Little did I know that Methaneilie Jütakhrie’s song Pfutsero is about a picturesque town tucked amidst hills and valleys. I was so intrigued by the tune that I was playing it in a loop. It was then Asile (our local representative in Nagaland) came to me and asked, “Are you so much in love with this song about Pfutsero?”. I looked at his grinning face and replied, “Yes! Though I can’t understand the lyrics, I find it very melodious. What does Pfutsero mean?”.
Asile replied with vigour “It’s the land of the Chakesang Nagas, Pfutsero is the name of the highest and coldest inhabited town of Nagaland!”. His answer imbued me instantly to say, “Alright… Let’s go to Pfutsero tomorrow!”.
Undeniably, the trip on the next day was the best thing that happened to me in 2019. I still feel happy about traveling to Pfutsero. This bijou town is about 70 kilometers away from Kohima city. To my surprise, the road from Kohima to Pfutsero is better than what I have come across so far in all these years of traveling in Nagaland.
Now let me tell you more about this offbeat travel destination situated so close to the Kohima city.
Traveling to Pfutsero
It was during the Hornbill Festival and I was accompanied by my friends. We started at early morning from Camp KITE MANJA on our vehicle and it took us about three and a half hours to reach there. Roads were dry and dusty but it was evident that landslides are common in this part of Nagaland during monsoon season (like everywhere else).
Public transport is also easily available from Kohima city; you can hop on a shared Sumo available near Martyr’s Park or go to NST (Nagaland State Transport) bus terminal to reach Pfutsero. Trust, the journey through the winding hills and the sight of the paddy fields tucked in the valleys en route is astounding.
There are two different routes from Kohima with almost the same distance. One goes via Chedema and the other one through Kigwema and it meets at Kezo town on the way to Pfutsero. As we were camping in Kisama, so we drove via Kigwema.
About Pfutsero Town
Inhabited by the Kuzha, Chokri and Sapu community of the Chakesang Naga and several other tribes of Nagaland, Pfutsero is a small silent town in the middle of the Phek district. I would also call this place as a ‘green organic town’ for its juicy, farm-fresh fruits and vegetables. I still can’t forget the taste of the Guava which was offered to me by a local while visiting his garden.
As mentioned above, this town is the highest and coldest inhabited settlement in Nagaland. It sits at an elevation of 6,998 ft or 2,133 m above sea level, with the temperature dipping below zero during winter.
People of Pfutsero are nice and friendly and it took me no time to befriend a few locals on my maiden visit itself. They have urged me to visit again to celebrate ‘Sukrunyi’ (an annual festival of Chokri community held in January) or during ‘Tsukhenyie’ (festival of the Kheza community in April) with them.
To know more you must take a trip to Pfutsero!
Things to do in Pfutsero
As a trip advisor, I would highly recommend a day tour of Pfutsero. It can be easily added to the Kohima itinerary. A nature lover will not hesitate to spend a good two or three days in this pleasing town. There are wonderful walking trails to the nearby villages and hamlets embedded with scenic views of the eastern Himalayan range.
Yes, the Himalayas! Just about a kilometer away from Pfutsero lies the Glory Peak. Situated at a soaring height of 2,600 m or 8,530 ft. above sea level, this peak is the main attraction of this little township. From here, you can get a spectacular view of the Mt. Everest in the west and Mt. Saramati (the highest peak of Nagaland) on the east.
On the day of our visit, Mt. Saramati was visible with a slice of snow on the top of the peak but Mt. Everest was covered with clouds. I think it will be very difficult to see Mt. Everest from this place without a binocular.
There is also a cave on a hilltop at the other end of the town. It was used by the Japanese Army during World War II. Pfutsero used to be the headquarter of the Japanese Imperial Army and our local guide said that the cave was used to hide their arms and ammunition. No doubt why did they choose that cave to hide their ammo; it is almost impossible to track the cave from land and even from the air.
You can also visit the Pfutsero Town Baptist Church to get a 360-degree view of the town. Pfutsero has diverse religious denominations and groups but the Town Baptist Church is the biggest in the town.
We also visited the Pfutseromi village which is about 2.5 km from the main town. In this village, you can visit the old traditional Horned houses (Kechiü Ke) of the Chakesang Naga and the picturesque wet rice terrace fields locally known as Pani Kheti.
Accommodation and Food
There are just two tourist lodges and a few other hotels in Pfütsero. One is a government-owned and the other one is managed by the Chakesang Women Welfare Society. Both the lodges offer splendorous panoramic views of the town.
You can have your meal at the lodge where you will be staying or you can visit the Naga rice hotels in the market area offering scrumptious local dishes. But if you are not comfortable with the hot tingle of the Naga chilies than its better to have your meal at the lodge.
Tips for a Comfortable Trip to Pfütsero
- Carry good warm clothes and comfortable walking shoes.
- There is a decent army presence in the region, don’t hesitate to approach them if you need any help or information.
- There is State Bank of India and Nagaland State Cooperative Bank ATM available in the town but I would like to suggest you to withdraw your cash from Kohima. Link failures are common in the interior places of Northeast India.
- Avoid travelling in the rainy season.
- Carry your prescribed medicines If you have any.
- If you are traveling on a Sumo than ensure that you sit in front or in the middle row only.
Pfutsero is not as famous as other travel destinations in Nagaland due to which you may face challenges to book accommodation and to hire a local guide for your trip. You can contact us and we can assure you a memorable journey to Pfütsero.
Here is the YouTube link of Methaneilie Jütakhrie’s song which led me to explore Pfutsero.
