Khezhakeno sits at an elevation of 1,660 meters (5,446 feet) above sea level along the Kapamüdzü Range in Phek District, Nagaland, located 48 km southeast of Kohima and 23 km south of Pfütsero, directly on the Nagaland-Manipur inter-state border.
In Naga oral historiography, Khezhakeno is revered as the ancestral home and dispersal point of the Tenyimi family of tribes—including the Angami, Chakhesang, Mao, Poumai, Maram, Rengma, and Zeliangrong—who lived together here before branching out across Nagaland and Manipur.
According to folklore, founding chief Koza and his wife Kola possessed a flat stone slab (Tso Tawo) where any basket of paddy placed to dry would magically double by sunset. To prevent deadly fighting among their three sons over turns, the mother burned the stone with straw and chaff, cracking the rock and prompting the brothers to migrate peacefully in different directions.
Chida Lake (also known as Loho Lake) is located at Chida Post, approximately 4 km east of Khezhakeno village center at an altitude of 1,850 meters on the Kapamüdzü border ridge between Nagaland and Manipur.
Yes. All domestic Indian citizens must possess a valid Nagaland Inner Line Permit (ILP), obtainable online at ilp.nagaland.gov.in. Foreign travelers require Foreigner Registration (FRO) in Kohima or Dimapur within 24 hours of arrival.
No. There are zero ATMs in Khezhakeno village. The nearest ATMs are in Pfütsero town (23 km) or Tadubi (14 km). Travelers must carry sufficient physical cash for all expenses.
The best time to visit is from October to April. October and November offer golden ripe paddy terraces, December to February brings crisp sunny days and hearth culture, and late April features the colorful Tsükhenyie festival.
Driving from Kohima via the Viswema–Kidima–Zuketsa road (48 km) takes approximately 2.0 to 2.5 hours by car or taxi. An alternate route via Pfütsero (85 km) takes 3.0 to 3.5 hours.
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