GH Damant Tomb

4.5

Location: Upper Circular Rd, Khonoma, Nagaland 797002, India.

Visiting time: 1-2 hours.

In memory of Mr. G.H. Damant, a memorial stone is erected here, who was a political officer of the Naga Hills. Mr. Damant was shot dead on 13th October 1879 by Naga villagers. A British officer Major Cook was also dead by Naga villagers during an assault, later, on 22nd November 1879. In memory of Major Cook, a memorial stone is also erected. For a native officer Subedar Nurbir Sahi, another memorial stone is also erected here, a Subedar Major of 44 Sylhet Light Infantry, the 8th Gorkha Rifles. On 22nd November 1897, He died here during an assault.

Attraction

It is a major tourist attraction in Khonoma. Kohima is a Khonoma village that houses the G H Damant Tomb Monument, a war memorial in Khonoma, which is situated 20 km west of the hilly capital of India’s northeastern border state of Nagaland.

History

The Kohima is the village of A. Z Phizo, Father of the Naga Nationalist Movement, was reputed for their courage and valor. It has its own share of brushes with history. The last stand of the Naga warriors was made in 1879 against the British. G H Damant, major C R Crook, lieutenant HH Forbes, and Sub-major Nurbir Sai, who died fighting the Nagas in Khonoma are commemorated by a simple white pillar. From the independence-loving Nagas, who had never been conquered by any empire before, the British incursions into the Naga territory, beginning in the 1840s, met with stiff resistance. It took nearly four decades for the British to conquer a territory that is less than 10,000 square kilometers and the stiffness of the resistance can be gauged by that fact. As the Headquarters of Naga Hills District appointed G. H. Damant as Political Officer in 1879, Kohima was the first seat of modern administration.

Inside/Outside Views

From the outside, it will give a monument vibe to its viewers. After entering the monument one can see the monumental tombs.

Opening Hours

With no specific timings, G H Damant Tomb Monument, Kohima is open for all seven days of the week for its visitors.

Entry & Others Fees

No entry fee is required to get access inside this monumental tomb.

Near Restaurants

Near Hotels

How to Reach

From Kohima, Khonoma is a 20 km bumpy drive, the last stretch having mesmerizing views of the terraced fields. Traveling by road in Nagaland is protesting as well as a back-breaking journey. One can easily reach Khonoma in a taxi from Kohima, which is the quickest but also the costliest way of getting here. INR 700 is the required amount one has to pay in this way. From Kohima’s Main Town Center to Khonoma, bus services are offered by the government. However, on this route, the bus frequency is really weak. So, before you plan to travel to Khonoma, you should check the timings of the bus day.

By Air: Having frequent flights from all over the country, The state airport is in Dimapur, however mostly via Kolkata. From Dimapur to Kohima, one needs to cross a journey of approximately 3 hours.

By Rail: From Khonoma, the nearest railway station is in Dimapur. One can board a connecting train from Guwahati to Dimapur, as your train might not be directly going to Dimapur. The rest of the country is well connected to Guwahati.

By Road: Kohima is well-connected to major cities in North-East India, Guwahati, and Shillong. From Kohima, Guwahati is 352 km and Shillong is 414 km. Khonoma is at a distance of 20 km from Kohima.