Dimapur district is an administrative district in the Indian state of Nagaland. Located in the western part of the state, it is the commercial and industrial hub of Nagaland and contains the state's only railway station and airport. Its headquarters is the city of Dimapur, which lies on the plains adjoining Assam.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| State | Nagaland |
| Country | India |
| Headquarters | Dimapur |
| Region | Northeast India |
| Major river | Dhansiri |
| Neighbouring state | Assam (to the west) |
Unlike most of Nagaland, which is hilly, Dimapur district is largely a plain, forming part of the Brahmaputra valley's southeastern fringe. The Dhansiri river flows through the district. To the west and north it borders Assam, while to the east it adjoins the hill districts of Nagaland, including Kohima district and Peren district. The relatively flat terrain has made Dimapur the gateway to Nagaland for road, rail and air traffic.
Dimapur district is administered by a Deputy Commissioner. The district is subdivided into administrative circles and sub-divisions including Dimapur Sadar, Chumukedima, Medziphema, Niuland, Dhansiripar and Kuhuboto, several of which were later reorganised. In 2021, parts of the district were carved out to form the new Chumoukedima district and Niuland district, reducing the territorial extent of Dimapur district.
The name Dimapur derives from the Kachari (Dimasa) terms, often interpreted as "city near the great river". The area was historically associated with the medieval Dimasa Kachari kingdom, and ruins of brick structures and stone monoliths from that period survive at Dimapur.
Administratively, Dimapur was part of Kohima district until it was constituted as a separate district of Nagaland in 1997. Owing to its plains location and railhead, Dimapur grew rapidly in the late twentieth century to become the largest urban centre in Nagaland.
Dimapur is the most populous and most ethnically diverse district in Nagaland. While the indigenous Naga communities, including the Sumi, Ao, Angami, Lotha and Rengma, form a significant share of the population, the district also has substantial communities of Dimasa Kacharis, Bengalis, Assamese, Marwaris, Nepalis and other groups, reflecting its role as a commercial centre. Christianity is the predominant religion, with sizeable Hindu and Muslim minorities. English is the official language; Nagamese, an Assamese-based creole, is widely used as a lingua franca.
Dimapur is the principal centre of trade, industry and services in Nagaland. The district hosts wholesale markets, small-scale manufacturing units and the state's main commercial establishments. Agriculture, particularly rice cultivation on the plains, remains important.
Major institutions located in the district include the School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development (SASRD) of Nagaland University at Medziphema, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Research Complex for the Eastern Himalayan Region's Nagaland centre at Jharnapani, and several colleges affiliated to Nagaland University. The headquarters of the 3 Corps of the Indian Army is located at Rangapahar in the district.