Naga Land is the land at Sagaing Division, North-West of Myanmar near India Border, where Naga Hill Tribes are living. Khamti, LayShe, Lahe, NanYun are the Naga's Towns. The snow-capped Mt Sarameti on Naga Hills is 3,828 metres high. Unfrequented by man, the area invites adventurers. With airports Kalaymyo and Khamti serve as base camps for tours.

The name Naga embraces a number of Indo Mongoloid tribes who speak a distant Tibeto Burman Language and live in the mountain regions of the India and Myanmar border. The Patkai Range in Northern Myanmar is home to the country estimated 100,000 Nagas. There are round about 64 clans in Naga Tribes and for centuries they have been fighting among themselves and other people in their region.

Nagas traditionally build their villages on the summit of a hill or spur running off a mountain range 3,000 or 4,000 feet above sea level. They sought this hilly type specially for defense purpose and build protective strongewall dyke of fence. Most Naga enjoy hunting as a sport as well as means of obtaining meat. They hunt tigers, leopards and wild boars with guns and spears aided by dogs. Traps are used for samll animals and birds.

Traditionally fierce warriors and until recently headhunters. The Nagas have defended their land against incursions by invaders. Unlike the Was, who took human skulls to safeguard their society and crops. The Nagas killed for personal glory and for the glory of their villages. The practice of head hunting is believed to have died out in the past twenty years. Although Nagas would not buy skulls like the was sometime did, slaves were bought to be decapitated for their skulls and their heads were hung in baskets high in bamboo groves with arrow driven through the eye sockets to ensure that the ghost would protect the village.

The elder wears two large white shells over his ears. A sign of great wealth and standings, so distant from the coast, shells were historically used by hill people as a form of currency and are still highly prized by many ethnic group in Myanmar.

The derivation of the name Naga is not very clear, but believe it comes from the Sanskrit word Naga, means mountain and in form Naga comes from the word Nok means people in some Tibeto Burman language. The Nagas celebrates their New Year festival, every year in January. Men and women from various clans would pours into the town of Khamti on the Chin Dwin river, a few miles walk from the Indian border. Young Naga Men would stay in a bachelor house or "Morung" which is decorated with carved snakes or animals.

A Naga chief would sits with his warriors for an official ceremony. The dyed red monkey fur plume distinguishes him on his headdress and a vast array of cowry shells adorning his costumes and sash, a sign of great wealth in the clan. Every Naga village traditionally contains a Morung, a sleeping place for unmarried men who go there as boys from the age of six or seven. Unmarried boys and girls work together for long period in the fields and are allowed to choose their marriage partner, although a bride price is common.

In recent years, however, many Nagas have become Christians, their indigenous religion is still strong. Almost all traditional religious ceremonies are designed to protect and increase crops. Nagas proscribe many activities on certain days on religious grounds, the most important ceremony is the individual or village during which works and contact with the outside world are avoided. Some Nagas believe that good souls go to a place towards the sun, while the evil is destined for a terrible place in the direction of the sunset.

Naga Traditional New Year Festival celebrates annually on 14 & 15 January. For further information please contact Rubyland Tourism uayekyaw@rubyland.com.mm Website: www.rubyland.net