November 2026
Pushkar, Rajasthan
Pushkar Camel Fair
Luxury tents a short walk from the fairground and the ghats.
Dates November 2026
Details
Kisama, Nagaland
Hornbill Festival
Every tribe in Nagaland, in one place, for ten days at the Naga heritage village at Kisama.
The festival
The Festival of Festivals
All the tribes of Nagaland take part in this festival. The aim of the festival is to revive and protect the rich culture of Nagaland and display its extravaganza and traditions.
For visitors it means a closer understanding of the people and culture of Nagaland. It must be included in your itinerary, if you are visiting Nagaland during that time to enjoy the food, song, dance and custom of Nagaland.
What runs over the ten days
The festival aims to revive and protect the rich culture of Nagaland and showcase its ethnic customs and traditions to the world. Besides the traditional extravaganza, events include Hornbill International Rock Contest, Hornbill International Musical Festival, North East Cultural Day, Hornbill Charity Concert-cum-Ball, Hornbill Master Chef Competition, Hornbill Snooker Championship, Hornbill National Dance Competition, Miss Nagaland Contest, Hornbill Annual Cycle Rally, Kids Carnival, 'Glocal' Film Fest, Vintage World War II Motor Rally, International Car Rally and many other competitions.
Over 20 bands including bands from the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia take part in the Hornbill International Rock Contest held for 4 days at the Naga Solidarity park during the festival. While the Hornbill shopping festival promotes the display and sale of indigenous Naga crafts and products, Food fest gives Naga food the desired focus.
In this beautiful environment you get to stay in luxury tents with western amenities serving Naga cuisine and get the feel of Nagaland, hosted by Adhvanta India.
Kohima, and the country around it
Kisama sits a short way outside Kohima, and the festival runs in the first ten days of December — which is also the best month to be in this part of the country.
If you are travelling this far it is worth adding days at either end. The hills around Kohima are walkable, and the Dzukou valley on the Manipur border is within reach for anyone prepared for a climb.
Where you stay
The camp, not the nearest hotel
We build a camp on the ground for the length of the fair and take it away again afterwards. Everything in it is trucked in and installed for that window.
Swiss tents with attached washrooms
Proper beds, solid flooring, running hot water and a sit-out. Not a sleeping bag on the ground.
Power, water and drainage
Installed for the event and maintained through it, including lighting across the site after dark.
Dining and housekeeping
A kitchen and dining tent on site, and the tents serviced daily while you are out at the fair.
Our own crew on the ground
The people who built the camp are the people running it. Nothing is subcontracted to a local agent.
Practicalities
How to reach Kohima
- A very convenient way for reaching Kohima is to take a train or flight to Dimapur and then rent a taxi to Kohima.
- Dimapur has an airport, the only one in Nagaland, and has a main railhead on the North Eastern Railway Track which is well connected to Guwahati and Kolkata.
- By road, one can take a bus or rent a car from Guwahati to Kohima which will take 6-7 hours.
Gallery
Hornbill Festival, in pictures
Photographs: Saurabh sirohiya (CC BY-SA 4.0), Yves Picq (CC BY-SA 3.0), Bhrigu bayan (CC BY-SA 4.0), Ly.n0m (CC BY-SA 4.0), Original: Samudra Bikash Hazarika Derivative work: UnpetitproleX (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Also this season
Other fairs and festivals
November 2026
January – February 2027
Nagaur, Rajasthan
Nagaur Cattle Fair
The second-largest cattle fair in India, and far quieter than Pushkar.
Dates January – February 2027
Details
February 2027
National Chambal Sanctuary
International Bird Festival
Riverside camp on the Chambal, gharial and skimmer country.
Dates February 2027
DetailsQuestions
Hornbill Festival, answered
Not covered here? Call reservations or send an enquiry — someone who has actually been there will answer.
When is the Hornbill Festival?
The first ten days of December, at the Naga heritage village at Kisama, a short way outside Kohima.
Which tribes take part?
All of them. That is the point of it — the festival exists to bring every tribe in Nagaland together in one place, which does not otherwise happen.
What is there besides the dancing?
A great deal: the Hornbill International Rock Contest over four days, a musical festival, North East Cultural Day, food and craft fairs, a film festival, motor and cycle rallies and a long list of competitions.
How do we get there?
Fly or take a train to Dimapur — the only airport in Nagaland — then a taxi up to Kohima. By road from Guwahati it is six to seven hours.
Do we need an Inner Line Permit?
Requirements for visiting Nagaland change from time to time and differ for Indian and foreign nationals. Tell us your nationality when you enquire and we will confirm what is needed for your dates.
How far in advance should I book?
Earlier than feels necessary. These camps run for a handful of days a year, the dates do not move, and the tent count is fixed by what we can physically install. For the better-known fairs the good dates go a season ahead.
What is included in the tariff?
Accommodation in a furnished Swiss tent with an attached washroom, meals at the camp, housekeeping and on-site assistance. Travel to the festival, entry to ticketed events and anything personal sits outside it. We confirm the exact inclusions in writing with the quote.
Can you arrange transfers?
Yes. Tell us where you are arriving from and we will quote the transfer with the tent. For the remoter camps this is worth arranging in advance rather than on the day.
Is the camp suitable for families?
Yes. Tents can be set up for families, and the camp is staffed and lit through the night. Tell us the ages when you enquire and we will put you somewhere sensible on the site.
What does it cost?
It depends on the festival, the dates within it, the tent category and how many nights you want. There is no single rate across the seven. Send us the festival and your dates and we will send a written quote.
Camping at the Hornbill Festival
December in Kohima fills early. Send us your dates and we will tell you what is left.