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Nagaland

Doyang Reservoir (Pangti)

A million Amur falcons roost here each Oct-Nov, guarded by villagers who hunted them

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Best time to visit Doyang Reservoir (Pangti)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: October to November
  • Shoulder: December to February, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: June to August

Planning a specific month? OctoberNovember

Doyang Reservoir (Pangti) season by season

Winter December to February Shoulder

Dec-Feb the falcons are long gone (they leave by late November); what is left is a still reservoir under morning mist, some winter waterfowl and quiet Lotha villages.

Summer March to May Quiet, but open

Mar-May the dam level drops and the reservoir shore at 300 m turns hot and hazy; Pangti's ridge at 1,000 m stays cooler, but there is little reason to come before the birds.

Monsoon June to September Mixed, read the detail

Jun-Aug the Wokha hill roads slide and the reservoir sits under rain, so skip it. September is still wet, and the first falcons only appear around the middle of October.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Mid Oct to mid Nov is the whole point: up to a million falcons lift off the roost at first light and pour back at dusk. Be at the tower by 4.30 am; book a homestay ahead.

What Doyang Reservoir (Pangti) is actually like

Lotha homestays in Pangti or the NEEPCO guest house at the dam; birders, a few photographers and guides who walk you out at 4 am.

Getting to Doyang Reservoir (Pangti)

Dimapur air/rail to Wokha by shared Sumo (4h), then a hired jeep 30 km to Pangti (1.5h); Kohima to Wokha is 3h; ILP needed

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
985 m
State
Nagaland
Coordinates
26.2595, 94.3210

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Doyang Reservoir (Pangti)?

October to November is peak season in Doyang Reservoir (Pangti). December to February is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to August. Mid Oct to mid Nov is the whole point: up to a million falcons lift off the roost at first light and pour back at dusk. Be at the tower by 4.30 am; book a homestay ahead.

How many days do you need in Doyang Reservoir (Pangti)?

2 days is the usual stay. Lotha homestays in Pangti or the NEEPCO guest house at the dam; birders, a few photographers and guides who walk you out at 4 am.

How do you get to Doyang Reservoir (Pangti)?

Dimapur air/rail to Wokha by shared Sumo (4h), then a hired jeep 30 km to Pangti (1.5h); Kohima to Wokha is 3h; ILP needed. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Doyang Reservoir (Pangti) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

Is there a festival in Doyang Reservoir (Pangti)?

early Nov: Amur Falcon Festival at Pangti. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Nagaland

All 11 destinations in Nagaland