Dzükou Valley At A Glance Attractions - Valley, Stream, Mountain, Trekking, Honeymoon State - Nagaland Region - North East India Nearest Railway Station - Dimapur (DMV) - 73 KM Nearest Airport - Dimapur (DMU) - 68 KM Tucked away in the far North-Eastern corner of India lies the mystical and enchanting Dzükou Valley with its pristine riches of natural bounty. It's the place where the blue sky romances the pleasant breeze. The towering mountain ranges, the tearing clouds, the flowering orchids and the misty breeze - the lush green Dzukou valley has it all to make it an absolutely delightful trip for the tourists. If you wish to revitalizing yourself with a steaming hot cup of Assam CTC tea while admiring the nature's artistic sense, then Dzükou Valley is the place that can serve you best. How to Reach Dzukou Valley? Dimapur is the only place in Nagaland that has a commercial airport. There are direct flights to Dimapur from Kolkata and New Delhi. If you are interested in travelling by train, then also Dimapur railway station is your solitary access point. Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati and Chennai has direct train connectivity with Dimapur. Dimapur is situated at a distance of 75 KM from Dzukou valley. From Dimapur, you can get Nagaland State Transport (NST) buses to reach Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland. Kohima is the perfect base for exploring Dzukou Valley. You can hire a private taxi from Kohima to go to Dzukou Valley, which is situated just 25 KM away. Dzukou Valley Trek Dzukou Valley's claim to fame is due to trekking. A favorite trekking ground for the nature lovers, Dzükou Valley offers a vast stretch of beautiful grasslands along the hilly terrains of Nagaland to explore. Situated at an altitude of 2438 meters above the sea level, the valley is covered in a lush green carpet of exotic flowers, flowering orchids, undulating hillocks and enchanting streams. There are two popular trekking routes to Dzukou Valley. The first route is via Viswema Village and the second one is through Zakhma. You can hire a taxi from Kohima city to drop you to either Viswema or Zakhma. 1. Dzukou Valley Trek via Viswema Village: The trekking trail from Viswema village is the more popular and scenic of the two options. The ascend is gradual and the difficulty level is easy to moderate for almost 70% of the route. The toughest part is the steep incline for around 3-4 KM through rocky pathways in the middle sector, before you start to climb down. Total distance covered in this trek is 17 KM and it takes about 5-6 hours to cover the one-way distance. The first 8 KM can be covered either on foot or by 4x4 vehicle. There is a basic hut constructed for trekkers at a distance of around 5 KM from the end of the motorable road. There is a second one after another 5 KM. These huts can be used for taking rest during your trek. Although there is a motorable road for the first 8 KM, most of the trekkers start their walks right from the Viswema village itself. If you are planning for overnight camping in the valley, then you can rent camping equipment and kitchenware from the village. But make sure to carry raw food items as there is no provision for food in the village. You may also hire a porter from the village to carry your luggage. 2. Dzukou Valley Trek Via Zakhma The trekking trail from Zakhma is a little shorter - around 14 KM, but the entire stretch has to be covered on foot as there is no motorable road beyond Zakhma. This trail is steeper than the Viswema village route and hence a little more difficult. If required, you can hire a guide and/or porter from Zakhma. You can easily get camping equippment from Zakhma if you are planning for overnight stay. Food provisions, kitchen utensils and fire wood can also be arranged from the village itself. To explore both the routes, it is a common practice to start your uphill trek from Viswema village and take the Zakhma route while returning. You may also try the opposite - that is to start from Zakhma and end at Viswema. Interesting Tourist Places Around Dzukou Valley: Kohima: Kohima is the capital of Nagaland and is a beautiful hill station. It is one of the few cities in North-East India which is not affected by uncontrolled commercialization. Kohima War Cemetry, Nagaland State Museum and Kohima Botanical Garden are a few places to explore in the city. If you want to take away some nice souvenirs from your Nagaland trip, then Kohima is the right place for city shopping. Pulie-badze Wildlife Sanctuary: A must visit place for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers. The wildlife sanctuary is located in a refreshingly beautiful setup surrounded by rolling hills and crisscrossed by Japfu and Dzulekie mountain streams. The place is also frequented by bird-watchers. Japfu Peak: Another great trekking and camping site, the Japfu Peak is the second highest point in Nagaland with an altitude of 3048 meters. The trekking route is extremely scenic with different kinds of orchids, wild flowers and rhododendrons lining up the stretch on both sides. You can catch breathtaking views of Dzukou Valley from the top of peak. Part of the trekking route goes through the reserve forest areas and there is a good possibility of sighting wildlife during the trek. Where to Stay? Dzukou Valley is all about nature's untouched serenity. So there is no hotels or resorts in the vicinity of the valley. The nearest place where you can find accommodation is at Zakhma or Viswema where there are couple of basic lodges and homestays. Most of the tourists prefer staying at Kohima and explore Dzukou Valley during the day. You may carry along your own camping equipment to spend an adventure-filled night in make-shift camps.
