Ntangki National Park

History

Ntangki National Park is the only national park in the state of Nagaland, in North-East India. In the local areas, it is called ‘Intanki’ by the commoner. Almost a hundred years ago, in the year 1923, the area in Nagaland’s Peren district was declared as a Reserved Forest by the British. The dense jungles were bordered by small hamlets. The colonial rulers took over the administration of the jungle after it became a Reserved Forest. After about 4 years, in 1927, the total area of the forest was expanded by the British authorities. 

Zeliangrong tribe is one of the numerous local tribes who are residents of the forests. An exclusive dialect of their mother tongue is Zeme. The unique term ‘Ntangki’ has been derived from this ‘Zeme’ dialect. 

1975 was the year when the Nagaland State Government awarded the status of ‘Wildlife Sanctuary’ to Ntangki Reserve Forest. Finally, in the year 1993, the forest was elevated to the status of a National Park. 

Useful Information

Total area – 202.02 sq km 

Elevation range – More than 3500 meters 

Latitude –  25.5497° N

Longitude – 93.5206° E

Nearest river – Mikhi River  

Nearby hills – Naga Hills 

Avg. annual rainfall – More than 2500 mm 

Flora of Ntangki National Park

As you go for an expedition of the Ntangki National Park, you would come across numerous large mahogany trees, availing Ntangki holiday packages. Mahogany trees are signature to the dense forests of the reserve, adding gravity to it. There are trees such as palms spread across the vast expanse of the park, increasing its mystic beauty by several notches. 

You could also see lots of bamboo plants in Ntangki National Park. The lush green shades of the bamboo plants enrich the magnificence of the reserve, and you genuinely love exploring the forests, criss-crossing the forest trails with bamboo trees on both sides of the sinewy path. 

Rattan trees are also not uncommon in the Park. You could come across these unique trees in specific regions in the Park. Moreover, you could watch flora species such as Pinus Khasyia and Pinus Caribiae, availing Ntangki tour packages.

Take ample time to dig through the marvels of the forests, in its variegated flora species. For example, a bit of exploration would reveal the scenic brilliance of trees such as Rubia cordifolia and Passiflora edulis. You would also come across the commonly found tree Oroxylum indicum. 

There is no dearth of beautiful flora species in the Park. Trees such as Elaeocarpus ganitrus, Shorea assamica and Panax gensing could be easily seen in Ntangki forests. Also, you could watch flora species like Mesua ferra, Pleoni and Cymbidium tigrinum in huge numbers in different parts of Ntangki. 

Fauna of Ntangki National Park

You would be completely captivated by the wide range of faunal species in the Ntangki National Park in Nagaland. The primary animal species that requires a special mention is the unique hoolock gibbon, which you could notice in one of your Ntangki wildlife packages. The rare species of primates is found mostly in north-eastern parts of India. 

If you are fond of wildlife photography, clicking exciting animals doing different activities, then the serenity of the Ntangki provides you with the perfect environment to practice your hobby. Spotting sloth bears is not very uncommon in the forests, although the principal attractions among the bigger carnivore mammals in Ntangki adventure packages are the tigers. You could also spot leopards in denser regions of specific zones in the forest. 

Wild dogs move in pack in different tracts of the Park. You have to remain careful while availing Ntangki safari tours, following the instructions of a trained guide. A bit of luck could make you spot the wonderful flying squirrels, swiftly moving from branch to branch. Sighting of Mithun, a sub-category of Gaur, is common too. The image of Mithun is Nagaland State Government’s designated official seal. 

As an individual whose passion is birdwatching, you could enjoy a quality time exploring the magnificence of Ntangki forests through Ntangki sightseeing packages. You could spot lots of hornbills. Also, birds such as pheasants and black stors are found in abundant in the jungles. 

Climate of Ntangki National Park

You should never bypass the climactic details of Ntangki National Park when you are selecting a certain time to visit the place, on a solo trip or with your close group of friends. Due to the mountainous nature of the terrain and tropical shades, summers in Ntangki are more or less cool. The maximum temperature rarely crosses 30 degree Celsius. The minimum temperature remains in teens. You could witness a sharp drop in the mercury after late afternoon. Summers are breezy, too. The environment of the Park becomes very comfortable. 

The winters are chilling and you need to take extra precautions to roam in the park on a safari vehicle. Temperatures could dip below 5 degree Celsius at times. It is advised to carry ample winter garments if you plan to visit the park during colder months. 

As far as the monsoons are concerned, the Park receives significant rainfall from July to September. Certain parts in the Park premises might be temporarily flooded during this time. The vegetation of the forests naturally becomes greener and more lust after heavy showers, or even a light drizzle. 

Best Time to Visit Ntangki National Park

Whether you plan for a solo trip to visit Ntangki or chalk out a plan for a family trip, it always helps to know about the best period during the year to visit the lovely Park. 

The veteran wildlife enthusiasts and passionate travelers who have already visited the Ntangki forests more than once recommend visiting the National Park in the period between November to January. Choosing the winter season for your expedition and safari tour via Ntangki family packages is a wise step you can take, as the weather is most suitable to get immersed in the flawless beauty of the jungles. It is crucial to carry a set of warm clothes when you visit the Park in winter. 

You can also choose the summer season, especially April and May months, for a memorable trip to Ntangki. The summer in Ntangki, as said before, is mild and does not give any discomfort to the tourists. The cool breeze and low moisture level in the atmosphere sets the tune of the trip. 

Visiting the Park during rainy season is never recommended. This first reason is the park is closed most of the times during this period. There is no entry for the tourists. Moreover, even if you manage to enter the core zone, the boggy zones with mud water would not let you enjoy the trip as you have planned. 

How to Reach Ntangki National Park

Reaching the Ntangki National Park is obviously one of the main concerns for any traveler. Nagaland is among the most eastern parts of India. It is relatively remote. But, when you have a proper plan for an extensive Ntangki National Park itinerary, it is not an issue to reach the destination safe and sound. There are three traditional ways you can reach Ntangki forests. 

By rail: The nearest railways station to Ntangki National Park is Dimapur. It is only 37 km away from the Park. You can reach Dimapur from Guwahati. Reserve train tickets from Guwahati rail station in Assam to reach Dimapur. After reaching, you can rent a car in from Dimapur station directly to the National Park. 

By road: It is also possible to reach Ntangki by road. You can rent a car directly from Guwahati. But keep in mind the high expenses. If you are on a tight budget, it is better to first reach Dimapur from Guwahati by train, and then hire a car. 

By Air: Suppose you live in South India or any other region of India that is very far away from Ntangki. How can you reach the Park? There is no problem when you avail airways. You can reach the Dimapur Airport from all major Indian airports from any state. It would not take more than 2 hours to land. After reaching the airport, it is quite easy to book a car to your destination. It is recommended to hire the car beforehand so that you don’t have to face any issues after reaching an unknown place. There is also an option for spot booking. 

Connectivity & Distances

Railway station:  Dimapur Railway Station 

Bus Stand: Peren Bus Terminus 

Airport: Dimapur Airport

Nearest city/town: Peren 

Places to Visit Near Ntangki National Park

There are numerous tourist interest places in and around Ntangki where you can comfortably visit on a weekend getaway tour and further enrich your trip with more fascinating range of experiences. 

Japfu Peak – The height of the Japfu Peak is 3048 meters and it is considered to be the second highest mountain peak in the state of Nagaland – you can conveniently visit it on a weekend trip. The mountain is roughly 34 km away from the Ntangki National Park. 

Kohima Zoo – Kohima Zoo is another wonderful place where you can visit in order to enjoy watching different kinds of animals and birds. You have to rent a car from Dimapur to Kohima. 

The Heritage Village of Kisama – It is a marvelous open air museum that provides you excellent insights on the local culture and tradition of Nagaland, as a part of a nice weekend getaway tour package. The architecture of the museum is particularly interesting with its stack of log barrels.