Khonoma, incidentally, has also been home to some of the most illustrious Nagas, including A.Z. Phizo, the founder of the Naga movement for a sovereign state, T. Sakhrie, a well-known advocate of non-violence, and former chief minister J.B. Jasokie among others.

With the Khonoma idea a success, the state government has taken the plan to about half a dozen villages around Kohima in the last few years. Touphema, chief minister Neiphiu Rio’s village, is one such centre. Last week, Union Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar stayed over for a night in Touphema, about 40 km from Kohima, and said rural tourism could actually change the entire economy of the Northeast.

And as one listens to Khrieni Meru describe how she has opened a bank account of her own, the telephone rings. “It must be from a travel agency in Guwahati or the state tourism department,” she said, expecting another booking.