Key hubs
Dzukou Valley airport and railway station
- Airport
- Dimapur Airport (DMU) is the usual gateway, about 2.5 to 3 hours by road from the Viswema trailhead depending on traffic and road works
- Railway station
- Dimapur (DMV) is the nearest railhead; Kohima has no station
- Getting around
- Hire a car with driver to Viswema or Jakhama; there is no road into the valley, so the last 8 to 11 km or so are on foot
How to reach Dzukou Valley by air
Dimapur Airport (DMU) is the usual gateway, about 70 to 75 km from Kohima and roughly 2.5 to 3 hours by road from the Viswema trailhead, depending on traffic and road works. Imphal is also possible but involves a longer drive.
How to reach Dzukou Valley by train
Dimapur railway station (DMV) is the nearest railhead; Kohima has no station. Taxis run from Dimapur to Kohima and on to Viswema and Jakhama.
How to reach Dzukou Valley by road
Viswema and Jakhama lie on or just off the Kohima–Imphal national highway, about 22 and 18 km south of Kohima. Road works and landslides can slow the journey, especially in the monsoon. From the trailhead the valley is reached on foot only.
Getting around Dzukou Valley
Hire a car and driver in Kohima or Dimapur for the trailheads. Arrange your pick-up point in advance if you go up one path and down the other. In the valley everything is on foot, so book a guide at the trailhead.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Dzukou Valley
- If you do go, go up by the gentler Viswema path, hire a local guide and a porter for bags, and set a slow pace with frequent stops.
- Carry layers. Even in warmer months the valley is cold at night, and wind and rain can arrive quickly.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.