Dzukou Valley –  The Valley Of Flowers

Dzukou Valley, a lesser known pocket of paradise for trekkers and wanderers in search of solitude amidst nature, is situated at the border of Nagaland and Manipur.Located at 2438 meters above sea level and behind the Japfu Peak (Nagaland’s second highest), Dzukou Valley is believed to have gotten its name from its namesake river which means ‘cold waters’.

The picturesque landscape offers a panoramic view of gentle rolling hills that are guaranteed to have a spellbinding effect.During the rainy season, the entire valley is carpeted with flowers, lending it a very special charm. The trek offers lush green views speckled with a wide variety of flora even as the meandering twin rivers of Dzukou and Japfu offer their company guaranteeing tobestow a feeling of serenity and tranquility.

Highlights:

  • Trek in a little know valley in Nagaland
  • Soak in the stunning natural landscapes
  • Observe many verities off wild flowers
  • Get a feel of local hospitality and cuisine

Duration: 2-3 days

Grade: Easy to moderate gradients. Steep incline trek of 3-4 kms going through rocky pebbles and stones.

Max Altitude: 2438m

Best Season: Late June till July & September (Except Monsoon). It is at this time that the valley is carpeted with various stunning and vibrant flowers. The wild rhododendrons andliliess will be in full bloom during this season and hence the best time to marvel the beauty of this valley. 

Things to keep in mind before traveling

  1. Every tourist visiting Nagaland needs to obtain an Inner Line Permit and a Protected Area Permit which can be collected from Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati or Tezpur airports.
  2. The weather in the north-east is pretty unpredictable, so be prepared to have delays due to the bad weather.
  3. Most roads in the north east are being converted into double lane roads so the roads right now aren’t in the best shape.
  4. Locals are friendly and helpful. Be patient as not everyone will know fluent Hindi or English.
  5. Most cell phone networks don’t work well, so inform your family or friends about your whereabouts whenever possible.
  6. Don’t forget to carry some ready to cook food packets or instant noodles if you’re strictly a vegetarian.
  7. Carry extra batteries, power banks and most importantly warm clothing.
  8. Keep at least a couple of extra days in hand in case of any problems like landslides and bad weather on your way.
By Air:

The state has its airport in Dimapur, which is regularly serviced by major airlines (Indigo & Air India). The city is linked to Kolkata by air.  Tourists then have to travel to Kohima by road after reaching Dimapur. It takes 2 and a half hours to reach Dimapur by road.

By Road:
A good road network covers the state. The state capital Kohima is linked to Shillong and Guwahati, which are important cities in North Eastern India. First proceed to Dimapur and then travel to Kohima.

By Rail:
The major railway station in the state is Dimapur, which is linked to Guwahati. Guwahati is in turn connected to the rest of the country by important trains.

Getting  to/from: Dzukou  Valley  Trek can  be  attempted  from  Viswema Village  or  Zakhama.  The  more popular  route  is  from    Viswema Village  side.  To  reach  Viswema Village,  it  takes  25-30  minutes  from Kohima.

  • Guides  and  Porters: Guides  and Porters  can  be  hired  from  Viswema Village.  But  the  trail  is  very prominent  throughout  with  sign boards  and  guides/porters  are  not required.

Permits: No  special  permits  required for  Dzukou  Valley.  For  Nagaland,  an inner  line  permit  is  required  which can  be  obtained  from  Nagaland House  at  Kolkata,  Guwahati or Dimapur. There is an entry fee of Rs 30  per  person  for  entering  Dzukou Valley.

Porter and Guides Availability:  The trek is very prominent throughout the top and one can easily find the way without the help of any guide. The porters and guides are mostly the villagers living in the village. The trek grade is easy to moderate and hence nine out of ten times, no porter or guide is required.

Day 1: Dimapur to Kigwema

Pickup from Dimapur airport and drive to Kigwemavillage . If time permits we will visit the World War II cemetery in Kohima . O/n at a homestay in Kigwema village

Day 2: Kigwema to Dzukou valley

After breakfast drive to Viswema, the start point of our trek to Dzukou valley. A steep four kilometer climb through  mixed scrub and bamboo forest will get us up to our destination . This wwll established stone path will take us around 4 to 5 hours. O/n in a dormitory

Day 3: Dzukou valley

Today we will explore the valley, soaking in the pristine natural beauty of this place. Enjoy the solitude of the place, to connect with your natural surroundings. We will also walk to the source of the Dzukou and Japfu rivers. O/n in a dormitory

Day 4: Dzukou valley to Kigwema

We will descend down via a different path , which is shorter but steeper , getting us out at Jakhama village . From here we drive back to our homestay . O/n at a homestay in Kigwema

Day 5: Kigwema to Dimapur

After breakfast drop to Dimapur airport.

  • DD slash MM slash YYYY
  • SELECT A VALUE
  • TREKKING THE DZKOU VALLEY
  • DZUKOU VALLEY LANDSCAPE
  • DZKOU VALLEY
  • FLOWERS IN DZKOU VALLEY