Intanki National Park, in Peren district, Nagaland, is the state’s only national park: a block of tropical rainforest best known as a refuge for the western hoolock gibbon. It sits roughly 37 km from Dimapur, and it is a working conservation forest rather than a polished safari park, so a visit takes planning, a Nagaland Inner Line Permit, and written entry permission from the forest authorities.
Intanki National Park (also spelled Ntangki or Intangki) is a rainforest reserve of about 200 sq km in Peren district, Nagaland. It protects hoolock gibbon, hornbills and other forest wildlife. Non-residents need an Inner Line Permit for Nagaland, plus separate written permission to enter the park itself.
Key takeaways
- Intanki (Ntangki) National Park is Nagaland’s only national park, covering about 200 sq km in Peren district; the earlier sanctuary was notified at 202.02 sq km.
- It lies about 37 km from Dimapur and 40 km from Peren town; Dimapur holds Nagaland’s only airport and only railway station, so almost every traveller routes through it.
- All non-residents (Indian and foreign) need an Inner Line Permit to enter Nagaland; as of November 2026 the online tourist ILP costs ₹200 (domestic) or ₹500 (foreign), each valid 30 days, per ilp.nagaland.gov.in.
- Separate written permission from the park authorities is required to go inside the forest; notices warn that entry without it can lead to arrest.
- The park is a rainforest refuge for the western hoolock gibbon; in 2022 Asian forest tortoises were reintroduced here with the Turtle Survival Alliance and WCS India.
- The cool, dry months from November to March are the usual window to visit; the forest is humid and heavily rained-on in the monsoon.
About Intanki National Park
Intanki National Park is the only national park in Nagaland, set in the hills of Peren district in the state’s southwest. The Peren district administration describes it as spread over about 200 sq km of thick rainforest, with mountains, cliffs and dense forest. The name appears in several spellings, Intanki, Ntangki and Intangki; all refer to the same forest. Do not confuse it with Dzüko valley or other Naga attractions sometimes mixed up with it online.
The forest has a long administrative history. According to published accounts, it was first notified as a reserved forest in 1923 and enlarged in 1927, declared a wildlife sanctuary by the Government of Nagaland in 1975, and upgraded to a national park in 1993. Press reports and the 2023 government agreement below give its area as 202 sq km, close to the 202.02 sq km recorded for the earlier sanctuary.
It is important to be honest about the park’s condition. This is not a developed tourism park with a ticket counter and jeep safaris. It is a conservation forest under pressure from encroachment, logging and poaching, and parts have been the subject of long-running land disputes. In October 2023, during Wildlife Week, the Nagaland Forest Department and 16 surrounding villages signed a four-point agreement, under the theme “Partnerships for Wildlife Protection,” to curb hunting and poaching and pursue eco-development. Commissioner and Secretary Y. Kikheto Sema, who initiated it, noted that the state owns only about five percent of Nagaland’s land, so community support is central to protecting the park.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Peren district, Nagaland, India |
| Area | About 200 sq km (earlier sanctuary notified at 202.02 sq km) |
| Status | Nagaland’s only national park |
| Habitat | Tropical and semi-evergreen rainforest, bamboo, wild banana |
| Flagship species | Western hoolock gibbon; also hornbills, tiger, sloth bear |
| Distance | About 37 km from Dimapur; about 40 km from Peren town; about 111 km from Kohima |
| Entry requirement | Inner Line Permit for Nagaland + written permission from park authorities |
Best time to visit
The cool, dry stretch from November to March is the sensible time to plan a trip to Intanki National Park. Travel guides consistently point to these months, when the forest is drier underfoot and the humidity eases; the monsoon brings heavy rain and leeches, and movement on forest tracks becomes difficult. Nagaland’s famous Hornbill Festival near Kohima also falls in the first week of December, which is why many travellers combine the two.
Because no official month-by-month climate normals are published specifically for the park, treat the table below as general planning guidance, not precise forecast data.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (best) | November–February | Cool, drier, easier walking; pairs with the December Hornbill Festival |
| Spring/early summer | March–April | Warming up, still workable; forest greening |
| Monsoon (avoid) | May–September | Heavy rain, high humidity, leeches, slippery tracks |
| Post-monsoon | October | Transitional, rain tapering; conditions improving |
How to reach Intanki National Park
You reach Intanki National Park by travelling first to Dimapur, which holds Nagaland’s only commercial airport and only railway station, then driving roughly 37 km to the park area. There is no direct public transport to the forest gate, so you arrange a taxi or self-drive from Dimapur, ideally with a local contact who knows the approach roads in Peren district.
Specific train names and flight schedules change often. Reconfirm current flights on the airline sites and trains on the IRCTC and NTES portals before you book; do not rely on old timetables.
| Mode | Gateway | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Air | Dimapur Airport (DMU), Nagaland’s only airport, with flights to Kolkata, Guwahati and connections onward | Taxi about 37 km to the park area in Peren district |
| Rail | Dimapur railway station, on the Lumding–Dibrugarh line and Nagaland’s only station | Taxi about 37 km to the park area |
| Road | Dimapur hub; Kohima is about 88–111 km away by road | Hired taxi or shared vehicle toward Peren; confirm the route locally |
If you are planning a wider Northeast trip, our Nagaland travel guide sets out how Dimapur, Kohima and the rest of the state link up, which helps you slot the park into a realistic route.
Wildlife and what to expect
Intanki National Park is above all a refuge for the western hoolock gibbon, the rainforest ape whose calls carry through the canopy at dawn. Published species lists and the 2023 government agreement name wild buffalo, hoolock gibbon, elephant, tiger, sloth bear, wild dog and flying squirrel; wider accounts add hornbills, golden langur, python, monitor lizard, Asian palm civet and black stork. A widely repeated line that the hoolock gibbon is “found only in Nagaland” is incorrect, so ignore it; the species ranges across several Northeast Indian states.
The park has also seen active conservation work. According to accounts of a 2022 project, Asian forest tortoises (Manouria emys, a large forest-floor tortoise) were reintroduced here in collaboration with the Turtle Survival Alliance and the Wildlife Conservation Society India.
Set expectations realistically. Dense rainforest means wildlife is heard more than seen, sightings are never guaranteed, and the park does not run organised safaris the way Kaziranga or Manas do. Think of a visit as quiet forest birding and gibbon-listening with a local guide, not a game drive.
Permits and rules: ILP and park entry
Two separate permissions matter here. First, every non-resident needs an Inner Line Permit (ILP) simply to enter Nagaland; second, you need written permission from the park authorities to go inside the forest itself.
The ILP is required under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, for anyone from outside the state. Nagaland moved the system online, and you apply through the official portal at ilp.nagaland.gov.in. The portal’s own fees page lists, as of November 2026, a fresh domestic tourist ILP at ₹200 and a foreign tourist ILP at ₹500, each valid for 30 days, with payment-gateway charges added on top. Documents are simple: for Indian tourists, a recent photo and one ID (Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, bank passbook or ration card); for foreign tourists, a photo, passport (both sides) and a valid visa or protected-area permit. The governing notification cited by the portal is Home Department Notification No. HOME/ILP-36/01/2024/284, dated 14 August 2025.
Entry to the park is the stricter part. According to notices issued by the Intanki National Park authorities (reported by Eastern Mirror in December 2016 and reiterated since), no one may enter the reserved forest without prior written permission from the competent authority, stating the specific purpose of the visit, and violators risk arrest and confiscation of belongings. Gatherings and picnics along rivers and streams bordering the park are also barred. There is no published online tourist booking; the practical route is to write in advance to the park’s Field Director or the Peren forest office and wait for written approval. Reconfirm the current procedure and any contact details directly with the Nagaland forest department before you travel.
| Permit | Who needs it | Where / cost |
|---|---|---|
| Inner Line Permit (ILP) | All non-residents of Nagaland (Indian and foreign) | ilp.nagaland.gov.in; ₹200 domestic / ₹500 foreign, 30 days, plus gateway charges |
| Park entry permission | Anyone entering the forest | Written permission from park/forest authorities; no published fee |
| Foreign-visa note | Foreign tourists | Passport (both sides) + visa or PAP uploaded with the ILP application |
| Photography/drones | All visitors | Confirm camera and drone rules with authorities; drones over forests generally need clearance |
Where to stay
There is no developed tourist lodging at the park gate, so most visitors base themselves in Dimapur, roughly 37 km away, and make a day trip. Dimapur has the widest choice of hotels in the area, from budget lodges to a few mid-range business hotels; Peren town has far fewer, simpler options. The figures below are indicative planning estimates for 2026, not quoted tariffs, and you should reconfirm rates at the time of booking.
- Budget (indicative ₹1,000–₹2,000 a night): simple lodges and guesthouses in Dimapur.
- Mid-range (indicative ₹2,500–₹5,000 a night): business hotels in Dimapur with reliable rooms and food.
- Homestays (indicative ₹1,500–₹3,000 a night): village homestays in Peren district, where available, are the most authentic base and worth arranging through a local contact in advance.
Book ahead around the first week of December, when the Hornbill Festival pulls visitors into the Dimapur–Kohima corridor and rooms fill quickly.
Food to try
Naga food is the real draw around the park, built on smoked meats, fermented flavours and fiery chillies. Treat the park area itself as having little to no roadside food, so eat in Dimapur or carry supplies. Dishes worth seeking out include:
- Smoked pork with bamboo shoot (pork slow-cooked with fermented or fresh bamboo shoot, a Naga staple).
- Axone (fermented soybean, used as a pungent base for pork and chutneys).
- Galho (a one-pot rice porridge with vegetables and often smoked meat).
- Anishi (fermented, dried yam or taro leaves, cooked with pork, an Ao Naga speciality).
- Raja mircha / king chilli (one of the world’s hottest chillies; used sparingly in chutneys, handle with care).
Carry plenty of drinking water, since safe refills are scarce near the forest.
Budget breakdown
A visit to Intanki National Park is inexpensive on paper but logistics-heavy, because you pay for a private vehicle rather than cheap park safaris. The table below is an indicative planning estimate for one person on a two-day trip based out of Dimapur, as of November 2026, assuming shared costs for the taxi; reconfirm every figure before you commit.
| Item | Indicative cost (₹) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Inner Line Permit | 200 | Domestic tourist, 30-day; ₹500 for foreign nationals |
| Accommodation (1 night) | 1,000–3,000 | Budget to mid-range in Dimapur |
| Local taxi / vehicle (share) | 1,500–3,000 | Dimapur–park round trip; depends on group size |
| Food (2 days) | 600–1,200 | Eating mostly in Dimapur |
| Guide / miscellaneous | 500–1,500 | Local guide, water, buffer |
| Approx. total | 3,800–8,900 | Excludes long-distance travel to Dimapur |
Practical tips
- Sort permissions first. Apply for your ILP online before you reach Nagaland, and arrange written park entry permission well in advance; do not turn up at the forest without it.
- Go with a local. Access roads, village boundaries and the security situation around the park are best navigated with a trusted local guide or operator.
- Connectivity and cash. Mobile network and UPI can be patchy in rural Peren district; carry enough cash, as ATMs are concentrated in Dimapur.
- Health. The nearest reliable hospitals are in Dimapur; carry a basic kit, insect repellent and any personal medicines, and in the monsoon expect leeches.
- Solo women travellers. Nagaland is generally regarded as welcoming, but for a remote forest like this, travel with a guide or group, keep someone informed of your plans, and avoid the forest fringes after dark.
- Respect the forest and communities. No hunting, fishing or littering; much of Nagaland’s land is community-owned, so follow local guidance and seek consent before photographing people.
- Pack by season. Light cottons plus a warm layer for cool winter mornings; sturdy, grippy shoes year-round; a rain shell and leech socks in the wetter months.
Nearby places
Intanki National Park pairs naturally with Nagaland’s better-known stops, most reached via Dimapur and Kohima. The distances below are approximate road distances; confirm them locally.
| Place | Approx. distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Dimapur | ~37 km | Gateway city; the ancient Kachari ruins and the state’s main transport hub |
| Peren town | ~40 km | District headquarters; base for exploring Zeliang Naga country |
| Kohima | ~88–111 km | State capital; WWII War Cemetery and, in December, the Hornbill Festival |
| Kohima–Dimapur corridor | varies | Villages, markets and viewpoints covered in our Nagaland guide |
For a fuller route that strings these together, see our Nagaland travel guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Intanki National Park located?
Intanki National Park is in Peren district in southwest Nagaland, India. It lies about 37 km from Dimapur and roughly 40 km from Peren town. Dimapur, which has Nagaland’s only airport and railway station, is the usual gateway, and the park area is reached from there by road.
Do I need a permit to visit Intanki National Park?
Yes, two permissions. Every non-resident needs an Inner Line Permit to enter Nagaland, applied for online at ilp.nagaland.gov.in. Separately, you need written permission from the park authorities to go inside the forest; notices warn that entering without it can lead to arrest. Arrange both before you travel.
What is the Inner Line Permit fee for Nagaland?
As of November 2026, the official Nagaland ILP portal lists a fresh tourist permit at ₹200 for domestic visitors and ₹500 for foreign visitors, each valid for 30 days, with payment-gateway charges added. Apply at ilp.nagaland.gov.in with a photo and ID (passport and visa for foreigners). Reconfirm fees before applying.
What wildlife can I see at Intanki National Park?
Intanki National Park is best known for the western hoolock gibbon, and published lists also include hornbills, tiger, sloth bear, wild buffalo, elephant, wild dog, flying squirrel and golden langur. In dense rainforest, wildlife is heard more than seen and sightings are not guaranteed; there are no organised jeep safaris as at larger parks.
What is the best time to visit Intanki National Park?
The cool, dry months from November to March are the usual best window, when tracks are drier and humidity eases; this also overlaps the December Hornbill Festival near Kohima. Avoid the monsoon (roughly May to September), when heavy rain, humidity and leeches make the rainforest hard going. These are general guidelines, so reconfirm conditions locally.
Is Intanki National Park set up for tourists?
Not in the conventional sense. Intanki is a conservation forest facing encroachment and poaching pressures, without a ticketed safari system or gate-side lodging. Entry needs written permission, and most visitors base in Dimapur and travel in with a local guide. Treat it as quiet forest birding and gibbon-listening, not a developed wildlife-tourism destination.
Last updated and sources
Intanki National Park suits patient, low-key travellers who care about rainforest and primates and are willing to handle permits and logistics, ideally paired with a December trip to the Hornbill Festival. Go in the cool, dry season, and sort both the ILP and written park permission well ahead.
Last updated: 4 November 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Peren district administration (peren-district.nic.in), Ntangki National Park page; Nagaland Inner Line Permit portal (ilp.nagaland.gov.in), About, Fees and Document-checklist pages, and Home Department Notification No. HOME/ILP-36/01/2024/284 dated 14 August 2025; NENow and Morung Express reports on the October 2023 Forest Department–villages MoU; Eastern Mirror (December 2016) notice on restricted entry to the park; Down To Earth reporting on encroachment and access; Wikipedia (Ntangki National Park) used to locate the park’s notification history, species list and the 2022 Asian forest tortoise reintroduction (citing Hindustan Times, 2022); travel and transport references for Dimapur air and rail connectivity. Accessed November 2026.
