Month: November 2018

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A Visit To “The Woods” – Cottage by Doyang River, Pangti Village in Nagaland.

So here’s the thing about visiting Nagaland. The whole state is a treasure trove of interesting ways to experience nature in its most glorious forms. The R&L team recently visited Wokha District in Nagaland – home of the Lotha Naga tribe, to attend their post-harvest festival ‘Tokhu Emong’, and also witness the arrival of the migratory bird “Amur Falcon.” While we toured the lovely Wokha District, we got a chance to visit Pangti village, where we had a stopover at the enchanting Doyang river for lunch. That’s where we came across “The Woods” cottage by the river, and had one of the most memorial experiences of the trip. Sitting elegantly by the river bank, “The Woods”, the 2-storey hut gives visitors access to the most peaceful and scenic view of the river Doyang and its surrounding beauty. The good news is, they are open for business, and anyone can come and book a room for just Rs. 300 per night (breakfast and food extra) and enjoy a relaxing time with the unique offerings of the …

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Top Five Places You Need To Visit in Dimapur, Nagaland This December During Hornbill Festival, 2018.

One of the most exciting events of the Hornbill Festival Nagaland is the Hornbill International Music Festival, which is going to happen in Dimapur. The music festival is scheduled for December 1st to 10th with an interesting lineup of local bands, K-pop, EDM, Rock, Blues, and Christian Music.  If you’re in town for the music festival, we’ve compiled a list of our top five favorite hangout spots in Dimapur. It was a challenging task as there are always interesting eateries and hangout places opening up in this bustling town. We’ll continue to update our list as new places emerge. So, without further ado, here are our current top picks that you must check out during the Hornbill Festival this December! 1. ILI-AH restaurant Location: Aiko Greens, Purana Bazaar, near Zion Hospital, Dimapur. ILI-AH restaurant is the perfect place for leisure, a place for family and dear friends, a place where time slows down, and for overdue and long conversations. A place you’ll learn to call home. Known for its Indian food and mouth-watering pork sizzlers with mashed potato, …

Top Five Cafes And Spots You Need To Visit In Kohima, Nagaland this December During Hornbill Festival 2018

Kohima is the hilly capital city of India’s northeastern state of Nagaland. It is an ideal place to have a memorable and peaceful vacation. While summer here is tropical, winter is dry and bitterly cold. So, we suggest you to prepare with thick and warm clothes when you visit Kohima next month during the much awaited Hornbill Festival 2018. Today, we are happy to guide you to some of the top places to visit this December. How to reach Kohima :  NST run buses from Dimapur to Kohima and the 75 km long road journey takes around 4 hours. Taxis are also available in the taxi stand beside the Dimapur Railway Station. Dimapur is well connected to the rest of India by rail, bus and air services. Top Five ‘CAFES’ To Visit in Kohima : 1. Cafe “Sorshia & Co.” Sorshia & Co. is located at Belho Complex, P.R.HILL Kohima. It is a cosy space that welcomes you with love and genuine hospitality that makes you feel like it’s home. Some specials from their menu include the stir-fried …

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Everything You Need to Know About The Hornbill Festival, Nagaland 2018 | How To Get There, Where To Stay, What to Expect and More!

It’s that time of the year once again! With this year’s edition of the much loved Hornbill Festival just around the corner, we are here today to relieve your worries and tensions by guiding you with all the information you need to know about the venue, transport facilities and homestays, etc. Read on to find out everything and more about this annual extravaganza – happening from Dec 1-10 in Nagaland, in the North East of India. The Hornbill Festival is celebrated annually from the 1st to 10th of December in Nagaland. Organized by the State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments, it is held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is about 10 km from Kohima, the capital of Nagaland. About Hornbill Festival, Nagaland Hornbill Festival is named after the great Indian hornbill – a large and colorful forest bird which is displayed in the folklore of most of the northeastern state’s tribes. The festival was started to encourage inter-tribal interaction of the many states of the region. It also aims to revive and protect the …

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Zena Marie Kire, Owner Of ZENA Bridal Salon, Nagaland Tells Us How & Why She Makes Every Bride Feel Extra Special While Finding The Perfect Gown

For a girl, her wedding day is undoubtedly the most special day of her life. And for a bride, an amazing wedding dress makes all the difference! When the dress has been carefully chosen, it is important for every bride to feel beautiful, confident and comfortable on her big day. ZENA Bridal Salon in Dimapur, Nagaland is the perfect store to explore for every bride-to-be in search for her perfect gown and everything else for her special day! Here’s a chat with owner Zena Marie Kire to know more about her, and her bridal shop in Nagaland. Today, we are happy to have with us Zena Marie Kire, from Nagaland – owner of ZENA Bridal Salon in Dimapur. She talks about the importance of making the bride-to-be feel extra special through her vast selection of wedding gowns – and the shopping experience itself. Hi Zena! Introduce yourself and tell us a little about your background. Hi! I’m Zena Marie Kire and I’m the owner of ZENA Bridal. I am currently based in Dimapur, Nagaland but prior to …

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#RECIPE | Manipuri Dish – Spicy Fermented Pork with Escargot (Tharoi) .

Pork is one of northeast India’s most favourite meats. Whether it is smoked, fermented or cooked fresh, either way it tastes wonderful. Today, our contributor Thanyo Lungleng, a Tangkhul naga from Manipur shares the recipe for her version of “Spicy fermented pork with escargot”. The dish contains our favourite combination – fermented pork and escargot. It can never go wrong! One traditional cooking advice my mother always gave me was to always add the chili powder and ginger paste at the beginning of cooking and add the garlic paste seconds before turning off the heat. This really enhances the flavour and aroma of the dish.” – Thanyo Lungleng. Thanyo shares her recipe for a special dry dish, Spicy Fermented Pork and Escargot. Ingredients : A big piece of homemade fermented pork Escargot (Tharoi in Manipuri) Wild/long cilantro Ginger ground to a paste Garlic ground to a paste Chili powder (from Sirarakhong village, Ukhrul district) and salt to taste. Ingredients for Thanyo’s spicy fermented pork and escargot dish (L-R): Escargot, fermented pork, ginger, garlic, long cilantro, chili powder and …

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#Faces | “Our School Gives Plenty of Opportunities to Learn Many Things Outside Our Textbooks and Meet New People” – Imliren, Student of Fernhood School, Kohima

“This photo was taken outside my school – Fernwood School in Kohima, with my friends. We took this photo after our school hours before heading home. We had just joined our new school, so we stayed back for a while to explore the campus.  What I like best about going to school is meeting new people and making new friends. As we learn things from each other, we also build good memories and that is something I truly treasure. Fernwood School teaches us how to be independent and gives us the opportunity to involve ourselves in various extracurricular activities. We get to explore new things and it gives us the privilege to learn new things outside of our textbooks. I look forward to going to school every new day.” Imliren (third from the left) and her friends stop to take a photo before heading home, outside their school – Fernwood School in Kohima as they create some beautiful and everlasting high school memories. Imliren (middle) and her friends outside their school, Fernwood School, Kohima

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Talented Hairstylist Joseph Hauzel from Mizoram Wants Us To Be Inspired by His Colourful Work and His Story!

“Follow your dreams” – is a saying we’re all too familiar with. No matter how small or big, it is much easier said than done. It takes courage to take that leap towards commiting to develop the passion that drives each one of us to achieving our dreams. When Joseph Hauzel from Mizoram decided to take the plunge and chase after a career in hairstyling, all he had was a good senses of self belief. He listened then and now continues to listen to his intuition and stays positive when criticisms do not come gently. He used it as a tool to work harder for his own personal growth. Joseph is an inspiration and a living example for all of us to follow our hearts no matter what our circumstances. Today, we are happy to feature Joseph Hauzel who is a professional hairstylist from Mizoram. He talks about the hardships he went through while starting off in the industry, what made him follow his dreams and how he’s steadily risen to the top. Hello Joseph! …

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A Chat With Mahelal Pukhrambam, Owner of Cafe “Steamin Mug” in Imphal – Famous for Its Cosy Space and Perfect Coffee

Cafes and restaurants are gradually sprouting up in almost every corner of Imphal city in Manipur. Besides the menu, it’s also the little creative touches that the owners put into the space to make the ambiance attractive to customers. As is rightly said, “a cozy cafe is pretty much an ultimate happy place”, cafe Steamin Mug in Imphal radiates a super comfy and friendly vibe. It’s the perfect place to dissapear for a couple of hours for a well deserved coffee break, away from the busy or the mundane everyday life. Today, we chat with the owner of Cafe “Steamin Mug” Mahelal Pukhrambam, who is an enthusiastic chef, curious traveler and a football fanatic from Manipur. Read on to know more about him, his life and his cafe. Hello Mahelal! Tell us a little about yourself. Hello R&L! My name is Mahelal Pukhrambam from Manipur and I am the owner of “Steamin Mug” cafe. I am currently residing in Imphal but I have spent most of my adolescent age in Delhi. I am an enthusiastic chef, curious traveler, …

Passionate Travel Enthusiast, Riddhi Debh, Talks About Her Love and Purpose Of Exploring The World

“Every traveler has a home of his own, and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering.” – Charles Dickens Travelling is not just about exploring new places or meeting new people but it is also about finding yourself. After globetrotting across a number of countries across the world, travelling has become a big part of Riddhi’s life. Being a wanderlust and also a solivagant at times, Riddhi takes her time and challenges herself by pushing out of her comfort zone. She considers it a great opportunity to meet new people and learn different cultures from different walks of life in new and unknown cities. We chat with Riddhi Debh, a globetrotter born in Kolkatta who is currently residing in Bangalore. She believes to belong not just in one place but finds herself at home wherever she goes. Read on to know more about her travel stories. Hello Riddhi! Tell our readers a little about yourself. My name is Riddhi Debh and I was born in Kolkata. I have stayed in many cities in India …