Where and When?
Hornbill Festival is celebrated every year from Dec 1st to Dec 7th at Kisama a Naga heritage village which is 12 k.m from kohima, the state capital of Nagaland.
Nagaland is the land of naga tribes and is also considered as land of festivals. Each Tribe has their own festival in different months of the year. Hornbill Festival is a collective festival of all the tribes of nagaland. It is started in 2000 to promote the peculiar culture and traditions of naga tribes.
What is Hornbill?
Great Hornbill is a bird with a strong and beautiful beak found in the forests of Nepal, India, Mainland Southeast Asia Sumatra and Indonesia. In India it is mainly found in forests of North east India. The Tribes of Naga's are very much fond of the feathers and beak of the great hornbill. We can see almost every naga a hornbill feather as a part of decoration.
Why is it named as Hornbill Festival?
Great Hornbill is a very swift bird so that hunting of that bird lot of skills and patience, and the person who has hunted the Great Hornbill is considered to be a great hunter. So to get the acclaim of great hunter naga people used to vigorously hunt the bird. For a bridegroom to impress the girls father he should present him the beak of the Great hornbill and prove himself as a great hunter.
So due to these factors the existence of Great hornbill is near extension in nagaland. So to give a tribute to it they have named the festival after its name as hornbill Festival.
Some Important Things that you should know about the festival for budget travelers (without own transportation):
There will be taxis from dimapur to kohima @220.
1) The very hotels present will be packed, so arrange for accommodation in prior otherwise you should pay lot of money, i.e 1k per head. There are very good home stays around kisama at higher cost i.e 1k.
2) The heritage village Kisama is 12 k.m from Kohima. There will be no public Transport and you should hire an taxi from kohima to kisama.
3) Public Busses run between kohima and BOC. From B.O.C (an important junction in Kohima) which is 2.3 k.m from kohima towards kisama there will be share taxis for rs 50 p/h to kisama. (Only in the day time may be before 3 p.m).
4) The cultural programs in kisama are very entertaining but will last at 2:30 p.m.
5) For any other events (Night bazar, Rock Contest) you should go to kohima up may be on sharing basis but if you want to return to kisama at night you should hire a taxi @300.
6) Miss Nagaland Festival Entry fee will be min rs 1000.
7) Naga Dishes sold at Kisama main Arena are costly, i.e 100, 200, 300...
8) No provision for Tents at festival arena, kisama.
Besides the budget issues hornbill festival will be a worth it experience for any amount you have spent, Experience their hospitality in the home stays at kisama. There are things which are worth more than money, of those many hornbill festival is certainly one.
Visiting Hornbill Festival is not a budget tour and cost will be more.
For any further details you can contact me at chsaikrishna8096@gmail.com
All The Best for your next travel and have a happy journey.
Jai Hindh.
Naga Boys performing a play. 
