What it feels to live near the Border of a country? Well probably the answer will be—“ its delicately different”. But how about staying on a shared border between two countries, then…. “Oops that sounds unique and completely rare”.
Yes it is unique and also rare….. In the northern part of Nagaland there is a highly interesting place with an exclusive feeling. And this is the feeling of staying in two different countries at the same time. There’s a Konyak village called Longwa in Nagaland’s Mon district. The village is captivating not just in its beauty but also because of its unusual geography. Longwa is the largest village of Mon district in Nagaland which is shared by India and Myanmar and the Indo-Myanmar border actually passes through the village chief’s house making one half of it a part of Myanmar and the other half of India. The village chief is also called as “Angh” and he has 60 wives and rule more than 70 villages. Interestingly the villagers don’t need a visa to move around the border and roam freely. Some villagers have their kitchen in Myanmar and bedroom in India.
As shown in a video of Longwa Village by BBC News , “The village chief says his palace is divided into two parts. The border between India and Myanmar passes through Longwa village in Nagaland, so half of the chief’s house is in India and the other half is in Myanmar. The “royal family” of the Konyak Naga tribe lives in this divided palace.Myanmar and Indian citizens can move freely up to 16 km in each other’sterritory without a visa. The villagers of Longwa say they have the best of both worlds.They are Indian nationals with voting rights while the Myanmar government also runs welfare schemes for them. But the armies of both countries have a constant presence in the village and some locals feel uncomfortable living on the border between the two nations . The two countries enjoy friendly relations .”
“We eat in india and sleep in Myanmar. The kingdom was founded in the 15th Century and this palace is over 100 years old. The border came much later , in 1971. India and Myanmar divided the people by marking the border. But we are living in our own ancestral land- we don’t have any problem with that as stated by the “Angh the village chief says ”
Nagaland’s Konyak tribe is considered to be the last of India’s headhunters and collectors of enemy skulls but the practice was abandoned in the 1960s. Practices like face tattooing, wearing accessories, headgears, and headhunting were common among the people of this tribe.The Konyaks symbolized themselves with tattoos on their face and other body parts highlighting their tribe, clan, and status in society. Also to symbolize their heritage, many villagers in Longwa wear brass skull necklaces which according to a popular belief , enhances fertility.
So with a unique history and unique persisting lifestyle , Longwa is an extremely beautiful village with captivating views and sites .
When to visit–
The winter season between October and March is considered to be the best time to visit Longwa. The weather is very pleasant during those months for sightseeing and to explore the village along with many more tourist attractions to see.
Places to visit near Longwa–
1. Veda Peak
You can enjoy the surreal view of the Chindwin River and Bhramputra from Veda Peak, which is the highest peak in the Mon district. The peak is surrounded by many other snow-capped and lush green hills that make the entire ambiance heavenly.
2. Shangnyu Village
The village is home to the Angh’s house, which according to the locals is 500 years old. You can also witness many dilapidated carved structures along with many memorial stones in Shangnyu village.
3. Chenloisho Village
You will find all the ancient artifacts, accessories, household items, ornaments along with human skulls preserved and displayed in Chenloisho village. A village called Waloo situated close to the Indo-Myanmar border is where you will find all these things and a lot more about the people and culture of the Konyak tribe.
Also Doyang River, Hong Kong market, and Nagaland Science Center are some of the must-visit places in Longwa village, Nagaland. Just nearby lie the camps of an Assam Rifles (AR) company and some miles away from the village, on a hill, there is a pillar, indicating the international border and ‘154 BP 1971-72’ is inscribed on it.
How to reach-
By Air–The nearest Airport is Jorhat (Assam), which is about 161 km (by bus) to Mon. But, there is no direct bus service available. One has to reach either Sonari or Simulguri first and then proceed to Mon from here.
By Road–There are no train and air services to Mon. However, one can come up to Bhoju railway station (Assam) and then proceed to Mon via Sonari. Bhoju to Sonari is about 7 km. Another train route option available is to reach Simulguri. Since there is no direct bus service from Simulguri to Mon, one has to go to Naginimora first and then proceed to Mon.
By Rail–Mon can be reached by bus from two routes. They are via Sonari in Sibsagar district of Assam) and via Simulguri (Assam). Mon district headquarters can be reached via Sonari by bus. It is about 65 km from Sonari to Mon. Mon can also be reached via Simulguri, which is about 95 km by bus. But, there is no direct service from Simulguri to Mon. One has to reach Naginimora (under Mon district) first, which is about 20 km. From Naginimora, bus service is available to Mon district headquarters (75 km).
So now, plan your trip accordingly and make sure to have your historically memorable time of staying in the village of two countries.
Source of Route plan – https://mon.nic.in/tourist-place/longwa-village/
