The word Dzukou or sometimes spelled Dzuko comes from the Viswema dialect of the Angamis which means Soulless and Dullness. When the Viswema ancestors migrated to create a new village in Dzukou but the harsh weather circumstances didn’t allow them to grow crops, which led them to say – The valley is very beautiful but dull and soulless.
Dzukou Valley
- Introduction
- Is Dzukou Valley Worth visiting?
- Best Time To Visit Dzukou Valley
- How To Reach Dzukou Valley?
- Where To Stay
- Things To Do In And Near The Dzukou Valley
- Things You Should Know Before Visiting
- FAQ’s
Introduction
Situated on the border of Manipur and Nagaland, Dzukou Valley is one of the best tourist attractions in Northeast India. Set at the staggering height of 2452 meters above sea level Dzukou valley is famous for its picturesque landscape, rolling hills and multicolored blooming flowers especially the Dzukou lily which is found only in this valley.
Monsoon is the time when flowers start blooming in the valley and the first half of July is the peak flower season in Dzukou valley. But if monsoon doesn’t suit you best then don’t worry Dzukou valley looks stunning in other seasons as well, especially during winter. Apart from beautiful flowers, Dzukou valley has a lot to offer like rolling hills, a wide range of flora & fauna, and amazing opportunities for trekking and camping. If you love lush green mountains with shades of white clouds then you should include Dzukou valley on your bucket list.
Is Dzukou Valley Worth Visiting?
A big yes, as I mentioned above that it is an all-season destination which means no matter when you visit, it always has something to offer. The picture-perfect landscape of the valley takes you into nostalgia like you’re living inside the wallpaper of Windows XP. The pleasant climate and scenic vistas give you an environment where you can just sit and enjoy the flawless beauty of nature. The best part about Dzuoku valley is that it is located in Northeast India and it is yet to be explored by domestic and international tourists. So, you’ll get ample space to experience and enjoy the local culture of this place.
And trust me in upcoming years there will be a tourist boom in Northeast India. So, before it gets too overcrowded plan a visit to Dzukou valley.
Entry Fee – 20 rs Per person from nearby regions / 50 rs per person for other Indians and 100 rs per person for international tourists.
Best time to Visit
Dzukou valley is an all-season destination. However, June to September is the peak season when the little rain makes the mountains greener and the flowers start blooming. This is the time when you can witness the Dzukou lily which can only find in Dzukou valley. The temperature hovers between 17 to 24 during the daytime and 4 to 8 degrees at the night. So, it is advisable to carry woolens.
Dzukou Valley In Monsoon (June to September)
If you’re traveling during monsoon (June to September) then do remember that Dzukou valley receives heavy rains. There will be leeches too and the path become muddier & sleepier. So, it is recommended to carry raincoat, good trekking shoes and salt for leeches. But all these troubles are worth it as you’ll get to see the valley full of Dzukou lilies. With blooming lilies valley turns into a scenic flower bed and watching this will be a memory for a lifetime.
The pleasant climate is another reason to take the Dzukou valley trek during the monsoon. Unlike winter the weather stays pleasant which makes it easier to stay at the night.
Dzukou valley in Winter (October to March)
If you can bear the low temperature then winter is a good time to visit. During this time you’ll not get to see the blooming flowers but there is a lot more to do like rock climbing, trekking and camping. Despite being a tropical region the temperature during the night can be bone-crushing. But during the daytime, the warmth of sunshine makes the weather pleasant for trekking.
The freezing cold temperature turns the entire landscape into a winter wonderland. From December to February you can expect an intense winter in Dzukou valley. Also, this is the time when you can attend the famous Hornbill Festival Of Nagaland.
Dzukou Valley in Summer (March to May)
Dzukou valley experiences hot & dry summer with rainfall. The average temperature ranges from 18 to 35 degrees Celsius. However, in the last week of May and the first few weeks of the flower starts blooming.
How to get there
Dzukou valley is located on the border of Manipur and Nagaland. So, either you can reach there from Manipur or Nagaland. But most of the tourists prefer the Nagaland side as the way through Manipur is not good. So, let’s discuss how to reach Dzukou valley from Nagaland –
Reaching Nagaland & Khohima
Train and Flights are the best way to reach Nagaland. The nearest airport and railway station are situated in Dimapur. You can easily get direct flights from most of the major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and many more. Kohima is located 70 KM from Dimapur, you can get a taxi to reach Kohima. It takes around 2 to 3 hours to reach Kohima from Dimapur.
After reaching Kohima you’ll have two ways to reach Dzukou valley – One is from Jakhama Village (20 Km from Kohima) and the second is from Viswema Village (25 KM from Kohima).
The trek from Viswema to Dzukou valley is long but easier to take while the trek from the Jakhama side is shorter, and takes less time but is more challenging. So, choose according to your stamina and situation. However, I recommend you to enter the valley from the Viswema side and exit from the Jakhama side.
Getting Dzukou Valley From Viswema
To get to the Viswema village from Kohima take a shared taxi from the Network Travels AOC bust stand. The shared taxi will charge you around 50 rs and take around 1 hour. The taxi will drop you at the entry gate of Viswema village which is 8 to 9 Km away from the trekking point. Either you can walk down to 8 to 9 KM to reach the trekking point or hire another taxi but it will cost you 1500 Rs as the road is in the bad condition. You can also hitchhike to cover these 9 KMs.
After reaching the trekking point the steep climb of 45 minutes will start that leads you inside the Dzukou valley. This 45-minute trail is very steep and could be slippery or muddy depending on the weather conditions. And if you’re coming in monsoon season then be prepared for leeches. On the way, you’ll get lots of dustbins so make sure to use them to throw your trash.
After reaching the valley there will be another 2 hours flat yet wonderful trail that leads you to the rest house where you can have food and spend your night. The stay in rest house will charge you 50 rs per person but don’t expect anything fancy. So, bring your own sleeping bags. Also, at the beginning of the trail, there is a rest house where you can have launch.
Getting Dzukou Valley from Jakhama Village
To reach Jakhama you need to take a shared taxi from Kohima that charge you around 40 rs. The trail from Jakhama village is short in distance much more challenging as compared to Viswema. Most of the trail is uphill and very steep so it would be easy to get down rather than go up. So, take this while returning from Dzukou valley as it will bring you back to the main road much quicker. It will take 3 hours to get down from the valley to the main road and 4 hours to reach up to the valley by Jakhama village. So, most of the tourists enter the valley from Viswema village and get down from Jakhama village.
Where to stay in Dzukou Valley
There are mainly 3 options to stay in Dzukou valley – the First is paid one inside the refugee rest house, the second is camping and the third is to take shelter under the natural caves.
Stay in Rest house
There is 2 basic rest house overlooking the valley which contains 2 refugee camps like dorms and 5 private VIP rooms with almost zero amenities. There is no electricity so make sure to bring a power bank & keep your device fully charged. Also, there is no tap water. Water for the washroom and cooking needs to be fetched in the bucket from a small well that is located between 2 dormitory buildings. Also, bring your own sleeping bag or mattress otherwise you’ll regret it. If you’re staying in the dorm then you’ve to sleep on floors.
VIP rooms do have wooden beds and attached washrooms but are not in good condition. I recommend you to stay in the dormitory as it feels safer and helps you to connect with more people. Overall, the rest houses are good places to stay with barebone facilities. The dorm room charge 50 rs per night while the VIP rooms charge 300 Rs per night. Basic breakfast and dinner are also available.
Set Your Own Camp
Dzukou valley is a great place to set your own camp. You will see lots of camps throughout the valley. And if you ask them nicely then you can set your camp own beside them. If you have camping gear then you can camp anywhere in the valley.
You can also pitch your camp near the stream at the bottom of the valley where you’ll have the facility of fresh running water for cooking and drinking. Camp would be a good option while staying in Dzukou valley as it will give you more freedom. But carrying all the essentials up to the valley is not an easy task.
Stay under the caves
At the bottom of the valley, there are some caves where you can spend your night. But you’ve to bring all the essentials like sleeping bags, utensils, food and water.
Things to do in and around valley
Enjoying the breathtaking views while trekking
One of the most obvious things to do in Dzukou Valley is trekking. The wonderful landscape of the valley makes you feel as if you are in another dimension. So, keep your camera ready as you will get plenty of opportunities to take some amazing shots.
Hike Japfu Peak
Dzukou Valley is situated in the background of Japfu Peak. Japfu Peak, situated at an altitude of 3,048 meters, is the second highest peak in Nagaland. The Japfu Peak offers panoramic views of the Zukou Valley. The trail is much steeper than thick bamboo, so chances are you could get lost. It would be a good idea to hire a guide to hike Japfu Peak directly from the valley.
Visit Ghost Cave
About 15 minutes walk from the rest house is a cave known as Bhootiya Gufa or Bhootiya Gufa. The cave is about 1 KM long so you would have to bring a good headlight or lamp to explore it. You can ask the rest house staff about it for more details.
Explore India’s First Green Village – Khonoma
After the discovery of the Dzukou Valley, it is now time to explore Khonoma, India’s first green village. Khonoma, located just 20 km from Kohima, is a great place to witness the local culture. The population of this village is very less. Spending a day in a homestay run by the locals will be a totally unique experience. Nestled amidst lush green mountains, this village was once famous for hunting wild animals. So, it would be a very interesting story to know how a hunting village became the first green village in India.
Things you need to know before entering the valley
- Duzkou valley is a plastic-free zone which means you have to pay a security fee if you’re carrying plastic bottles or polythene bags. And you’ll get money while returning if you show proof that you’re still carrying the plastic essentials.
- Carry the sleeping bag as the temperature during the night become freezing cold and the rest house doesn’t have good blankets and mattress.
- Don’t expect fancy food in the resthouse. So, bring your own food to cook.
- Dzukou valley is a great campsite so you can literally pitch your tent anywhere you want.
- You can rent the firewood and cooking utensils from the rest house. The cost for utensils is 50 rs per item and firewood is 10 rs per piece and 100 rs per bundle.
- You can also collect the firewood for that you need to take walk back out along the trail leading to the rest house. You can also collect the dead flower’s stalks and bamboo shoots.
FAQ’s
Is the Dzukou valley trek difficult?
Dzukou valley has an intermediate-level trek. At some places, the trail is very steep and uphill. So, if you’re an active person then you will not face any problems.
What is the best time to see the Dzukou lily?
The first half of July is the peak flower season in Dzukou valley. During this time you can see the famous Dzukou lily which can only be found in Dzukou valley.