Zunheboto Town

Zunheboto Town is the headquarters of Zunheboto District in central Nagaland, situated at about 1,850 metres elevation. It is the cultural centre of the Sumi Naga tribe and known for the Sumi Baptist Church, Zunheboto, one of the largest Baptist churches in Asia. Surrounded by forested hills and valleys including the Satoi Range, the town offers insights into Naga heritage, traditional festivals, and natural landscapes, serving as a base for exploring nearby bird sanctuaries and villages.

Visitors can expect a small hill town set on ridges and valleys with panoramic views of surrounding forested hills. The town centre has administrative buildings, local markets, shops and eateries, with the prominent Sumi Baptist Church on a hilltop. Surroundings include terraced fields, villages and forested areas. Visitors can explore local markets for handicrafts and produce, observe Sumi Naga cultural elements, visit viewpoints and churches, and use the town as a base for short treks and birdwatching in nearby sanctuaries.

Zunheboto was developed as the headquarters of Zunheboto District after Nagaland attained statehood in 1963. It lies in the traditional homeland of the Sumi Naga tribe and grew as an administrative and Baptist missionary centre during the 20th century, which shaped its modern townscape and institutions.

Cultural and religious centre of the Sumi (Sema) Naga tribe, predominantly Baptist Christian. The town is known for festivals such as Tuluni and Ahuna, traditional folk songs, dances, woodcraft and textiles, and for the Sumi Baptist Church, Zunheboto, a major religious landmark for the community.