Nagaland Adventure Club organises an expedition exploring the state's highest motorable road at 2,800 metres.
KOHIMA — The Nagaland Adventure Club (NAC), in collaboration with the Jotsoma Village Council and Jotsoma Nature Conservation and Eco Tourism, organised an adventure expedition on Saturday to explore what it described as the highest motorable road in Nagaland, situated at an altitude of about 2,800 metres above sea level.
The adventure trail, titled "Explore the Highest Motorable Road in Nagaland", traversed the route from Pulie Badze Chahe Ki to the base of Mt Japfü. The expedition was flagged off at Kohima Science College Junction, Jotsoma, by Toka E Tuccumi, Joint Director of the Department of Tourism, Nagaland.
Addressing the participants, Tuccumi said nature tourism was not merely about tourism resources but was closely connected with Naga identity, culture, and way of life.
He said Nagaland was blessed with mountains, rich natural resources, forests, and pristine landscapes, giving the state immense potential to promote ecotourism, nature tourism, and adventure tourism.
However, he stressed the need to pursue tourism in a responsible and sustainable manner. Tuccumi also called on the participants to respect nature during the expedition.
"Let's not take anything from nature but also take good memories. Let's not leave anything for nature, but let's all leave a footprint," he said.
He thanked the Nagaland Adventure Club for collaborating with the Department of Tourism and wished the participants and organisers an enjoyable and memorable adventure trail.
Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by Burakum Ao, President of the Nagaland Adventure Club, while the trail briefing was presented by Peter Rutsa, Convenor of the NAC Adventure Trail.
Rutsa said the Nagaland Adventure Club, a government-registered club founded in 2010, had been promoting rural adventure tourism and responsible outdoor activities.
He said the idea for the expedition emerged after a group of young adventure enthusiasts took him to the Kezoltsa area along the Nagaland-Manipur border, which they initially believed was the highest motorable road in Nagaland.
"After reaching home, getting on the internet, measuring the altitude, things like that, which is easily possible on Google Earth now, we found out that, no, the road leading to Japfu Peak by our Jotsoma Village Council, was the highest. It is about 2,800 metres," Rutsa said.
He acknowledged that the altitude was based on Google Earth and might not be completely accurate but said the measurement was expected to be within a margin of about five to 10 metres.
Rutsa said the NAC subsequently approached the elders and leaders of the Jotsoma Village Council to seek collaboration for the expedition.
He clarified that the expedition was not a competition or race and did not involve prize money but was intended to allow people to explore places with proper guidance and as a group.
Meanwhile, Melie Nakhro, President of the Jotsoma Nature Conservation and Eco Tourism, while welcoming the NAC and participants on behalf of the people of Jotsoma, said the organisation was honoured that the Pulie Badze range had been chosen as the destination for the adventure trail.
He said Pulie Badze was not merely a mountain range but a source of pride that carried the stories and history of the Jotsoma community.