Nagaland Mystery Diaries - Dzukou Valley

Nagaland is a place engulfed in mysteries, inhabited by vibrant people, mountains, valleys, and forests. One of the many mysteries that attracts people to Nagaland is the lesser know valley of flowers in Nagaland – Dzukou Valley!
Dzukou Valley offers some of the best trekking circuits in the country. The bounties of nature spread across the valley carry a mystic touch which turns as real as air the moment you see the first view of the valley. No matter how strange and unreal they sound, the myths surrounding this beautiful and exotic valley are as much part of its soul as it’s flora and fauna and the water in the stream flowing across it. And if you ask me, I’d say these legends and myths give the valley its well-deserved aura of the divine unknown.
I talked about Dzukou to almost every local person I met there. These are the stories which the Naga people inherit from their ancestors as a lullaby.

The name ‘Dzu-kou’ means cold waters.
It is called so because the valley is so cold that those who visit are chilled to the soul. An old folklore also says that while their ancestors were looking for a suitable place to establish a village, a young scout was sent to this duty. He found the valley but it was too cold, uninhabited, nothing edible grew and there were no trees in the vicinity. It was initially called Phephee but the name changed to Dzukou.

It is said that white elephants roam around the expanse of the valley and only a few people have witnessed it. Sadly, in spite of staying there for 3 days, I couldn’t see any (not even the footsteps).

The clean water of the stream that flows through the valley is said to have healing effects. The locals believe that the water is so clean and pure that drinking it purifies the whole body.

Men who visit the Dzukou and suddenly fall sick while there are often told to leave immediately because apparently, there is a beautiful female spirit who lives there and takes a live male every year.

Legend says that there is a vast dense forest secretly hidden behind the valley and all kinds of animals roam there freely. The people living near the valley don’t disclose this to anyone in fear of hunters.

The ancients believed that the spirits of departed people travelled along the banks of the river Kezo L on their journey to the spirit world. Kezo L means ‘Dark River’ as the water is dark, clear and cold.