I love to travel and wish that someday I can visit all the Naga villages in Naga inhabited areas (Nagalim). Mokokchung is one of the beautiful town in Nagaland and S.C. Jamir former Nagaland Chief Minister and Present Governor of Goa hails from this town.

For many years he was the Chief Minister of Nagaland and many people alleged that during his tenures - he had stressed more development for his own town. Whatever it may be - I am not going to comment; I just want to share my experiences and impressions going to Mokokchung.

It was in the last week of October 2005 that I went to Mokokchung town. There is TATA Sumo service available from Kohima to Mokokchung. However I went there by (NST) Nagaland State Transport Bus from Kohima. The Bus fare from Kohima to Mokokchung is Rs 90/- and TATA Sumo fare is around Rs 220/- It took around 6 hours by bus from Kohima to Mokokchung.

The bus started in the morning at 6:30 Am and reached there at 1:30PM. I had little knowledge regarding the town and hotel where to stay in Mokokchung - if not it would have been a great surprise and incredible to see the town. When I reached there, I want to go to Nagaland University at Lumani but there is not any bus service available in the afternoon from Mokokchung to Nagaland University; the University bus leaves in the morning around 8:15 AM and come back around 3:30 PM.

Now if I want to go, I've to go by Taxi, which will cost around Rs 400-500/-. While I was in dilemma to there on that day and come back to Mokokchung town - I met a good Samaritan - a student from Nagaland University who told me the difficulty to go to University and suggested me to stay back in Mokokchung on that day. Then I asked him if I can get any hotel near by NST office.

He told me to go and check in one hotel. As I reached there, there was not one in the reception room but the room was kept open. I waited there around fifteen minutes but not one came. I went to a shop and asked if there is any other hotel to stay. But I came to learn that there is not any other hotel for lodging except the hotel, which I have gone earlier. So I was little shocked and panic to learn because in such a beautiful town it is incredible that there is only one hotel to stay.

I went back to same hotel and waited for another five minutes. Then the owner of the hotel came to reception room. I asked if there is any vacant room to stay. He took me inside the room. However seeing the pathetic condition of the hotel room.

I asked him if there is any other hotel in the town because I could not believe there will be only one hotel for lodging. But surprisingly, he told me, "there is not any other hotel for lodging except this hotel." So I booked a room around 3pm. As I was little exhausted after travelling 6 hours by bus, I napped half an hour and then I went to have a cup of tea. Around 4:30 pm, I asked the hotel owner if I can get any good hotel to have my dinner.

He told me to go and check it by now, otherwise the hotel may close very early. I went down to ground floor where there is a hotel and asked the menu and timing for dinner. I told the waitress that I will be coming for dinner around 8pm however she was shocked to hear. She told me to come by 4:30 pm for dinner - if not the hotel will be closed by 5pm. I pleaded her to open till 5pm and had my dinner at 5pm after many years.

After the dinner I went outside to see around and I found the Indian Armies patrolling in the town. The entire town looks deserted with some dim light in the street. The most surprising for me was no people strolling around after the sunset; all the shops, hotel and Paan Dukan are closed after 5pm after the sun set.

If you are in the metropolitan city or any other city in other states in India - I'm sure that you can go out freely in the late night. Even unsafe city for the gals like in Delhi, the hotel, restaurant etc are opened till late night.

Nagaland is one of the state where the least rape and murder cases were recorded but why the people do not go out and the shops and hotels are closed so early? Why the people are fearing to go out after the sun set? Why they are unsafe in the night?

If you go to Kohima, Dimapur, Imphal or Senapati, you would not find any problem or fear to go out and stroll till 7pm or after.

In a beautiful and developing town like Mokokchung - it is sad to learn that people live in fear and it seems it is unsafe after the sun set. As I visit this beautiful town Mokokchung, my heart is weeping deep inside seeing the environment of the town. The town is very beautiful and people are frankly and civilized.

In some other cities in India, people are very rude and uncivilized in many aspects. But why the people in this beautiful town with frankly and civilized people have to close their shops and hotel after 5pm. And why the people do not go out after the sun set? When I see people not going outside after sunset, my impression was only negative.

However I do not know if that is the culture of the people in the town or there is insurgent problems in the town. As a visitor and outsider in this town, I just guess that it may be only due to insurgent problem in the town that people do not go out or have good hotel business in the town.

I wish that if insurgent is the problem for them - the insurgent should now learn the civilians problem and bring peace and safety in the town for the people.

When there is not peace in the town during Cease-fire with NSCN and GOI, can we expect more peace when the Cease-fire will be revoked? There is insurgent problem in other towns in Nagalim (Nagas Inhabited Areas) but not other towns in Nagaland or Manipur seem have such kind of fear since all the shops especially Pan Dukan opens till 7 PM or after.

I have not asked the reason from any local people regarding early closing of all the shops and not having any other lodging in the town. Therefore I cannot give any concrete suggestion or give any comment on this town.

Whatever I have written is my first impression and experiences in the town during my visit. I wish I would know the reasons and talk more people in the town. I am sure that all the people in the town are candid and civilized.

I pray that God may bring a peaceful environment in this town and grant me another chance to visit again next time.