Yimkhiung Tribe

Introduction

The Yimkhiung (formerly known as Yimchunger) are a Naga tribe living principally in Shamator and Kiphire districts, with significant populations also across the international border in Myanmar. They are known for the Metümniu festival in August and for a rich tradition of folk songs and oral history.

History & Origins

Yimkhiung oral history traces the tribe's origins to a common ancestor and migration from the east. The community has historically maintained close ties with related groups across what is now the Indo-Myanmar border.

District & Location

Most Yimkhiung live in Shamator district (created in 2021 from part of Tuensang district) and in adjacent areas of Kiphire district. The drive from Kohima takes around nine hours.

Important Villages

Shamator, Pungro and Kuthur are among the principal Yimkhiung villages.

Traditional Attire

Yimkhiung men wear a black kilt with a striking warrior shawl. Women wear wraparound skirts with bold geometric patterns and bead necklaces.

Morung & Architecture

Yimkhiung villages are built on hilltops with houses of timber and bamboo. The morung was once the centre of village life.

Culture & Lifestyle

Yimkhiung society is organised around clans and led by village councils. Jhum cultivation is the principal form of agriculture.

Festivals & Celebrations

Metümniu, celebrated in August, is the most important Yimkhiung festival. It marks the beginning of the harvest season with five days of feasting, singing and dancing.

Food & Cuisine

Yimkhiung cuisine features smoked pork, bamboo shoot, foraged greens and a wide range of chillies.

Arts, Music & Dance

Yimkhiung folk songs are sung in harmony, and traditional dances are performed at festivals.

Role During Hornbill Festival

The Yimkhiung morung at Kisama features displays of traditional crafts and regular dance performances.

Jewellery & Ornaments

Yimkhiung men wear conch-shell baldrics, cornelian necklaces and boar-tusk armlets. Women wear strings of red and yellow beads and brass earrings.

Tattoos & Body Art

Yimkhiung warriors traditionally received facial tattoos after their first successful head-taking. A small number of elderly men in Shamator district still bear the tattoos.

Photography Tips

Metümneo festival (5 August) in Shamator is the best Yimkhiung shoot — almost no other tourists.

Shamator's hill villages photograph beautifully in October at sunrise.

Cultural Etiquette

Shamator district borders Myanmar and is one of the most remote areas of Nagaland — travel only with arranged transport and guide.

The tribe's name is officially spelled Yimkhiung (formerly Yimchunger) — use the current spelling.

Related Hornbill Performances at Kisama

At Kisama the Yimkhiung morung features the Metümneo harvest dance and the singing of Yimkhiung folk songs in deep chest voice.

Travel Information

The Yimkhiung homeland in Shamator district is reached most easily by road from Kohima or Dimapur. Most travellers fly into Dimapur (DMU), the only commercial airport in Nagaland, and continue by shared sumo or private vehicle. The drive from Dimapur to Kohima takes around two and a half to three hours; onward travel to the Yimkhiung districts varies from a couple of hours to a full day depending on the village.

Permits are essential. Indian travellers need an Inner Line Permit (ILP), which can be issued online or at entry points in Dimapur and Kohima. Foreign travellers need a Protected Area Permit (PAP) and must register at the Foreigners' Registration Office on arrival. We handle both as part of any booking.

October to April is the most comfortable window to visit. December is festival season — roads are busier, stays book out months in advance, and temperatures in the hills drop sharply at night. Carry layers, sturdy shoes for village walks, and a power bank; electricity in remote villages can be intermittent.

Accommodation Options

Stays in Yimkhiung country range from simple village homestays run by local families to mid-range guesthouses in the district headquarters. Kohima itself offers a wider choice — from deluxe properties like The Heritage and Razhü Pru to comfortable standard hotels closer to Kisama.

For a more immersive experience, we recommend at least one night in a traditional homestay. You'll share meals cooked over a wood fire, hear stories from elders, and wake to the sounds of a working Naga village. Most homestays are basic but spotlessly clean, with shared bathrooms and warm bedding.

During the Hornbill Festival (1–10 December), rooms in and around Kohima fill up by September. Booking early matters more than booking expensive — we'll suggest the right fit based on your dates, budget and how close to Kisama you want to be.

Gallery

Photographs from Shamator and surrounding villages.