Jowai

Jowai
Jwai
Town
The serene Thadlaskein Lake is located at the outskirts of Jowai town
The serene Thadlaskein Lake is located at the outskirts of Jowai town
Jowai is located in Meghalaya
Jowai
Jowai
Location in Meghalaya, India
Jowai is located in India
Jowai
Jowai
Jowai (India)
Coordinates: 25°18′00″N 92°09′00″E / 25.30000°N 92.15000°E / 25.30000; 92.15000
Country India
StateMeghalaya
DistrictWest Jaintia Hills
Government
 • MLAWailadmiki Shylla (NPP)
 • MPMr. Vincent Pala (INC)
Elevation
1,380 m (4,530 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total28,430
 • Density77/km2 (200/sq mi)
Languages
 • RegionalPnar, Khasi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
793 150
Telephone code91 03652
Vehicle registrationML-04
ClimateCwb

Jowai (IPA: ʤəʊˈwaɪ) is the headquarters of the West Jaintia Hills district of the state of Meghalaya, India, and is home to the Pnar, a sub-tribe of the Khasi people. It is located on a plateau surrounded on three sides by the Myntdu river bordering Bangladesh to the south (about 50 km from the Indo-Bangladesh border). Due to its high altitude of 1365 m above sea level, Jowai experiences warm summers with cool to chilly winters.

Jowai is an important business and education hub for the entire district, catering to local students as well as those from the adjacent parts of Assam and Bangladesh. It is well equipped with infrastructure including schools, colleges, hospitals, and a postal service. As with the Nongphlang (Khynriams), Pnars too have a matriarchal society where daughters inherit the family property.[citation needed]