Nagaland launches subsidised Helicopter Aerial Experience Rides for Hornbill Festival 2025, offering unique sightseeing tours over Kohima, Dzukou Valley, and Kisama. The service enhances connectivity, boosts tourism, and provides visitors an exclusive bird’s-eye view of the iconic cultural event.
Nagaland has taken a significant leap in tourism innovation ahead of the Hornbill Festival 2025, with Minister for Tourism and Higher Education Temjen Imna Along flagging off the new Aerial Experience Rides – Helicopter Service on Tuesday at the Lerie Helipad in Kohima. The initiative, launched in partnership with a private aviation company, aims to provide a transformative travel experience and boost tourism during the state’s most iconic cultural festival.
According to officials from the Tourism Department, the helicopter service has been introduced to enhance the overall visitor experience during the 10-day Hornbill Festival. The service aligns with the state government’s broader efforts to improve tourist mobility, offer premium sightseeing options, and position Nagaland as a leading travel destination in the Northeast.
The Aerial Experience Rides are designed to give tourists a unique bird’s-eye view of Nagaland’s landscapes and culture. Visitors can now enjoy aerial tours around Kohima, panoramic views of the world-famous Dzukou Valley, scenic flights between Kohima and Kigwema, and exceptional sky-high glimpses of the Hornbill Festival grounds. This marks the first time such chartered aerial experiences are being made widely accessible to festival attendees.
Officials further stated that tourists will also have the option to charter the helicopter for customized tours across Nagaland. This introduces a new dimension to exploration in the region, enabling visitors to access remote destinations, cultural sites, and nature hotspots that would otherwise require long road travel.
In an effort to ensure the service is affordable to a wide range of travellers, the Tourism Department has decided to subsidise the ride fares. This move is expected to encourage participation not only from local residents but also from domestic and international tourists who visit Nagaland in large numbers during the Hornbill Festival.
The helicopter service will operate from multiple strategic locations, including Dimapur Airport, Kohima Heliport, and Kigwema Heliport. This multi-point operational structure is intended to provide maximum convenience and broad connectivity throughout the festival period, which runs from December 1 to 10.
Tourists can easily book their aerial tours through the Tourism Department’s official social media handles, the information counter at Kisama, the department’s website, or through dedicated helpline numbers. Officials expect booking demand to rise significantly as the festival approaches, given the increasing interest from travellers seeking immersive experiences.
The launch event was attended by several dignitaries, including Advisor to the Nagaland Chief Minister and Chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), Theja Meru. Also present were Chairman of the Task Force for Music and Arts (TaFMA), Myingthungo Ababe Ezung, Captain Amitabh, and senior officials from the Tourism Department. Their presence underscored the collaborative nature of the initiative and the government’s commitment to strengthening tourism infrastructure.
The Hornbill Festival, often referred to as the “Festival of Festivals,” is one of India’s most prominent cultural celebrations. Organised every year between December 1 and 10 at the picturesque Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, the event showcases the rich cultural heritage, traditional arts, folk music, indigenous sports, and culinary diversity of Nagaland’s tribes. The 2025 edition will mark the 26th year of this grand festival, which also coincides with Nagaland’s Statehood Day celebrations.
Over the years, the festival has grown into a major international attraction, drawing tens of thousands of visitors, cultural delegations, and media from across the globe. With the introduction of the Aerial Experience Rides, officials believe that the Hornbill Festival will continue to strengthen its reputation as a world-class tourism event.
The new helicopter service not only represents a stride toward modernising Nagaland’s tourism offerings but also serves as a model for similar initiatives across the Northeast. By merging adventure, convenience, and cultural celebration, Nagaland aims to elevate the Hornbill Festival experience and create fresh opportunities for regional tourism development.
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As anticipation builds for December, the Aerial Experience Rides are expected to become one of the festival’s major attractions, offering visitors an unforgettable way to witness the beauty, heritage, and vibrant spirit of Nagaland from the skies.
