4/5 Jayati D. 8 months ago on Google • 23 reviews
Dzukou
Valley:
Journey
through
the
enigmatic,
magical
valley
that
straddles
the
borders
of
Nagaland
and
Manipur!
After
1.5
hours
of
strenuous
ascent
from
Viswema
on
a
sunny
but
somewhat
cloudy
day,
the
valley
slowly
began
to
open
up.
As
we
took
in
the
beauty
of
Dzukou
amid
the
clouds
and
dazzling
sun
reflecting
into
the
valley's
grassland,
we
continued
to
hike
for
3
more
hours.
As
we
approached
the
trekkers'
hut,
we
were
welcomed
by
the
most
spectacular
sunset
we
had
seen
in
a
while.
It
was
windy,
sunny,
and
filled
with
lovely
summer
clouds.
In
the
heart
of
this
grass
valley,
light
rays
fell
on
the
golden
ash
purplish
greens
through
the
white
clouds.
As
we
settled
into
our
cottage
room
at
the
Dzukou
point,
the
air
grew
chillier
with
sunset
and
the
weather
grew
more
overcast.
As
we
sat
and
talked
in
front
of
the
bonfire,
we
began
preparing
for
dinner.
The
fire
undoubtedly
kept
us
warm
throughout
the
evening.
The
mysterious
valley
made
us
reflect
and
think,
as
if
we
went
in
a
state
of
spirituality,
emotions
running
high.
I
felt
really
liberated,
as
if
I
could
dance
around
the
valley
by
some
magical
power
that
resided
on
every
air
of
Dzukou,
and
at
the
same
time
felt
the
soulless
lifelessness
of
Dzokou,
it
almost
makes
you
scared,
at
unease.
Dzokou,
which
in
the
local
Angami
Mao
dialect
means
"cold
water,"
gets
its
name
from
the
valley's
stream,
Kezo
L,
which
the
Angami
mythologies
claim
has
magical
healing
properties.
The
following
morning,
we
continued
our
exploration
of
the
valley
by
hiking
through
the
enigmatic
grassland
in
the
middle
of
the
clouds
that
sat
on
the
valley's
crown
and
along
the
banks
of
the
Kezo
L.
The
afternoon
sun
was
shining
through
the
thicker,
heavier
clouds,
but
it
was
dark.
The
yellow-green
grass
was
reflecting
every
valley
corner
and
messing
with
our
eyesight.
As
the
valley's
clouds
grew
darker,
the
rain
got
heavier,
and
thunderous
sounds
made
us
feel
uneasy,
we
had
to
return
quickly—within
four
hours.
After
the
return
hike,
we
stopped
at
the
Trekkers
Hut
kitchen
to
prepare
our
meal
and
spent
a
significant
amount
of
time
conversing
and
singing
with
locals.
Around
dusk,
we
headed
back
to
our
lodging
to
get
ready
for
our
bonfire,
cook
some
khichri,
and
relax
a
little.
Because
of
how
mysterious
Dzukou
is,
we
are
still
unsure
of
how
to
interpret
anything
we
experienced
during
the
three
days
we
spent
hiking
and
staying
in
the
valley.
The
second
evening,
everyone
in
the
group
was
abnormally
quiet,
experiencing
many
various
environmental
unexplained
disturbances,
feeling
very
deeply
inside,
and
dissociating
from
the
people
around
us.
It
was
almost
like
being
in
a
trance
once
more.
As
soon
as
the
night
was
over,
we
hiked
back
to
Kigwema.
After
a
satisfying
meal
and
a
good
night's
sleep,
we
felt
revived
and
released
from
the
ethereal,
enigmatic
atmosphere
of
Dzukou
Valley.
When
we
began
to
discuss
our
own
thoughts
of
the
valley
throughout
our
stay,
we
discovered
that
everyone
felt
the
same,
strange
feeling.
Few
things
were
unexplainable,
but
it
was
undoubtedly
something
different.
After
witnessing
the
enchanted
beauty,
which
at
times
might
seem
soulless,
I
can
say
that
it
is
absolutely
worthwhile
to
travel
to
and
explore
the
spectacular
one-of-a-kind
valley.
In
addition
to
being
incredibly
beautiful,
it
was
also
terrifying.
In
a
paradoxical
way,
the
location
was
both
liberating
and
unchanging.
From
a
sunny
to
a
cloudy
day,
the
scenery
changed.
It's
an
experience
I'll
definitely
repeat
at
least
a
few
times.
I
became
more
interested
in
the
location
as
a
result
of
the
tales,
legends,
and
happenings
we
learned
about
the
valley
when
we
did
some
research
and
inquired
around.
P.S.
The
hikers
hut
is
not
hygienic,
so
pack
your
essentials
before
going
there.
If
you
are
hiking
from
Viswema,
a
guide
is
not
necessary
because
the
trail
is
rather
straightforward
and
generally
simple.
#travelindiagram
#nagaland_northeast_india
#dzukouvalley
#loveeveryday
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