Kohima War Cemetery

Kohima War Cemetery in Kohima (celebrated globally across military history as the memorial of the 1944 Battle of Kohima, officially voted by the British National Army Museum as 'Britain's Greatest Battle', maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission across Garrison Hill where the DC bungalow and tennis court stood, world famous for the 'Battle of the Tennis Court' where Allied British and Indian forces fought hand to-hand across court lines to halt the Japanese invasion of India, 1,420 marked Commonwealth graves, 917 Hindu and Sikh soldiers commemorated on the cremation memorial, towering granite Cross of Sacrifice, and the moving Kohima Epitaph), located at the heart of Kohima in Nagaland, stands as Nagaland's most poignant landmark.

Between April 4 and June 22, 1944, a small garrison of 1,500 British, Indian, and Naga warriors held off 15,000 Japanese soldiers of the 31st Division across these terraced slopes, marking the turning point of the Burma Campaign and the Pacific War.

It's the home of the white concrete line marking the historic DC tennis court where opposing trenches were separated by meters, manicured terraced lawns with rosebeds, the 2nd Division Memorial bearing the famous inscription 'When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today', panoramic views over Kohima town, and an intensely peaceful, deeply solemn monument atmosphere filled with quiet reverence and mountain breezes.

It represents a rich Nagaland World War II history, Commonwealth war memorial heritage, and solemn historical tourism where Garrison Hill terraces, tennis court lines, Kohima epitaphs, and city walking tours unite in Kohima War Cemetery.

Located along Main Town Road on Garrison Hill, it sits 1 km from Kohima Peace Market, 74 km from Dimapur Railway Station (DMV) and Airport (DMU), 12 km from Kisama Heritage Village, and 20 km from Khonoma, easily reached in 5 minutes by local taxi or on foot from Kohima city center.

The Battle of the Tennis Court & The Turning Point

The Battle of the Tennis Court represents one of the most intense close quarter battles in military history, where British and Indian soldiers of the 4th Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment and Assam Regiment fought at point blank range across the tennis court net.

The bravery of local Naga scouts and villagers was instrumental in supplying ammunition and carrying wounded soldiers down sheer jungle precipices under heavy mortar fire.

Truth is, reading the heartfelt epitaphs carved by grieving mothers, wives, and comrades on bronze headstones will bring tears to your eyes.

The Famous Kohima Epitaph & Cross of Sacrifice

The Immortal Kohima Epitaph: Inscribed on the 2nd Division memorial stone, the words 'When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today' have become a universal symbol of wartime sacrifice recited worldwide on Remembrance Day.

Cremation Memorial & Cross: At the highest terrace stands the soaring Cross of Sacrifice alongside the Cremation Memorial honoring 917 Hindu and Sikh soldiers of the Indian Army whose mortal remains were cremated according to their faith.

Kohima Historical Heritage Day Circuit Plan

The Historic City Circuit: Morning visit to Kohima War Cemetery (8:30 AM to 10:30 AM: pay respects, inspect tennis court line, read epitaphs) -> walk to Cathedral of Kohima / Mary Help of Christians (11:00 AM to 12:00 PM) -> lunch in town -> Nagaland State Museum & crafts center (1:30 PM to 3:30 PM) -> Kisama Heritage Village & WWII Museum (4:00 PM to 6:00 PM).

Cemetery Etiquette: As a sacred international military resting ground, maintain complete quiet, refrain from playing music, and keep to the stone pathways without treading upon grave plots.

After honoring the fallen heroes at Kohima War Cemetery, visit Cathedral of Kohima, explore Kisama Heritage Village, or tour Khonoma Green Village.