Kigwema Village

Kigwema is a traditional Angami village 15 km south of Kohima, right next to the Kisama Heritage Village where the Hornbill Festival is held. Many festival visitors stay in Kigwema homestays for the easy walk to Kisama and the authentic village evenings.

Kigwema is one of the original Angami villages of the Southern Angami area. During WWII, Japanese forces camped here in 1944 before the Battle of Kohima, and a memorial stone marks the site.

Kigwema, Kohima district, Nagaland — 15 km south of Kohima town and approximately 2 km from Kisama Heritage Village.

• Walking distance to the Hornbill Festival grounds at Kisama
• WWII Japanese encampment memorial
• Traditional Angami houses, granaries and kitchen gardens
• Quiet village evenings during the festival rush

• Walk to Kisama in the morning for the festival
• Village walk with the host family
• Try home-cooked Angami meals — smoked pork, axone, akhuni curries
• Sit by the fire for evening songs and stories

1–10 December during Hornbill Festival is the prime window. October–April is generally pleasant; book homestays months ahead for festival dates.

Drive 15 km south of Kohima on NH-2 toward Imphal. Most homestays arrange pickups from Dimapur airport (75 km, ~3 hours) or Kohima.

Kigwema is one of the most popular homestay clusters during Hornbill Festival — simple rooms, shared bathrooms, traditional meals. Book early; rates rise sharply for festival week.

• Reserve homestays at least 3–4 months before Hornbill
• Carry a torch — village paths are unlit at night
• Tip your host family or buy local crafts — it goes directly to the community
• Follow village rules during morungs and ceremonies