When to visit›Nagaland›Kohima›December

Kohima, Nagaland
Nagaland

Kohima in December: a fine time to go

Excellent time to visit · fit score 93/100Crowds: peakStays ~30% pricier than peak

December: 17°C days — and inside the recommended window.

December is the middle of Kohima's season — the recommended window is October – April (Hornbill: Dec 1-10). Cool days around 17°C, nights near 7°C, the odd shower. Stays run about 30% above the usual rate this month. Hornbill Festival can fall in December, which changes both prices and what you can book.

January is in season too. The season runs to the end of April, 4 months away. The rains usually arrive in April, 4 months away. The next mild, dry spell usually starts in March, 3 months away.

2 days in Kohima in December · from ₹5,973 for two

Stay, food & local travel — getting there extra

Day-by-day plan with the journey from your city, priced for December — ready in seconds, no sign-up.

See the day-by-day plan

What the weather actually does

10-year average · Kohima

Cool days around 17°C, nights near 7°C, the odd shower.

Day17°
Night7°
Rain days2
day-to-night rangerain daysData: Open-Meteo (CC-BY 4.0)

Before you book December

Conditions specific to Kohima this month.

Worth knowing

Restricted Area Permit Required

Nagaland requires a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) for foreign nationals — available on arrival at Dimapur Airport or from Indian missions abroad. Indian visitors from outside Nagaland need an Inner Line Permit (see the Nagaland permit page).

What a day in Kohima looks like

The things most people actually do here, by time of day.

Morning

  • WWII War Cemetery & War Memorial Kohima2h · easy
  • Khonoma green village walk (20km)4h · moderate
  • Dzükou Valley trek (50km, 2-day)7h · strenuous

Afternoon

  • Naga thali & smoked pork feast1h 30m · easy
  • State Museum Naga artefacts & morungs1h 30m · easy

About 16h of activity in total — the planner spreads this across your days and fits travel time around it.

What a December trip costs · 2 days, total for two

Budget

₹5,973 for two

  • Stay · 1n₹1,775
  • Food₹2,600
  • Local + entry₹1,160
  • Buffer₹438

Mid-range

₹14,056 for two

  • Stay · 1n₹3,959
  • Food₹6,000
  • Local + entry₹3,060
  • Buffer₹1,037

Luxury

₹33,092 for two

  • Stay · 1n₹10,585
  • Food₹14,000
  • Local + entry₹6,060
  • Buffer₹2,447

December multiplier already applied (1.30× on stays). Covers stay with GST, food, local transport, entry & activities, 8% buffer for two people sharing one room — the same figures the planner opens on. Excludes travel to Kohima. How we price this

Add the journey from your city — see the full price

Book Kohima for December

Opens with December dates for two — change them on the booking site.

Tourisma may earn a small commission if you book — it never changes your price.

A December plan, day by day

2 days in Kohima for December, at this month's stay rates.

  1. 1🎭 Cultural Day3h out
    • State Museum Naga artefacts & morungs · afternoon, 1.5h
    • Naga thali & smoked pork feast · afternoon, 1.5h

    A city best understood slowly — arrive, find the old market, and let the pace of things sink in.

  2. 2🏛️ Heritage Day2h out
    • WWII War Cemetery & War Memorial Kohima · morning, 2h

    Final day in Kohima — these sites are clustered to minimise backtracking — history in a logical sequence.

Swap places, change the pace, set your own dates.

Plan my Kohima trip

Getting to Kohima

Usually the biggest line in the budget — and the one the estimate above leaves out.

Dimapur → Kohima

cab · 3h

₹3,500

1 way / person

Kolkata → Dimapur

flight · 1.5h

₹5,500

1 way / person

Cheapest listed route is Dimapur → Kohima by cab. Return for two works out to about ₹14,000 — so a whole trip lands near ₹19,973 for two, travel included.

Fares are typical one-way estimates per person from Kohima's common gateways, not live prices — book early and expect festival months to run higher.

What you’ll actually do in Kohima

All of these are open in December.

  • WWII War Cemetery Kohima
  • Kisama Heritage Village Hornbill Festival (Dec)
  • Khonoma green village walk (20km)
  • Cathedral of the Reconciliation
  • Naga thali & smoked pork feast
  • Kohima War Memorial
  • State Museum Naga artefacts
  • Japfu Peak trek (3048m)
  • Touphema Tourist Village
  • Dzükou Valley (50km)
  • Nagaland Baptist Church
  • Village morung displays

Within reach: Kohima War Cemetery · Kisama Heritage Village · Dzukou Valley trek · Khonoma village · Catholic Cathedral.

What’s on in Kohima in December

Timing a trip around these changes what you pay and what you can book.

  • Hornbill Festival

    Fixed 1–10 December at Kisama. The one week Nagaland fills up — book rooms and permits months ahead, and expect Kohima rates to double.

Permits you'll need

  • Inner Line Permit required

    Indian visitors from outside Nagaland need an ILP — apply online at the Nagaland ILP portal (ilp.nagaland.gov.in) or at Nagaland House in Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati or Shillong, or on arrival at Dimapur.

Rules change — verify with the issuing authority before you travel.

Packing for December

  • A warm layer for mornings and evenings — a fleece and a light jacket are enough.
  • Walking shoes with grip and a power bank — charging points and signal are patchy on hill roads.

December questions, answered

Is December a good time to visit Kohima?

Yes — December is one of Kohima's best months: it sits in the middle of the recommended season (October – April (Hornbill: Dec 1-10)), and cool days around 17°C, nights near 7°C, the odd shower. Hornbill Festival falls this month. Tourisma's fit score for December is 93/100.

See a December plan for Kohima
How much does a trip to Kohima cost in December?

A typical 2-day trip for two costs from ₹5,973 (budget) to ₹33,092 (luxury), excluding travel to Kohima. Seasonally adjusted for December.

Price it for your group and city
When is the best time to visit Kohima?

The best months are November, January, February. From December: January is in season too. The season runs to the end of April, 4 months away. The rains usually arrive in April, 4 months away. The next mild, dry spell usually starts in March, 3 months away.

What is there to do in Kohima?

WWII War Cemetery Kohima. Kisama Heritage Village Hornbill Festival (Dec). Khonoma green village walk (20km). Cathedral of the Reconciliation. Naga thali & smoked pork feast. Kohima War Memorial. Dimapur is the nearest railhead, 75 km away.

Elsewhere in India in December

Also in season this month, from Tourisma's ranking of all 238 destinations for December.

Where to go in India in December

Want this as a real plan?

Kohima in December, priced for your group, dawn-starts built in — about 40 seconds.

From ₹5,973 for two · stay, food & local travel — getting there extra

Plan Kohima in December