EXOTIC MOSAIC: Nagas in traditional attire

Though it lacks the monuments, monasteries and temples that make a place a tourist attraction, Kohima -the unpretentious capital of Nagaland-remains a favoured destination for those in quest of an exotic vacation. Credit that to its unhurried pace of life, calm environs and unpolluted air.

A picturesque hill station 1,495 m above sea level, Kohima bears the symbolic memorial of World War II. The Catholic Cathedral at Aradura Hill is an important landmark with the biggest cross in the country. The State Museum, that showcases a rare collection of articles of different tribes, is unmissable.

Travel

Getting There SEASON: October to May. MODE OF TRANSPORT: Imphal to Kohima (45 km) by road. Dimapur is the only airport. Trains to Lumbding, 69 km from Dimapur. ACCOMMODATION: Guest houses & hotels.

An ideal place for trekking and scaling, the Japfu Peak is located at an altitude of 3,048 m above sea level. Also noteworthy is the Liphanyan Governor's Camp. With the river Doyang flowing nearby, it is a good spot for rafting, angling and picnics. Dimapur, the gateway of Nagaland and a major commercial centre of Nagaland, displays the residual works of the ancient Kachari kingdom.

All domestic tourists to Nagaland have to get an Inner Line Permit from the state house/office at Delhi, Kolkata, Shillong, Guwahati and on entry to Dimapur. For international tourists, Restricted Area Permits can be acquired from an Indian Mission abroad. With Budget 2002 offering irresistible sops for travel to the north-east and airfares down, a trip to Nagaland is worth every moment. And don't forget the handicrafts that make for magnificent souvenirs.

HOT DEALS
Green Escape

Treetop Stay: Try something unusual this holiday: stay on a treetop! At the Sajan Nature Club at Sajan village, 115 km from Mumbai, a couple can enjoy a two-day stay in a tree house at Rs 2,200 (including meals and accommodation). Contact Sajan Nature Club (022) 5423586/ 5337003. Or log on to www.naturetrailsindia.com.

Call of the Wild

Cool Retreat: Jim Corbett National Park, Ramganga Resort and Kalmatia Sangam at Almora. All for Rs 9,393 for a couple on twin-share basis. Contact Travel Planners Private Limited at (011) 6787040/ 50/ 60. Log on to travelplannersindia.com.

Tourism

New Role: Antidote to terrorism-if Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee is to be believed, that is the ideal role of tourism in the post 9/11 scenario. News At the opening of the 51st Pacific Asia Travel Association in Delhi, he asked for an intensive campaign against terrorism. A joint marketing and tourism development strategy for the South Pacific region was also called for.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

FLOCKING TOGETHER: Migratory birds at Vedanthangal

Vedanthangal, Tamil Nadu: It may be just a small hamlet and lake 85 km south of Chennai but what makes Vedanthangal worth a visit is the sheer number of birds that arrive here between September and March. Flying in from as far as Siberia and Russia, it is believed that these feathered creatures have been seeking Vedanthangal's warmth for more than two centuries. If you're armed with a good pair of binoculars and land in the right season, you can be sure of spotting a range of birds amid the lake's reeds and thorny trees. During the season, state buses ply from Chennai. Private bus services are also available regularly. It's advisable to reach here in the afternoon, stay overnight and go bird watching at dawn. A government rest house is available for accommodation, as are some seasonal arrangements by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation.

-compiled by Natasha Israni and Shilpa Rohatgi