Naga Hills, Location, Ophiolites, Wildlife, and Cultural Significance

The Naga Hills, situated in Nagaland and adjoining areas of northeast India and northwestern Myanmar, form a key segment of the Indo-Myanmar Ranges. Characterized by rugged hill terrain, rich biodiversity, and unique geological formations, the region represents an important convergence of tectonic, ecological, and cultural systems in South and Southeast Asia.

Naga Hills Location and Extent

• The Naga Hills are part of a complex mountain system in northeast India and northwestern Myanmar.
• Inside India, they are mainly in Nagaland, with extensions into Manipur and parts of Arunachal Pradesh.
• In Myanmar, they extend into the Sagaing region.
• The hills are part of the Arakan Range and rise up to 12,552 feet in the north.
• They trend NE–SW as part of the Indo-Myanmar Ranges (IMR) and are considered extensions of the Andaman–Indonesian Island arc southwards and Tiding ophiolites of the eastern Himalayas northwards.

Read about: Purvanchal Hills

Naga Hills Topography and Geological Features

• The Naga Hills consist of low-lying hill ranges in the IMR, with narrow segments of ophiolitic rocks.
• Ophiolites: Pieces of oceanic plate thrusted onto continental edges, providing a window into mid-ocean ridge processes.
• The Naga Ophiolites near Pungro, Nagaland are declared a National Geological Monument by the Geological Survey of India.
• The ophiolite sequence shows Mesozoic to Cenozoic magmatic and sedimentary rocks, accretionary wedge metasediments, and post-orogenic sediments.
• Tectonically, the region displays NE-SW trending en-echelon slices of ophiolite, bordered by the Naga Metamorphic Complex and the Disang flysch.

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Naga Hills Biodiversity

The Naga Hills lie within one of the 18 mega-biodiversity hotspots of the world and include four Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and four Important Bird Areas (IBAs), such as Satoi Range, Mount Ziphu, Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary & Saramati Area and Pfutsero-Chizami. The region hosts numerous endemic and red-listed species, including:

• Birds: Blyth’s Tragopan (Ayigah), Rufous-necked Hornbill
• Mammals: Western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock)
• Reptiles: Asian Brown Tortoise (Manouria emys), Mouhot’s Box Turtle (Cuora mouhotii)
• Amphibians: Megophrys wuliangshanensis, Amolops viridimaculatus, Rana humeralis, Rhacophorus gongshanensis
• Plants: Areca nagansis, Begonia wattii, Rhododendron wattii, Capillipedium nagense, and several other species endemic to Nagaland

Read about: Lushai Hills

Naga Hills Culture

The Naga Hills are inhabited by various Naga tribes, known for their rich oral traditions, folklore, and cultural practices. These traditions historically helped communities understand and respect nature, guiding conservation of forests, wildlife, and natural resources. Over time, modernization has led to a decline in these oral traditions, weakening the connection between people and the environment. Despite this, areas like Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary and other community reserves continue to protect both the cultural heritage and natural biodiversity.