He comes from the land of the wilds where people are still comfortable in the skin of our forefathers and five years ago, not many would have given ‘Tourism’ a good thought,
especially when you are just twenty one during that time. But Shepha Wangnao Konyak broke the norms of young people his age, when his ‘ Mountain View ’ resort was set up in the heart of Mon.
And this is where the adventurous life of a Konyak-at-heart started, a Tour Operator functioning in the entire North East with the exception of Manipur, the obvious reason being the ‘situation’. “It is very interesting, you meet people from all over the world” he begins.
But why Mon? And he answers without hesitation that “because tourism wise, people are focusing on Mon now”. With more probing, he tells you “there’s originality there.” And that reminds him of something grim that he doesn’t wish to dwell on but for the sake of tourism, he regretfully expresses that “there are no hotels in Mon and the only Government Guest House is in a very horrible condition”.
Tourism, he says is a Big Industry now. Only thing, he wishes that the department focuses on the Tourist Lodge. “They should see if people are really working there” he puts forth and almost regrets to say “I wonder if anybody lives there at all.” Speaking on behalf of the likes of him, he says “sometimes we feel frustrated. We advertise and bring people because we want to promote tourism but it’s not only me”. “Feedbacks would be on the overall reaction of the state” he expresses. They don’t tell me ‘you are very good but rather your people are very good’ when they leave.
However, on the other side of the picture is that “People are ready to come but the problem is permits, insurgency and they are scared. Otherwise, they want to come and invest” he continues while turning his attention to sensitizing our people on tourism. “We should organise seminars. Especially in places like Tuensang and Mon, people have to be aware of what tourism is” he emphasizes.
Talking from experience, he feels that Nagas in the remote areas know very little about Tourism. There are endless questions like “why did they come? Why pose for a picture with them again? What do they want? And because he is in a company that deals with international tourists and organize tours for foreigners, these are questions, he repeatedly answers over and over again.
At this point of time, it must seem a little unfair to pose another query in front of him but I was curious why he doesn’t deal with Naga Tourists or for that matter, Indians, to which end, he’s quick to reply “the difference between foreigners and our people is that we serve the foreigners their packages and they are okay with it, whereas our people won’t come on time, they have sleeping problems etc.” And I share his sentiments because etiquettes and discipline are surely lacking here with our people.
Another thing that seems bothering him is that “so many educated people from Mon who have graduated or post-graduated from cities like Delhi keep commuting to Kohima every year for NPSC examination and they return home just the way they leave, like an annual routine”. “We have to expose ourselves, we have a lot of things, resources in Nagaland” he reflectively says while detesting the craze for government jobs.
And yet, the sound of ‘Mountain View Resort’ gives warmth to a cold evening in Kohima. Four Cottages and four tents, Swiss-like seem too much of an attraction in the wilds of the East Nagaland. The Resort, he enlightens can accommodate about 15 people and ‘we give it out on twin sharing basis’ he says. I’m sure the foreign tourists are only too glad to pay $120 to $130 for the indigenous food, comfortable bedrooms besides getting to see the panoramic view of Mon and the surrounding villages.
And if that weren’t enough, motorcycle tours in the state, trekking, fishing, angling, birding are activities that any adventure lover wouldn’t want to miss. Also on the offing are adventure sports, rock climbing and paragliding. He seems pretty enthused to put across that he has taken up educational tour just recently and is looking forward to the group that’s coming in November from the United States .
He has mostly dealt with French over the years and that has also motivated him enough to start learning the French Language. With his team of 15 other Tour Guides, they have regularly entertained retired people from the West “because young foreign tourists are into beaches and stuff. They want to come but they want to be free without having to deal with permits, etc” he enlightens.
One may not want to miss out that when you go to Mon, you’ll see ‘this is how our forefathers’ used to live because people still live in Morungs’ as he puts it and in a few villages like ‘Shinghachinggyu’ they still preserve skulls from the headhunting days.
There are Chief Anghs. ‘Things are changing now’ he says but “those days, heads were brought to them during the headhunting days” and “we still respect them” he expresses. Tattooed faces must serve as a striking feature of the Konyaks and although he discloses that it is a vanishing trait now, sure, it’s something that the modern world has somehow learnt to depict.
And if this Young Tourist Operator is here in Kohima, it’s also my luck to have been enlightened a lot about Mon, besides his real purpose of traveling to the State Capital. Also, lest I forget, it may be pertinent to add that October through April is the peak Season for the Tourists to flow into this land of many an adventure with Aoling Festival serving as the richest of times.
At 26, Shepha has pretty much seen a lot of the world in its literal sense. Happily married and also a young father of a daughter, he has toured the length and breath of many an exciting places but his heart still remains intact with his origin, perhaps the only place in Nagaland where you’ll still get to see Kings living the tradition they’ve perhaps always been proud of.
especially when you are just twenty one during that time. But Shepha Wangnao Konyak broke the norms of young people his age, when his ‘ Mountain View ’ resort was set up in the heart of Mon.
And this is where the adventurous life of a Konyak-at-heart started, a Tour Operator functioning in the entire North East with the exception of Manipur, the obvious reason being the ‘situation’. “It is very interesting, you meet people from all over the world” he begins.
But why Mon? And he answers without hesitation that “because tourism wise, people are focusing on Mon now”. With more probing, he tells you “there’s originality there.” And that reminds him of something grim that he doesn’t wish to dwell on but for the sake of tourism, he regretfully expresses that “there are no hotels in Mon and the only Government Guest House is in a very horrible condition”.
Tourism, he says is a Big Industry now. Only thing, he wishes that the department focuses on the Tourist Lodge. “They should see if people are really working there” he puts forth and almost regrets to say “I wonder if anybody lives there at all.” Speaking on behalf of the likes of him, he says “sometimes we feel frustrated. We advertise and bring people because we want to promote tourism but it’s not only me”. “Feedbacks would be on the overall reaction of the state” he expresses. They don’t tell me ‘you are very good but rather your people are very good’ when they leave.
However, on the other side of the picture is that “People are ready to come but the problem is permits, insurgency and they are scared. Otherwise, they want to come and invest” he continues while turning his attention to sensitizing our people on tourism. “We should organise seminars. Especially in places like Tuensang and Mon, people have to be aware of what tourism is” he emphasizes.
Talking from experience, he feels that Nagas in the remote areas know very little about Tourism. There are endless questions like “why did they come? Why pose for a picture with them again? What do they want? And because he is in a company that deals with international tourists and organize tours for foreigners, these are questions, he repeatedly answers over and over again.
At this point of time, it must seem a little unfair to pose another query in front of him but I was curious why he doesn’t deal with Naga Tourists or for that matter, Indians, to which end, he’s quick to reply “the difference between foreigners and our people is that we serve the foreigners their packages and they are okay with it, whereas our people won’t come on time, they have sleeping problems etc.” And I share his sentiments because etiquettes and discipline are surely lacking here with our people.
Another thing that seems bothering him is that “so many educated people from Mon who have graduated or post-graduated from cities like Delhi keep commuting to Kohima every year for NPSC examination and they return home just the way they leave, like an annual routine”. “We have to expose ourselves, we have a lot of things, resources in Nagaland” he reflectively says while detesting the craze for government jobs.
And yet, the sound of ‘Mountain View Resort’ gives warmth to a cold evening in Kohima. Four Cottages and four tents, Swiss-like seem too much of an attraction in the wilds of the East Nagaland. The Resort, he enlightens can accommodate about 15 people and ‘we give it out on twin sharing basis’ he says. I’m sure the foreign tourists are only too glad to pay $120 to $130 for the indigenous food, comfortable bedrooms besides getting to see the panoramic view of Mon and the surrounding villages.
And if that weren’t enough, motorcycle tours in the state, trekking, fishing, angling, birding are activities that any adventure lover wouldn’t want to miss. Also on the offing are adventure sports, rock climbing and paragliding. He seems pretty enthused to put across that he has taken up educational tour just recently and is looking forward to the group that’s coming in November from the United States .
He has mostly dealt with French over the years and that has also motivated him enough to start learning the French Language. With his team of 15 other Tour Guides, they have regularly entertained retired people from the West “because young foreign tourists are into beaches and stuff. They want to come but they want to be free without having to deal with permits, etc” he enlightens.
One may not want to miss out that when you go to Mon, you’ll see ‘this is how our forefathers’ used to live because people still live in Morungs’ as he puts it and in a few villages like ‘Shinghachinggyu’ they still preserve skulls from the headhunting days.
There are Chief Anghs. ‘Things are changing now’ he says but “those days, heads were brought to them during the headhunting days” and “we still respect them” he expresses. Tattooed faces must serve as a striking feature of the Konyaks and although he discloses that it is a vanishing trait now, sure, it’s something that the modern world has somehow learnt to depict.
And if this Young Tourist Operator is here in Kohima, it’s also my luck to have been enlightened a lot about Mon, besides his real purpose of traveling to the State Capital. Also, lest I forget, it may be pertinent to add that October through April is the peak Season for the Tourists to flow into this land of many an adventure with Aoling Festival serving as the richest of times.
At 26, Shepha has pretty much seen a lot of the world in its literal sense. Happily married and also a young father of a daughter, he has toured the length and breath of many an exciting places but his heart still remains intact with his origin, perhaps the only place in Nagaland where you’ll still get to see Kings living the tradition they’ve perhaps always been proud of.
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