Nestled among the ranges of the Northeast India, Nagaland has always aroused an awe-inspiring mysticism, primarily because of its remote geographical location. With the fume of the flowers that dance to the tune of the tribal lyre, with the verve of fiestas and with the simplicity of the Naga people, Nagaland weaves the quilt of dream and romance which has captivated all since the remote past. Sharing its boder with myanmar, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, Nagaland is physically and conceptually at the very extremity of the subcontinent. The capital of Nagaland is Kohima. A glimpse of the naga hills in the mist is just enough to refresh a weary northeast traveller.

Nagaland was constituted on 25th January 1950, a day before India became a Republic. On August 21, 1962 the then Prime Minister Pandit Nehru introduced a Bill in the Parliament for the formation of Nagaland as a complete State. The Act provided for the formulation of the State of Nagaland as the 16th State in the Indian Union, and on December 1, 1963, President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the State of Nagaland.

History of Nagaland The history of Nagaland deals with the customs and economic activities of the Naga tribes. The Naga tribes had socio-economic and political links with tribes in Assam and Myanmar. In 1816 , Nagaland along with Assam came under the direct rule of Myanmar, which was a period of oppression and turmoil. When the East India Company took control of Assam in 1826, they extended their domain over modern Nagaland. By 1892, all of modern Nagaland except the Tuensang area was governed by the British. It was amalgamated with Assam. After the independence, the area remained a part of the province of Assam. One renowned for their fierce head-hunters, the Nagas were converted to Christianity by missionaries, and the state is now ninety percent Christian.

Geography of Nagaland
spread over an area of 16,527 sq km, Nagaland is a beautiful and gorgeous state with large mountains. The Naga Hills can be seen rising from the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam. It is as high as 6,000 feet. The states highest peak is Mount Sabarmati, where the Naga Hills merge with the Patkai Range in Myanmar. The rivers as Doyang and Dikku in the North , the Barak river in the southwest and the Chindwin river (of Mayanmar) in the southeast dissect the state.Nagaland has a largely monsoon climate with high humidity levels. Annual rainfall averages around 70-100 feet - concentrated in the months of May range from 70 degrees to 104 degrees fahrenheit. In winter, temperatures don`t generally drop below 39 degrees F but frost is common at high elevations. Nagaland is blessed with a salubrious climate people can visit the place whenever they want to. It is blessed with a tension free and quite environment.

Economy of Nagaland
The most important economy of Nagaland is Agriculture. Seventy percent of the population depend on agriculture. The major crops are rice, corn, millets, pulses, tobacco, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes and fibres. Rice is the dominant crop and also the staple diet of the people. Oil seeds like rapeseed, mustard are grown in wide areas. Coffee cardamom and tea are grown as plantation crops in Nagaland. Principal crops are Arums, yams, millet, maize, potatoes and sugarcane. The important vegetables are melon, cucumbers, spinach leaf, mustard, onion, chillies, carrots, tomatoes, brinjal etc Cash crops like sugarcane and potato are also becoming popular. Coffee, cardamom and tea are grown as plantation crops in Nagaland. The two methods of cultivation among the Naga tribes are jhuming and terrace cultivation. The crops are dependent on rainfall. The most modern method is cultivation is the preparation of the terraced fields. A network of water channels irrigates the fields. Bamboo pipes are used to regulate the flow of water. The Government is encouraging to improve the agriculture and has under taken a number of irrigation projects as supplying pumping set to farmers, starting community development projects, setting up seed farms and establishing agricultural research centers. As a result of these measures, there has already been a sustained increase in the tonnage of rice produced. Forestry is an important source of income. Cottage industries such as weaving, woodwork and pottery are important sources of revenue. Tourism is important, but largely limited owing to the state`s geographic isolation and political instability in recent years.

Government and politics in Nagaland
The Raj Bhavan (the Governor`s house) is the seat of the Constitutional head of the State. Nagaland came into existance on 1st December 1963. It is the sixteenth State in the country.

It encompassed by Tuensang Frontier Division of the previous North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) and the Naga Hill District of Assam with which the former was merged in 1957. The Commissioner`s house was selected as the Raj Bhavan when Shri Vishnu Sahay was the Governor of Assam and Nagaland. When Dr. Gopal Singh took over as the Governor of the State, he took up the reconstruction of the Raj Bhavan. At present there are three political parties at Nagaland. They are Naga National Democratic Party is a regional political party in Nagaland, India. The party was founded in 1964.

Nagaland Democratic Party(NDP) is a political party of Nagaland which was founded on 1999. The convenor of the party was Roland Lotha. In the State Assembly Elections of 2003, NDP contested as part of the NPF- led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland. On March 22, 2004 NDP merged with Nagaland People`s Front.

Nagaland People`s Front- This party leads the State Government of Naagalnd with the BJP, as part of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland. The leader of NPF, Neiphiu Rio, is the state`s present Chief Minister. The party`s General Secretary is Akang Ao. On March 22, 2004 the NPF absorbed the Nagaland Democratic Party.

Transport in Nagaland
Tourists can reach Nagaland by means of air, rail and road transport. The nearest airport is Dimapur, which is 74kms from Kohima. The nearest railhead is on the North-East Frontier Railway and is directly connected to Guwahati which in turn is directly connected to all the major places in India. Trains between Guwahati & Dimapur are: 5907/08 Guwahati-Dibrugarh Town Brahamputra Mail, 5905/06 Guwahati-Dibrugarh Town Kamrup Exp., and 5903/04 Guwahati-Tinsukia Assam Mail.

Kohima is connected by road to Dimapur by 74 kms; Imphal by 145 kms; Guwahati by 390 kms; Shillong by 490 kms; and Kolkata (Calcutta) by 1,516 kms etc. Nagaland State Transport buses run from Dimapur. The centre of operation is in Guwahati. There are luxury buses connecting the entire State Capitals of North-Eastern region. Un metered taxies and Mini Coaches are also available.

Districts of Nagaland
A district is an administrative unit headed by a district magistrate or a deputy commissioner. He is assisted by a number of officials belonging to different administrative services of the state. The Superintendent of police is entrusted with the duty of maintaining law and order in the state. Nagaland has eight administrative districts. They are: Dimapur, Kohima, Mockokchung, Mon, Phek,Tuensang, Wokha, Zunheboto.

Demographics of Nagaland
According to the 2001 census, the population of Nagaland is 1990036. The State has the density of 120 persons per sq. km. There are 11 districts and 1278villages. The population is scattered widely over these districts. The population of the State has highest increased by 64.41 percent over the period 1991-2001. The sex ratio of Nagaland is 900 females to 1000 males is lower than the national average of 933. Female literacy of the State rose to 61.92% from 54.75% in 1991. There are many distinct tribes and a number of sub-tribes inhabiting the area such as Angamis, Zeliangs, Rengmas, Kukis, Semas, Aos, Lothas, Chang, Sangtam, Koyaks.

Culture of Nagaland
The different tribes of Nagaland are Angami, Ao, Chakhesang (Chokri/Kheza), Chang, Khiamniungan, Kuki, Konyak, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sumi, Sangtam, Yimchungru, Tangkhul, and Zeliang. More than 80% percent of the people live in rural areas. The Angamis, Aos, Konyaks and Semas are the largest Naga tribes. Weaving is the traditional art of the people which was handed down from generations. Tribal dances of the Nagas give an insight into their inborn reticence. War dances belonging to the different tribes are a major art form in Nagaland. The Nagas lack a common written language, except the Tenyidie language. They speak 60 different dialects belonging to the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. Nagamese, a variant language form of Assamese and Hindi is the most widely spoken language. One interesting trait of them is that each tribe has their own mother tongue and these tribes communicate with each other in Nagamese. As such Nagamese is not a mother tongue of any of the tribes and nor is it a written language. English is the official language and is the medium of instruction in schools.

Christianity is the major religion of Nagaland. The state`s population is 1.988 million (2001 census), out of which 90.02% are Christians. 75% of the state`s population profess the Baptist faith. The state`s Christian population account to 1,790,349. Nagaland is one of the three Christian-majority states in India, and it is the only state where Christians form 90% of the population. Among Christians, Baptists are the predominant group constituting more than 75% of the state`s populationNagaland is known as "The most Baptist state in the world". Catholics, Revivalists, and Pentecostals are the other Christian denominations. Hindus and Muslims constitute the non-Naga populations of the state and form 7.7% and 1.8% of the population.

Flora and Fauna of Nagaland
Nagaland is blessed with flora and fauna. One-sixth of Nagaland is covered with the tropical and sub-tropical evergreen forests. There are a rich cover of palm, mahagony, bamboo, rattan and timber forests. There are also a rich variety of fauna as pangolins, porcupines, elephants, leopards, bears, monkeys, deers, oxen and buffaloes. There are an immense varities of monkeys and deers belonging to different species. The most famous bird found here is the Great Indian Hornbill.

Education in Nagaland
The people of Nagaland are aware of the role of education but the slow pace of socio-economic changes is unable to cater to their emerging aspirations. Administrative Training Institute, Kohima is the top training Institute in the State of Nagaland. It was established in 1972 with the objective to update and enhance professional knowledge and skills needed for better performance of individuals and to promote better understanding of professional requirements and bringing about the right attitudinal orientation.

Media in Nagaland
The newspapers of Nagaland are Nagaland Post, The North East Herald, Nagaland Page, The Eastern Mirror, The Morung Express, Tir Yimyim, Ao Milen, Capi and Tenyi Ralha.

More on Nagaland
Cities of Nagaland
Costumes of Nagaland
Festivals of Nagaland
Folk Dance of Nagaland
Museum Of Nagaland