Longwa Village, where residents enjoy dual citizenship of India and Myanmar

Years ago, when my flatmate first told me that there’s a village in her district, Mon, in Nagaland, where you can sit in the village chief’s kitchen and play footsie with India and Myanmar, I looked at her in disbelief and for obvious reasons. I found it funny because I didn’t believe it then, but now I do. The remote village of Longwa in Mon district in Nagaland is one interesting place we all need to visit at least once in our lifetime. In Longwa, you can be in India and Myanmar at the same time!


Longwa is easily one of the largest villages in the district, and the village chief or the Angh is the ruler here. But what’s most interesting about this place is the fact that the international border that separates India and Myanmar runs right through the Angh’s house! My friend’s words made sense when I saw the possibility of playing around with the international border. No wonder the residents of Longwa village have dual citizenship.

A resident of Longwa village can roam freely in both India and Myanmar



Longwa’s Angh is one of the seven Anghs within Mon district. The Anghs exercise control over a number of smaller villages, some of which lay in Mon, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. Together they have very strong customary, traditional and cultural relations.



Before we go any further, it should be clear that the residents of Longwa village belong to the Konyak Naga tribe, the last of the headhunters in India. The practice of headhunting was culturally important to the Konyak tribe. When rival tribes fought, whichever tribe won, brought back home the heads of their enemies as a gesture of power, might, prosperity and believe it or not, fertility. This tradition ended in around 1960.

The rich culture and tradition of the Konyak Nagas bring many tourists to Mon district. And Longwa is one of the villages most frequented by travellers, who are curious to learn more about the Naga culture and traditions, and to see with their own eyes how the residents of this remote village enjoy dual citizenship like it’s nobody’s business.

1. Where is Longwa village?
   Longwa Village is located in Mon District in Nagaland.
2. Do all residents of Longwa village have dual citizenship?
   Yes, the residents of Longwa village enjoy the dual citizenship of India and Myanmar.
3. Is Inner Line Permit required to visit Nagaland?
   Yes, an Inner Line Permit (ILP) is required for Indian (Domestic) tourists entry into Nagaland.