Dzükou Valley
The Dzükou Valley is a valley located at the border of the states of Nagaland and Manipur. There is two ways of reaching the valley. The entry is from the foothills of Viswema Village and the exit is to the foothills of Jakhama Village both in Nagaland. It can also be reached in five hours of trek from Mt. Isü(Tempü)[1] of Senapati district of Manipur. The new five-hour trek route was opened by MMTA[2] (Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association). This valley is well known for its natural beauty, seasonal flowers and the overall flora and fauna.
The valley is famous for its wide range of flower in every season. But the most famous one is the Dzükou lily. Trek from the former route is about 17 km and takes longer and is less challenging, however mind the stone cut staircases in the middle. The later route is more challenging but you get to reach the guest house in just about 4-5 hours. From the guest house the valley is visible and its just about 45mins walk downhills.
There is a Helipad just next to the Guest house however no service is seen in the last few years.
Dzükou derives its meaning from the Angami/Mao word which translates to "Cold Water" referring to the ice cold stream that flows through the valley. Mao [3]is a border town of Manipur bordering with Nagaland. Mao Gate is popularly known at Mao, the last town of Manipur before reaching Nagaland's border. In Mao the word dziikou mean like dream because of its mystic charm and beauty. Mao legend said that when lovers go to Dzükou the night also turns like day and moonlit shines as of the sun. It is situated at an altitude of 2452 m above sea level, behind the Japfü Peak located in Nagaland. The rare Dzükou Lily is found only in this valley.[4] It can also be reached from Nagaland's Viswema village in two hours and from Jakhama by tracking it take 4-5 hours[5] while it takes five hours from Mt. Isü of Manipur's Senapati district.
Ownership
The lion's share of Dzükou valley lies in Manipur. Reacting to the encroachment[6] of Dzükou valley in Manipur by Nagaland, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh urged the Surveyor General of India to help demarcate the interstate boundary. Ibobi Singh also wrote [7]the issue of the encroachment to the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.
Nagaland have claimed the area as an integral part of their state. The political area of Manipur covers a major part of this valley while the inhabitants and etymology of the valley is Angami Tribe of Nagaland.
On 27 June 2015 Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang rejected the proposal from the Manipur Government to resolve the issue and stated that it is an internal conflict between two tribes. With the help of the center, they will practice Naga customary laws to come to conclusion.[8]
How To Reach
There are many NGOs and adventure tour operators, who organize treks to the Dzükou Valley.
References
- ↑ "The Assam Tribune Online". www.assamtribune.com. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ↑ "New Dzükou trekking route inaugurated". Eastern Mirror. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ↑ "Senapati District, Government of Manipur, India". senapati.nic.in. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ↑ http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-fHdioUc_cqKgu9oWPzHcfkGnxA--?cq=1&p=12
- ↑ "New Dzukou trekking route inaugurated". Eastern Mirror. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ↑ "Manipur to approach Surveyor General on Dzuko Valley row - The Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ↑ "Ibobi sends team to Dzuko Valley". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ↑ http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.News_Links.News_Links_2015.Zeliang_rejects_help_on_Dzukou_20150627 TR Zeliang on Dzükou Valley