Kohima to Kaziranga - Day -9 - Page - 9

C2C Kohima 2 Kaziranga Day - 9  (Page - 9)


We are finally in NAGALAND Capital Kohima. 

We had traveled 3860 KMs from Chennai. 

KOHIMA WAR CEMETERY

The War Cemetery in Kohima is a memorial dedicated to soldiers of the 2nd British Division of the Allied Forces who died in the Second World War at Kohima, the capital of Nagaland, India, in April 1944 forcing the Japanese army to retreat.

The soldiers died on the battleground of Garrison Hill in the tennis court area of the Deputy Commissioner's residence. 

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), which maintains this cemetery among many others in the world, there are 1,420 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War at this cemetery, and a memorial to an additional 917 Hindu and Sikh & Muslim soldiers who were cremated in accordance with their faith. The memorial was inaugurated by Field Marshal Sir William Slim, then Commander of the 14th Army in Burma.

Source: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/War_Cemetery_in_Kohima 

It pains to see how many soldiers die so young maybe from any nationality, any religion. Those who are behind starting the war live & die comfortably till their old age and also profit from it. The soldiers world over who represent their country fight in so far away places and die in the line of duty. So many messages of their families on the stone slab touches our hearts.

My son is hurt to see so many soldiers who have died so young and is pointing out an age of a soldier who died so young.

I found out that the Palio's Alternator Belt had come off and luckily it was found when I was checking the engine bay area to check the Oil levels, radiator collant, brake & power steering oil etc.

I also realized that to go around in Kohima to visit the places of interest it is better to take a local taxi. We found a local taxi and stopped and requested him to help us in showing around places of interest.

The local driver was so very helpful and he also took us to a local workshop to have the belt refitted. I left my FIAT Palio in that workshop and we went in the taxi for the site seeing.

We are going to KOHIMA HERITAGE & CULTURAL VILLAGE.

HORNBILL cultural Festival was recently conducted here by Government of Nagaland. People all over the world were invited to be part of this awesome festival.

This is the place where the Government of NAGALAND showcased their rich ancient heritage & informed the world around about themselves and about the various tribes that form part of NAGALAND.

Actual huts, boats, stuff used by them, their dress & attire were showcased. 

Predominant use of bamboo and wood formed the main part as there is so much abundant growth of bamboo in NE. 

It was indeed a wonderful place for us to visit and understand about the various tribes and know their art & culture and how they lived, how they farmed, hunted etc.

Many NAGA tribes were head hunters.

The Naga people are an ethnic group conglomerating of several tribes native to the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma (Myanmar). 

The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland, with significant population in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and some small population in Assam.

The Naga speak various distinct Tibeto-Burman languages, including Sumi, Lotha, Sangtam, Angami, Pochuri, Phom, Ao, Mao (Emela),Inpui, Rongmei (Ruangmei), Poumai, Tangkhul, Thangal, Maram, and Zeme. 

In addition, they have developed Nagamese Creole, which they use between tribes and villages, which each have their own dialect of language.

As of 2012, the state of Nagaland officially recognises 17 Naga tribes. In addition, some other Naga tribes occupy territory in the contiguous adjoining states of Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh, India; and across the border in Burma. Prominent Naga tribes include the Poumai, Sumi, Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Liangmai, Lotha, Pochury, Rongmei, Tangkhul, Thangal, Zeme, Mao, Phom,Yimchunger, Rongmei, Sangtam

The Naga tribes practised headhunting and preserved the heads of enemies as trophies through the 19th century and as late as 1969. 

Hmmm...reminds me of the Movie PREDATOR in which an fearsome Alien creature comes to the earth and hunts people as sport and collects their head as trophies.

Christianity is the predominant religion of Nagaland. Over 90% are Christians.

KOHIMA Cathedral

KOHIMA Museum was closed

Our local Kohima Taxi Driver who was so wonderful & helpful. Thanks a lot Brother for taking us around and showing us places. 

May GOD be with you always we wish you and your family all the best.

KOHIMA some local shopping

My son Uthamkumar has a great liking for Byeblade and he had been asking for it for quite some time. He has a good collection and wanted to add few new ones.

We found a mall in Kohima and went there. We found a shop and Uthamkumar was so very happy to find authentic Beyblade and we bought him one. 

Kids are kids all over the world. All parents know how kids like toys, dolls stuff they can play around with. 

Innocent childhood. The look of pleasure and happiness could be seen in the eyes of the child.

At 2.45 PM we started from KOHIMA and started our drive to KAZIRANGA National Park. 

Goodbye to Nagaland & KOHIMA. We surely enjoyed our visit. Time was 5 PM.

After crossing this check post the security forces informed me not to stop the car any where for any one who ever comes to stop.

They told me to just drive without halting or giving any lift and to be careful.

En-route we found heavy traffic jam once we neared a town and then we stopped at an Ice Cream Parlour Baskin Robins to take a break. 

My son enjoying the space the big table offered him & playing with his Byeblade.

We were 35 KMs away from Kaziranga. It was extremely cold. Time 8.40 PM.

We stopped at a Dhaba close to Kaziranga and had dinner. 

Little Shrimeenakshi was tired and feeling down. A little bit of tender love & care TLC applied on both the children by a loving and caring mother.

We contacted one of the Forest Lodges before we had reached Kaziranga. 

One Anupam local Assamese who works for one of the Government Lodge assisted & helped us in finding an accommodation.

It was decent and we stayed at night in the lodge and it was extremely cold at night.

The next day we were to go to KAZIRANGA National Park which is very famous for the "ONE HORNED INDIAN RHINO".

All of us were so excited and looking forward.

We had travelled from Kohima to Kaziranga and covered 170 KMs. 

This distance might seem small but in reality it takes quite a lot of time to cover this distance due to very bad roads.

Starting Odometer Reading at Kohima on 30th December 2016 at 2.30 PM was 63471 KM.

Closing Odometer Reading at Tezpur on 30th December 2016 night at 10.30 PM was 63675 KM.

Total distance traveled from the hotel from Kohima to the forest lodge hotel in Kaziranga was 204 KMs.

To visit to HOME PAGE - 1 click on the link below;

http://maheshnatarajan.blogspot.in/2016/12/chennai-2-cheerapunji-preview-page-1.html

To visit to the FIAT Palio Restoration & Refurbishment Page - 2 click on this link below;

http://maheshnatarajan.blogspot.in/2016/12/restoration-rebirth-of-fiat-palio-16-sp.html
To visit to the CHENNAI TO KOLKATA Page - 3 click on this link below;

http://maheshnatarajan.blogspot.in/2017/01/c2c-chennai-to-kolkata-day-1-stared-on.html

To visit to the KOLKATA TO BONGAIGAON Page - 4click on this link below;

http://maheshnatarajan.blogspot.com/2017/01/kolkata-to-bongaigaon-day-4-page-4.html

To visit to the BONGAIGAON TO TEZPUR Page - 5 click on this link below;

http://maheshnatarajan.blogspot.in/2017/01/bongaigaon-to-tezpur-day-5-page-5.html

To visit to the TEZPUR TO DIRANG Page - 6 click on this link below;

http://maheshnatarajan.blogspot.in/2017/01/tezpur-to-dirang-day-6-page-6.html

To visit to the DIRANG - SELA PASS TAWANG & TEZPUR Page - 7 click on this link below;

http://maheshnatarajan.blogspot.in/2017/01/dirang-to-sela-pass-tawang-back-to.html