A small Group tour to Kohima & Imphal Led by Robert (Bob) Cook, Curator at Kohima Museum York Special Interest
It was on Kohima Ridge in 1944, that the invasion of India by the Japanese Imperial Army was halted by the bravery of a small garrison of just 1500 British and Indian soldiers, who, although outnumbered by about 10:1, held out for 14 days, until relieved by the British 2nd Division. We are delighted to offer this tour working with Bob Cook of Kohima Musuem. With access to original maps, operational and personal accounts, the Battlefield tour will give you a view of the battle from the perspective of the soldier in the trench, to the battalion commander up to the Divisional and Corps commanders. We hope you will be able to join us on this tour.
Talk by Robert (Bob) Cook - Available to view here
Robert (Bob) Cook
Retired as a Warrant Officer from the British Army after 34 years. His family has a long almost unbroken line of military service dating back alhmost 170 years.
Since retirement from the army Bob has operated a busy Bed & Breakfast in York, U.K. together with his wife. Amongst other interests, Bob is the volunteer curator of the 2nd Infantry Division Kohima Museum Trust also located in York. It was in this role that Bob first visited the battlefields of Kohima in 2008 and has since been back another 8 times leading military and civilian groups to explain and explore the many different aspects of what is probably the most important unknown battle of WW2. During his visits to Kohima, Bob’s knowledge and understanding of the Battle has steadily increased as has his liking for the friendly Naga Hill people of Nagaland in North East India.
In addition to being the curator, Bob is also a Trustee of the Kohima Educational Trust which aims to repay the debt of gratitude owed by the British veterans to the Naga Hill people for their unstinting aid and assistance against the Japanese Imperial Army. One of the ways of repaying this debt of gratitude is by sponsoring the education of the Naga children aged 14 – 16.
Bob is also the deputy chairman of the Burma Campaign Society which aims to improve and enhance the reconciliation between Japan and the U.K. In this role he has also visited Japan in company with a British army veteran of the battle to visit and pay respects to Japanese veterans of the Burma campaign and to visit the grave of Lieutenant General Kotoku Sato who commanded the 31st Japanese Division at Kohima.
Kohima Educational Trust gave out Scholarship to 241 Students - Watch the Video
Narrow Escapes of WW2 - The Siege of Kohima - Watch the Video
10 days from £2,560.00 per person
Day 1: From London To Kolkata
Tuesday 22 March
Departure from London with Emirates Airlines via Dubai. Depart EK002 at 13:40. Departures from Regional UK airports i.e Manchester, Glasgow, New Castle, Gatwick, City airport and Birmingham are available on request, please contact us for details.
If you wish to join the tour but you are living in any other country other than United Kingdom please contact us for prices without International flights.
Day 2: To Dimapur via Kolkata
Wednesday 23 March
Arrive Dubai at 00:04 and connect EK 571 at 02:00, arrive Kolkata at 07:40.
Clear immigration and customs collect your baggage and proceed to Premium Lounge at the airport for rest and relaxation and refreshments before your next flight to Dimapur. Departure for Dimapur will be with Indigo Airlines at 12:55 to arrive Dimapur at 14:25. Meeting, assistance and transfer to Naithu Resorts Dimapur for overnight stay.
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Day 3: Kohima
Thursday 24 March
Early start today for a full day visit to:
-Dimapur Railway Station – Almost unchanged since 1944. Ground briefing. A vital logistic hub for the Allies - Nichuguard – 10 miles from Dimapur – Ground briefing - the gateway to India from the east. A very strategic point
- Zubza – 10 miles from Kohima – Ground briefing. First contact for 2nd Division and first casualties
Continue driving to Kohima and on arrival check in Hotel Vivor for five nights
B, L, D
Day 4: Kohima
Friday 25 March
Full day visit to: Battlefield tours :
- Merema Ridge – Ground briefing. Battlefield overview
- Point 5120 – Naga village
- Kohima Cathedral
- War Cemetery
B, L, D
Day 5: Kohima
Saturday 26 March
Full day visit to: Battlefield tours :
- Mount Pulebadze – requires early start
- Grover Memorial at Jotsoma – Ground briefing
- Viewing platform – Ground briefing
- Khonoma Village – cultural visit
B, L, D
Day 6: Kohima
Sunday 27 March
Visits to Kohima Educational Trust including Orphanage visit. B, L, D
Day 7: Kohima
Monday 28 March
Visit to Museum of the war including
- Revisit War cemetery
- Kohima Ridge and battle for DIS
B, L, D
Day 8: To Kolkata or Imphal
Tuesday 29 March
Leave Kohima after breakfast for Dimapur airport to board Indigo flight at 15:00 to arrive Kolkata at 16:35.
Meeting, assistance and transfer to a city hotel in Kolkata (TBC) , Rest of the day free to rest and relax.
Clients wishing to join the Imphal Extension -
Early departure from Kohima by road to Imphal (4-5 hours). A short stop at Kanglatongbi to explain the significance of the Lion Box Battle. (A small cemetery to explore here as well). Arrival in Imphal, check in at Hotel Classic Grand for 3 nights. I the afternoon visit Kangla fort and General Slims cottage.
B, L, D
Day 9: Kolkata or Imphal
Wednesday 30 March
Morning heritage walk of Kolkata. Visit the High Court and walk past Government House (now Raj Bhawan) built by Lord Wellesley, who said in justification of its enormous cost ‘India should be governed from a Palace, not a counting house.’ Visit St John’s Church (built 1784) with its painting of The Last Supper by Johann Zoffany and its beautiful marble memorials. Outside, in the first Kolkata cemetery, are the tombs of Job Charnock, the founder of British Kolkata, and Begum Johnson, who outlived four husbands. Also here is the Black Hole memorial, erected by Lord Curzon. Walk past the Lal Dighi (the Great Tank), the General Post Office (on the site of the first Fort William), Writers’ Buildings and St Andrew’s Kirk.
Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Clients on Imphal Extension will be on a day visit to Nunshigum Ridge Battlefield, Red Hill Memorials (2 of them The Japanese one and next to it the Imphal Peace memorial), Imphal Museum of the war Co-located with the above memorials and Commonwealth War Cemeteries. B, L, D
Day 10: To London or Imphal Extension
Thursday 31 March
If departing for UK, after an early morning breakfast transfer to airport. Departure from Kolkata by Emirate Airlines flight EK 571 at 08:55, arrival Dubai 12:55 connecting next flight EK003 at 14:30 to arrive London Heathrow at 18:20. Departure timings for regional UK airports may vary from Dubai.
For clients on Imphal Extension, depart for a day visit to site of the Battle of Sangshak. B, L, D
Day 11: Imphal - Kolkata
Friday 1 April
Morning transfer to Imphal airport for your flight to Kolkata. Departure by Air India flight AI714 at 12:40 to arrive Kolkata at 13:35.
Meeting assistance and transfer to a city hotel ( TBC). Rest of the day at leisure.
B, L, D
Day 12: Kolkata
Saturday 2 April
Morning heritage walk of Kolkata.Visit the High Court and walk past Government House (now Raj Bhawan) built by Lord Wellesley, who said in justification of its enormous cost ‘India should be governed from a Palace, not a counting house.’ Visit St John’s Church (built 1784) with its painting of The Last Supper by Johann Zoffany and its beautiful marble memorials. Outside, in the first Kolkata cemetery, are the tombs of Job Charnock, the founder of British Kolkata, and Begum Johnson, who outlived four husbands. Also here is the Black Hole memorial, erected by Lord Curzon. Walk past the Lal Dighi (the Great Tank), the General Post Office (on the site of the first Fort William), Writers’ Buildings and St Andrew’s Kirk.
Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
B, L, D
Day 13: To London
Sunday 3 April
Transfer to airport. Departure from Kolkata by Emirate Airlines flight EK 571 at 08:55, arrival Dubai 12:55 connecting next flight EK003 at 14:30 to arrive London Heathrow at 18:20. Departure timings for regional UK airports may vary from Dubai. B
Itinerary map
Dates & Prices
| Dates | Price per person (Double/Twin share) | Single room supplement |
|---|---|---|
| 22-31 Mar 2022 | £2,560.00 | £248.00 |
- International flights with scheduled Emirate Airlines in economy class. Please contact us if you wish to departure from a regional UK airport and for upgrade to club class
- Internal flights in economy class as per the itinerary with 23 Kg’s checked in baggage.
- Accommodation with private facilities as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Meal Plan: Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the tour. Lunches will be provided in local restaurants. Refreshments will be served at the Premium lounge in Kolkata on arrival from London.
- All transfers and sightseeing arrangements by an air-conditioned chauffer driven small coach or private cars.
- Entrance fee to all monuments and places of interest.
- Services of a local English-speaking guide.
- Services of Mr Robert Cook as tour leader.
- Complimentary mineral water while driving and on sightseeing.
- Full ATOL & ABTA bonding.
- Airline Failure Insurance.
- A contribution of £15 per person will be made to The Kohima Museum & £10.00 will be paid to Kohima Educational Trust.
- E-tourist visa fee for India. On confirmation of the booking we will send a step by step guide how to apply for Electronic Visa for India. Free telephone assistance will also be provided if needed.
- Any expense of a personal nature
- Tips and Gratuities
- Travel Insurance*
Kohima Tour Dates 22-31 March 2022
Imphal optional Extension 31 March - 03 April 2022
Cost for Imphal Extension tour:
Per Person sharing twin or double room £ 635.00
Single room supplement £ 90.00
*Travel Insurance
It is essential to have adequate insurance in place before your departure. This should be appropriate for your age, health and destination you are visiting.
• Make sure it includes comprehensive medical and repatriation cover.
• Make sure it provides cover for your whole trip (whether one day or over a year).
• Make sure it covers you for all activities.
• Disclose pre-existing medical conditions.
• Take your policy number and the 24-hour emergency contact numbers with you.
If you have any doubts about your cover, check with your insurer. Please note Covid-19 cover is now available.
For a competitive quotation please visit https://www.indusexperiences.co.uk/insurance/
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G Ashby - India HolidayI thoroughly enjoyed my tour of Gujarat and congratulate you on the itinerary and organisation. My driver Babu and guide Bheru were both outstanding, I learned a great deal about Gujarat which I had always imagined was mainly desert. The hotel/palace accommodation was superb, once of twice the suites were the size of a footprint of a house! The food was excellent throughout, I had…
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