beyond the Hornbill Festival. We will visit native Angami villages on these days, all within an hour’s drive from Kohima. These visits will offer interesting insights into the communal living of Angami and other Naga communities. We will see, understand and photograph the way of life in these villages, interacting closely with the villagers all through the day, immersing ourselves in their lifeworlds.
Day 03 and 05 This is our day to visit and photograph one of the most amazing sights in Nagaland – the Hornbill Festival, where the various tribes of Nagaland get together to showcase their customs and traditions. Fantastic costumes, fabulous feats – capture all with help from your accompanying photography expert. Try out some of the local cuisines from the various stalls around. After the entire day spent at Kisama village–the location of the Hornbill Festival, night market in the streets of Kohima will definitely rejuvenate you. Colourful stalls adorned with sparkling lights, each one has something unique to offer.
Day 06: Time to bid farewell to the land of the festivals.
Photography Mentor: Manish Lakhani
Few people can boast of having travelled the high Himalayas as Manish has. For more than 15 years, he has explored these mountains extensively on foot, on bicycles and on two and four-wheels, often making his own path. He is a versatile photographer with a history of creating brilliant images of culture, heritage and landscapes.
He is renowned for his unique portrayal of remote cultures and traditions. He has photographed the cultural heritage across all the four corners of India, including the Changpa shepherds of the Himalayan Highlands, the native tribes of Nagaland, the nomads of Kutch and the rich traditions of Kerala.
He is Sony Artisan (Ambassador) in India for mirrorless camera systems and Skylum Global Brand Ambassador for Asia. His works have been regularly featured in magazines across the world. He contributes to Adobe, BBC, WWF, CNN, Lonely Planet and many others regularly.
An avid cyclist, he has done an incredible solo bicycling trip of 15,000 kilometres across India. He visited many states of India, meeting different people, experiencing diverse cultures and making some incredible photographs along the journey. He has since led many expeditions in the high-altitude regions of Ladakh.
He has been mentoring photography enthusiasts for several years now and is known for his exuberant personality, in-depth knowledge of the terrain, expedition organization skills and, of course, his keen eye for photography.
You can follow him on Instagram, Facebook and on his website.
Registration
Contact us at the email/number below to book the tour.
email: photography@darter.in
Tel: +91 99988 66669 (Manish)
Please fill in the following form to get in touch with us regarding the tour.