About Mopungchuket: The village of Mopungchuket is one of the oldest and biggest Ao Naga villages, located in the central regions of Mokokchung district of Nagaland state. It is a popular rural tourism destination and was formally declared as a ‘rural tourism village’ by the Government of Nagaland in the year 2007.
Perched at an altitude of 1324 meters above sea level, Mopungchuket is blessed with many historical, mythological and cultural assets and is blessed with serene natural landscape and pleasant moderate climatic conditions yearlong. The total geographical area of the village measures 55 Km2 approx. There are five river eco-systems in the territory of Mopungchuket village and swathes of lush virgin forests. It is located 16 Kms from the district headquarters, Mokokchung town, and is well connected by all-weather roads.
Many travel writers and tourism publications in India have labeled Mopungchuket as “the best kept village in Nagaland.” Recognized as one of the cleanest villages in Nagaland, Mopungchuket is also famous for the legendary love story of Jina and Etiben, regarded as “Romeo and Juliet” of the Ao Nagas.
Mopungchuket is a village where ethnic culture is manifest in so many forms including folklore, art, folk songs and dances. It is an idyllic Naga village where myth and history coexist, whose allure makes a visitor to linger on.
Mopungchuket village is known for its natural scenic beauty, cleanliness, warm and friendly character of the villagers, its rich cultural heritage, and its conservation efforts. It is one of the most visible rural tourism destinations in the state of Nagaland, attracting many tourists from outside the state.
Mopungchuket village has much to offer any visitor – panoramic views, nature walk¬s, tea gardens, wooden sculptures, parks, memorabilia exhibits and artifacts in the museum and a warm smile from the friendly villagers wherever one may wander.
The Times of India in its 25 November 2022 issue published an exclusive report on Mopungchuket village with the title “Is Mopungchuket village Nagaland’s best kept secret?”
Places of Tourist Interest
Etiben Tower and Jina Tower: The boundless yet unconsummated love saga of Jina and Etiben is romanticized and immortalized in the village; their songs are sung and their stories told to this day. There are two towers in the village built in their memory. Atop of these two towers, one can see the whole of Ao country and beyond, including the mighty Brahmaputra and the great Himalayas.
Süngkotenem Park: This Park is perhaps the best kept community owned park in Nagaland. The mystical Süngkotenem Lake, a deer park, an amphitheater, wooden sculptures, an Ao Naga traditional house, and the towering trees makes visits to this park a unique experience. Süngkotenem Lake is more of a mystical lake than it is a historical one. The stories associated with the lake are wrapped in myths and legends. Süngkotenem Park is perhaps the jewel in the crown of Mopungchuket tourism.
Mopungchuket Library: The village library was established in the year 1939 by the village’s early scholars. Perhaps the oldest rural library in the region, the library holds books of historical and cultural importance.
Mopungchuket Museum: Established in the year 1956, this museum could be one of the oldest museums in Nagaland. There are many memorabilia exhibits and artifacts put on display in this museum.
Traditional Morung: The village Morung or traditional men’s dormitory is another attraction in the village. Today, it no longer serves the practical purposes it used to during the head-hunting days of long ago but it still represents a vital visual aid to the folk narratives. Some customary practices and conventions are still carried out in the Morung, especially during festivals. The most important usage of it today is for its aesthetic and heritage value.
Log Drums: There are three log-drums in the village. The 35-feet long Mongsen log-drum carved and dragged in the year 1880, the 30-feet long Anüngsa Log-drum carved and dragged in the year 1890 and the 26-feet long Pongen Log-drum carved and dragged in the year 1927.
Wooden Sculptures: There are six giant wooden sculptures and a totem in the village’s Süngkotenem Park that is a must-see for any visitor. Each sculpture has a story to tell.
Mangkolong Tea Garden: This is a popular site for picnickers and is the first tea garden in Nagaland. The first tea plant sapling was planted on 12-6-1980.
Church Building: The Mopungchuket Baptist Church was established in the year 1900 although the present church building was build much later on. The church bell here is said to be the biggest church bell in the region.
Longrangtenem Park: A walk in the pine grove of this park is any visitor’s delight. This park is of historical significance for the village as the village got its present name ‘Mopungchuket’ after an incident that happened in this park.
Fan Palm Groves: There are numerous fan palm groves in the backwoods of the village. Not only is the fan palm important for its practical usages in the life of the villagers, it is also associated with the history of the origin of the village’s name. The fan palm leaf is also the emblem of the village.
Oak Tree Avenues: The villagers since the olden days planted oak trees along the roadsides. These oak trees are pollarded from time to time in a customary practice that is associated to the traditional village administration system of Mopungchuket. Longzüng road and Mangkolong road are the two favorite oak tree avenues for visitors.
Bamboo Forest: While almost every Naga village has various types of bamboo grown in their areas, Mopungchuket has hundreds of acres of contiguous bamboo forest, offering a unique experience for outdoor enthusiasts.
Natural Cave: There is a natural cave that was recently discovered in the village in the year 2022. The cave system is yet to be explored, a site that has potential to attract naturalists, scholars and adventurers once it is made open to public.
Jina & Etiben Sites: There are numerous sites related to Jina and Etiben in and around the village.
Community Reserve Forest: Since the 1950s, the villagers have been conserving a huge tract of forest which is still kept as a community reserve forest.
Community Reserve River: Since the formation of the village, the community has been reserving a river (Etitzüba). This river has amble potential for ecotourism and adventure tourism.
Others: Apart from the above mentioned interests, the village has many more on the offer including bird watching, hiking, jungle camping, river-trekking, etc.
Scope: Rural tourism, eco-tourism, cultural tourism and experiential tourism are the main aspects of tourism that has immense potential in Mopungchuket. The village also has potential for Religious Tourism owing to its proximity to Impur, the Christian Mission Centre established by American Missionaries in 1894. Of late, the village is also fast emerging as a sports tourism destination.
Taking all these into consideration, it can be safely stated that Mopungchuket village is the ideal rural tourism village in Nagaland. As such, we aspire to position ourselves as a major rural tourism destination in Nagaland and contribute to the growth of Nagaland tourism; thereby create an enabling environment for effective and sustainable tourism development, while simultaneously benefiting the local economy and preserving the unique characteristics of the village and the region at large.
Issued by
Mopungchuket Community Tourism Society (MCTS)
