Dzukou Valley, situated on the border of the beautiful states of Manipur and Nagaland, the beautiful hills of the Dzukou Valley are the prime attraction of North-Eastern India. Here’s the ultimate guide to everything you need to know about the mesmerizing Dzukou Valley.
Dzukou Valley is situated at the very top, amongst the clouds. It is located at a distance of 2452 meters above sea level. The place is also spelled as Dzoüko Valley or Dzuko Valley. The lushly green valley is located along the borders of the two north-eastern states of Nagaland and Manipur.
During summer, the vivid, green-appearing hills add to the beauty of the blue-colored mountaintops. The waving of flowers due to the cold wind adds to the overwhelming beauty. In the cold winter, the temperature falls below expectations since tropical states do not usually experience such extreme winters. The valley turns white due to the deposition of white snow.
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An Introduction to Dzokou Valley
The Dzokou Valley is famous mostly for its famous multi-colored lines of flowers, which bloom to the fullest in the summer season. The Dzokou Lily is a notable mention since it is only found in the Dzokou Valley.
The blooming process of the flowers initiates at the beginning of the monsoon season, with the first two of July acting as the peak flower season in the region. Even if one does not get to witness the place during the stated time, he or she can be assured that the site is so beautiful that it can be visited anytime throughout the year as the region has much more to offer than colorful flowers.
Coming to activities, Hiking is one of the most preferred activities by tourists. If you want to do some rock-climbing, you can find plenty of opportunities to do so throughout the valley. The exhilarating beauty of the place manages to grab the attention of even the local tourists, belonging to the states of Manipur and Nagaland. However, the Dzokou Valley is yet to be discovered by foreign tourists as well as domestic ones from farther states. Given the natural beauty of the place, it is sure that tourism will experience a boom in the forthcoming year, and thus, it is advised that you go and visit the area as soon as possible.
Now that you have been convinced (hopefully), it is now time that you know every piece of information to make your trip a complete and total success.
Reaching Dzukou Valley from Nagaland
There is the possibility of reach Dzokou Valley from Manipur, but the primary approach to arrive is from Nagaland. This is due to the absence of required amenities on the Manipur Side, poor condition of roadways in the valley, and the trekking trail is too tough to navigate through. Due to all these reasons, tourists prefer to travel to the Dzokou Valley from Nagaland.
However, if you have made up your mind to reach the valley via Manipur, make sure that you have all the necessary pieces of equipment in addition to a local guide, who is well-versed with the way and has proper experience of navigating through the route.
Once you reach Kohima, the capital of the state Nagaland, getting to the Dzokou Valley is a simple affair. There are two towns through which one can reach the valley – Viswema and Jakhama. Jakhama (which is spelled as ‘Zakhama’ on Google Maps) is approximately 20 kilometers away from Kohima. The other town, Viswema, is almost 25 kilometers away from Kohima. One can reach Kohima by bus. Otherwise, the nearest railway station to Kohima is situated in Dimapur.
To reach either of the towns stated above, taking a shared cab from the Network Travels AOC Bus Stand is the best option. You will find Several vans and SUVs parked there. All you need to do is ask one of the drivers standing nearby, and they will point you towards the right vehicle. A trip to the town of Jakhama costs around Rs. 40 per person, and one of the cities of Viswema costs around Rs. 50. The cabs depart only when they have attained the full capacity of passengers. The time taken to reach Viswema is about 30-45 minutes.
Approaching the Dzukou Valley
The approach you should opt for is dependent totally upon your fitness level. The trek from Jakhama to Dzukou Valley is more demanding but takes less time.
The trek from the Visvema to Dzukou Valley is more convenient but takes longer to reach the destination. The approach we recommend taking is the Viswema one when entering the valley and the Jakhama one while exiting the place.
Reaching Dzukou Valley from Visvema
The Viswema approach starts with approximately 8 kilometers of motorable road. As the journey progresses, the path slopes up calmly and gently. The walk itself takes around 3 hours. You can get a cab from the main highway towards the end of the motorable road. The ride, however, costs about 1500 INR.
Alternatively, you can try hitching a ride. There’s some construction is in progress at the end of the road, and the constructors will hopefully let you jump on the back of their trucks of they pass by you. Walking to the trailhead is also an option, but it will take an extra hour or so.
To reach the Dzokou Valley, follow the trail for about one hour. The climb leading to the valley is quite steep and slippery, depending on the weather. Therefore, you should be extra careful so that you do not slip on dirt or mud.
Getting to Dzukou Valley from Jakhama
This particular approach is more demanding than the previous one. The path is steep and lined-up with roughly-hewn steps made of stone. It will take about 3 hours for you to reach the main road from the valley. If you are heading upwards, there is a motorable road present too. If you choose to walk, it will take around 4 to 5 hours. The steps are in good condition as well.
Dzukou Valley – Ticket Price
The entry ticket for the valley costs Rs. 20 per person for people visiting from nearby villages, Rs. 50 per person for other Indians and Rs. 100 per person for foreigners. Entrance fees are paid at the guest house, and you only need to pay once, not per day.
Where to stay in Dzukou Valley
There is a basic guesthouse present overlooking the Dzokou Valley. It offers two refugee camp-like dormitories and a total of 5 private rooms with only the basic, necessary amenities. Make sure that you bring your inflatable mattress.
The dorm costs around Rs. 50 per person and the private rooms are given at a rate of Rs. 300 per room. Mattresses, Cushions, Blankets, and Pillows cost extra. Basic breakfast and lunch are also available.
Watch: Dzükou Valley & Japfu Peak: Exploring Nagaland’s Best-Kept Secrets
Some FAQs about Dzukou Valley
Dzukou Valley is in Kohima, Nagaland. It is located at an altitude of 2450 meters.
The best time to visit the Dzukou valley is from the end of June till September.
You can take an overnight train to Dimapur from Guwahati. From Dimapur railway station you will get share Taxi just to Kohima for Rs 220 to 250. It will take 3 hours to reach Kohima. From Kohima, you will find a taxi to Viswema Village (45 minutes journey)
