A novel project, Nagaland Offroad, was launched today at the Chief Minister’s Residence, Kohima, as part of the ongoing 23rd Hornbill Festival.

The project is an initiative of the Department of Tourism in partnership with Wander Beyond Boundaries (WBB) to promote off-road tourism in Nagaland.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio launched the guide book and website of Nagaland Offroad and flagged off the Nagaland Offroad expedition.

Speaking at the launch event, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio lauded the team for taking up the challenge and developing the project. Encouraging the travellers to explore the interiors of Nagaland, he said: “It is worth facing difficulties to experience the rich heritage, traditions, arts, food and culture because unless you go to the interior and most cornered parts of the state, you will not know Nagaland.”

Advisor H Khehovi Yepthomi and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

Advisor of Tourism, Art & Culture, H Khehovi Yepthomi declared that the state is ready to do things differently and progressively position itself at the forefront of change by being bold in offering new products and experiences to reinvent travel.

Yepthomi said tourism is integral to Nagaland’s position as a vibrant and connected hub that enables not just the exchange of goods and services but also the exchange of ideas experiences and talent.

He further commended the core team who have shown great tenacity amidst many adversities and acknowledged the partners, Wander Beyond Boundaries, for the hard work and effort put in to make the project launched on time.

“We can proudly announce the fruition of our labour in the form of Nagaland Offroad and the tangible outcomes in the shape of the interactive and very impressive first of its kind off-roading app and the diligent and robust information powerhouse guidebook.”

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Advisor H Khehovi Yepthomi and the Nagaland Offroad team.

The tourism advisor further said the state would remain committed to supporting the project and everyone engaged in building new capabilities and breaking new ground.

Although the state’s geography limits the enabling of an effective connectivity, ideas such as Nagaland Offroad effectively help in turning the shortcomings into larger benefits, he added.

Nine 4×4 equipped vehicles ready for the Nagaland Offroad expedition.

Inviting the travellers to the interiors of Nagaland, Yepthomi said remote Nagaland is beautiful and Nagas do not lack in any aspect when it comes to culture and hospitality.

He proclaimed that the state is visioned to position itself as a top sustainable and innovative destination in terms of the abundance of land and natural landscapes.

“Our value proposition of the state comes from intangibles such as naturally gifted terrain conducive for exploring the state in one’s own pace, unmatched abundance of culture and vibrant ecosystem that facilitates effective partnership and empower our local villages,” Yepthomi said.

Nidhi Salgame, Founder & Director of WBB.

Founder & Director of Wander Beyond Boundaries (WBB) Nidhi Salgame said the team had spent 297 days in the field and that it was the people they met in the villages who kept the team committed to the project, keeping a distance between “Nahi sake ka and sake ka”.

She expressed her gratitude to the state and its people, particularly of the remote areas, for making Nagaland Offroad a reality.

Following the launch programme, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio flagged off the Nagaland Offroad expedition and nine 4×4 equipped vehicles drove off for the off-road adventure.