The condition of the road in Thanamir and the villagers taking it upon themselves to repair it.
Villagers undertake repair works
Morung Express News
Kohima | May 30
Located at the foothills of Mount Saramati, Thanamir village in Kiphire district, known as the “Apple Village,” is a place of beauty, ecological significance and cultural heritage. However, despite its rich natural wealth and potential, Thanamir remains disconnected due to its deplorable road conditions.
“Thanamir is one of the concentrated places located at the remotest part of the Indo-Myanmar (Burma) boundary covering 137 and 138 International Boundary Pillar under Kiphire District, Nagaland,” said a local resident of Thanamir.
Taking the onus upon themselves, led by the village council, the Thanamir Village Citizenship, Thanamir Baptist Church and the civil society organizations contributed toward the repair and renovation of a tourist road. The road had long been neglected and had become nearly impassable, especially during peak travel seasons. The repair work was carried out over two days, May 26 and 27.
Despite repeated appeals to the state government, Topanthong, former general secretary of the Thanamir Village Students’ Union and CEO of Thanamir Organic Producer Company Ltd., said that their pleas had fallen on deaf ears.
“The road is not just broken — it is boggy, dangerous, and completely unmotorable in places. It doesn’t just inconvenience us; it turns away tourists who come all the way here and are forced to turn back,” he shared.
Stating that Thanamir is not just a village but has numerous prominent tourist destinations in Nagaland, the civil society of Thanamir made an urgent appeal to the state government and concerned departments to prioritize the repair and renovation of the roads there.
Prospects for an eco-tourism hub
Highlighting the prospects of Thanamir village, Topanthong said the village, nestled at the base of Mount Saramati (3,841 meters), plays a vital role in accommodating tourists, including hundreds and thousands of local and international visitors every year.
He informed that the Apple Festival has been celebrated annually in collaboration with the Department of Horticulture since 2010, which also expands tourism activities in the village.
Thanamir, he said, is also considered a key biodiversity area and part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. It is also an important birdwatching area, recognized by BirdLife International and listed as a Key Biodiversity Area.
Since 2015, Thanamir village administration, along with the Delhi-based NGO Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), has initiated ecological and ethnographic research, documenting over 245 bird species, 25 mammal species, and 70 butterfly and moth species.
He said that Thanamir forest is home to the standard four wild cat species found in the region — Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), Marbled Cat (Pardofelis marmorata), Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii), and Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). Since then, a team of researchers trained in bird identification and data collection has been actively promoting bird tourism in the village.
It may be mentioned that Thanamir received the Governor’s Award in recognition of its outstanding contribution toward conservation and protection of the environment during 2020–21.
The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) sub-center has also initiated an outreach mission training for neighboring Myanmar citizens since 2010 at Thanamir village.
Road condition a stumbling block
However, despite the accolades and the village’s numerous potential, Topanthong maintained that the pathetic road conditions have long been a stumbling block to its progress and development.
“To unlock its true potential, the state must prioritize the transformation of road infrastructure for connectivity and catalyze economic growth and social advancement and showcase Nagaland’s splendor to the world, inviting greater opportunities for tourism and investment and Nagaland towards a better and brighter future,” he said.
