Jowai Tourism – An Ultimate Travel Guide, 2023

Among the Khasi people, Jowai is home to the Pnar subtribe. It serves as the district headquarters for the West Jaintia Hills region of the state of Meghalaya, India. The Myntdu river, which borders Bangladesh that is surrounded on three sides by the south, encircles the plateau where it is situated. Jowai is 1365 metres above sea level, so it experiences pleasant summers and cool to frigid winters. For the entire area, Jowai is a key centre for business and education, serving both local students and those from Bangladesh’s bordering Assam regions as well as those from places nearby. Schools, colleges, hospitals, and a post office are all part of the infrastructure that is well-developed in this area. In a matriarchal society, like the Nongphlang, daughters take over the family’s possessions in Pnar culture. At a distance of sixty-six kilometres from Shillong, Jowai, which is part of the Jaintia Hills region, is renowned for its picturesque location, amazing sights, and the ideal fusion of ancestry and culture. Jowai, like Cherrapunji, takes pride in being a popular location for picturesque drives and featuring lakes, waterfalls and vast wide valleys. On the banks of the river Myntdu, Syntu Ksiar is a well-liked location in addition to the Thadlaskein Lake and Lalong Park that are well-known tourist attractions. Many visitors come from all over India each year to celebrate festivals including Behdienkhlam, Chad Sukra, and Laho Dance. Jowai does not provide more amenities to its tourists because it is a secret place. Although there aren’t many places to stay in the area, it’s still a good idea to reserve ahead of time or remain in Shillong and travel to Jowai by day. The best time to visit Jowai is at the end of the year or the first half of the year since the weather is pleasant and suitable for excursions.

What Makes Jowai So Famous?

The area has a rich melting pot of civilizations, which is reflected in the way of life of the locals. Jowai’s primary draw is its lakes. Contrasted with Shillong’s Elephant Falls are Tyrshi Falls. The vicinity of the waterfall and a swath of lush paddy fields are connected by a flyover. The Pynthor Nein may be seen from the bridge in a stunning scenic perspective. It will be a great adventure to hike to the base of the falls. Placed in the Amlarem Civil Sub Division, Krang Suri is one of Jowai’s most stunning waterfalls. Jowai is quickly developing into a major tourist destination because of its exceptional natural beauty, rich cultural diversity, and locals. Jowai is also blessed by nature with fascinating and distinctive vegetation and wildlife. Jowai is a desirable tourist destination because of the town’s lakes, its stunning natural surroundings, and its rich local culture and heritage. In the region, Jowai is a significant centre for commerce and academics.

Best time to Visit Jowai for Tourism

The best months to travel to Jowai are October through November and March through July. Jowai is a very damp area, thus the best times to visit to appreciate its beauty are from October through November and from March through June. The time is right now for tourists to relish Jowai because the weather is fairly nice. Since Inundations and landslides frequently arise in Jowai during the monsoon, it is not recommended to travel there at this period. Jowai’s High Season is from March through May. The bustling time of year in Jowai is the summer, which lasts from March through May and draws a sizable count of visitors. More amenities are not available to tourists in Jowai.

Things to do in Jowai

  • Weekend Getaway at Thadlaskein Lake: In order to flee the onslaught of the ruling Jaintiapur ruler of the time, the inhabitants of over 300 tribes dug Thadlaskein Lake, a human-made body of water. The Raid Mukhala tribe still worships the lake, which is fed by a year-round spring. They also perform annual sacrifices close to the water source. About sixty kilometres from Jowai, Thadlaskein Lake is a great weekend retreat from the city. To get here and take part in recreational boating and picnics on the lake, visitors can easily rent a car. The lake area is a haven for environment enthusiasts, encircled by lush meadows and gorgeous plants and animals. There is also a tourist home nearby that offers good amenities and a friendly welcome to visitors.
  • Walk Across the Thlumuwi Stone Bridge: The Jaintia Kings initially constructed the Thlumuwi Stone Bridge across the Muwi river to serve in order to transition from their winter palace in Jaintiapur and their summer capital in Nartiang. When an elephant tried, it broke to cross it after more than five hundred years of use. Travellers now use the modern stone building, which was constructed a little over a century ago, and it is today made of stone, to get to the neighbouring Thlumuwi Falls.
  • Explore the Beauty of Syntu Ksiar: Locals claim that a lady by the name of Syntu killed herself by plunging into the Myntdu river. In the area where she saturated, it is said that a lovely golden flower has grown so large that nobody can seem to pick. A shrine to Nangbah has also been built in Syntu Ksiar, which is recognised for being the focal point of the struggle for freedom he led. Families frequently visit this location for picnics and to unwind in the natural beauty of the area. There are many fast food restaurants nearby that are perfect for treating yourself to a munch or two.
  • Tour Umlawan Caves: The Koti Sati and Umskor Caves are joined to the Umlawan Caves in Lumshnong Village, a deep and expansive cave in Meghalaya. The caverns, which are more than hundred metres hollow and twenty one kilometres long, are renowned for their stunning shapes, which were made possible by the countless stalactites and stalagmites that can be found there. One of the cave accesses is located inside Lumshnong hamlet, and the locals use it as a place to do their laundry. There are twenty four additional vertical and horizontal openings, therefore the distance between any two points inside the cave is only one hour.
  • Explore the Nartiang Monoliths: The Nartiang Monoliths are located in the Nartiang Village, which is well-known for the Summer Palace wreck that is perched atop this hill; a nearby Hindu shrine honouring the goddess Durga is also located here and is frequently visited by local believers. Some of the ancient buildings in the area are made of several stones that date back to various historical periods. The monoliths chronicle the eras in which the tribal monarchs erected them here and provide valuable clarification on the historical relevance of this location.
  • Trek to the Tyrshi Falls: Travellers can take in breathtaking scenes of the paddy valley that can be seen from many angles. from the bridge that connects Tyrshi Falls to the lush rice fields of Pynthor Nein. In order to observe the milky liquid from the waterfalls cascading down from a beautiful peak, tourists typically choose to journey to the foot of the cascade across this truss bridge. Due to Tyrshi Falls’ intense flow, tourists are frequently doused by the falls’ water with a fair distance away on the flyover.
  • Relish Water Sports at Krang Suri Falls: A thirty-minute hike up a rocky road from the parking area in the Amlarem hamlet to Krang Suri waterfall will bring you to the waterfall, which has a serene atmosphere and is located in an unusual place. Travellers get to take in spellbinding scenes of the pouring water coming from the falls’ crest as it cascades down the woodlands and eventually ends up in more compact waterfalls while on the journey to the falls. The administrative government has provided restrooms and change areas for people who wish to engage in water sports activities in this area. The majority of guests frequently can’t resist jumping in the water because it is always so appealing. However, wearing a life vest is required, and one should consider the water’s chilly temperature before diving in.
  • Boat Ride on Jarain Pitcher Plant Lake: As its name proposes, the Jarain Pitcher Plant Lake is well-known for being situated in the middle of a 50,000 square metre garden full of carnivores and critically imperilled pitcher plants. To enable guests to see these species up close, the lawn is filled with pebbled walks and truss bridges. A lake’s centre is home to a massive fountain that is formed like a pitcher plant is also there. Once visitors have finished admiring the unusual pitcher plants, sail trips are among the most well-liked activities they want to carry out on the Jarain Lake.
  • Enjoy a Picnic at Ialong Park: Among one of the most well-liked tourist destinations in the area is the Ialong Park. The local government continuously develops nature tourism in this region, which is most renowned for its dedicated forests and stunning vistas of the Pynthorbah Valley, as part of the Special DRDA Tourism Project in order to draw in more visitors and even natives. To make it easier for those who would like to invest more time amidst the hypnotic enchantment and lush slopes of Ialong Park, the park, which spans about thirteen hectares, features cosy home stays. Everyone who visits Jowai ought to make time to take in a minimum of one sunset at the park.

Itineraries for Jowai Tour

You can choose your ideal Jowai Tour plan from our list of Jowai Tour Packages.

How do we reach Jowai

You can reach Jowaiby road, rail or flight.
By Road
By Rail
By Air

Although Jowai is well connected by road, there aren’t many buses that travel this route. On a location along National Highway 44, which connects Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, and some portions of Tripura, is Jowai. Using joint traveller transportation from Tata Sumo and Tata Indica is the most practical option to go by road to Jowai. The price of transport is relatively affordable, and tourists can even rent and spend the day driving vehicles exploring at their own pace.

Guwahati is home to the closest railroad station. The distance from Shillong is 104 kilometres, and it has excellent access to all the main Indian towns. In order to accommodate railway advents in Guwahati, Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) has bus services scheduled.

Assamese cities Shillong and Guwahati, which are close by, both have airports, which allow visitors to arrive via plane from other areas of the nation, but Jowai lacks direct aviation connections. The airport at Shillong, which is roughly 60 kilometres distant from Jowai, is the closest one. Although it is roughly 104 kilometres away, Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport has a greater count of flights to and from other Indian cities.

Languages
History
People

There are many people who live in Bangladesh and Meghalaya, an Indian state who speak the Pnar language, an Afroasiatic language. In addition to Pnar, this language also goes by the names Jowai, Khasi, Penar, Synteng, and Jaintia. Shangpung, Jowai, Raliang, and Batau are only a few of the twelve dialects of the Jaintia language. This language is spoken in its Jowai dialect, which is the norm. The Jaintia and Khasi Hills are home to a sizable population of people who are exceptionally good orators. The administration of Meghalaya, an Indian state has designated this language as its formal tongue, and it is even utilised for governmental and administrative functions. Additionally, this language has a high rate of literacy, indicating that its speakers are enlightened in it and have been using this idiom as their first language for some time.

The background of Jowai Town, which serves as the local cultural and economic hub, dates back to the era when the Pnar rulers ruled the area with absolute power. Positioned at the base of the winding Myntdu River, nearby Syntu Ksiar is a significant historical location. There is a memorial there honouring Kiang NongBah, the most well-known Jaintia independence soldier. Following the British era of Indian sovereignty, Jowai has served due to the political and economic hub of Jaintia Hills. As told by a legend, the Jaintia Hills were not a part of the Khasi Hills’ domain and were not ruled by any Khasi monarchs. They were governed independently by the Jaintia monarchs, who lived in the Surma valley town of Jaintiapur. The British took control of Jaintia Hills in 1835 and began collecting standard taxes including taxes on land and real estate. In 1860, the British also established the income tax, levying fees on trees and fish, and turned the adding property tax to a mortgage tax. The British also implemented the income tax, levies on fish and trees within a single year that they turned the real estate tax into a home tax. After the inhabitants rebelled against that encroachment in 1862, the British were able to subdue the Jaintia people in 1863, following 15 months of conflict because of their greater military strength.

In the district of Jaintia Hills, Jaintias and Pnars make up the vast majority of the population. They primarily work in agriculture, and mining of coal is another major industry. “BEHDIENKHLAM,” or “driving away the plague,” is a well-known celebration that is often observed in July. Both men and women participate in the Laho dance, to the beat of the drums and the music, one of their prehistoric dances was performed. During a previous Republic Day ceremony in New Delhi, this dance had placed second.

Weather in Assam

Jowai’s high altitude largely accounts for its pleasant summertime climate, which features low degrees of humidity and typical daytime temperatures between 22 to 300 degrees Celsius. In the summer, cold winds can also frequently blow through the evenings. In Jowai, winters can be moderately to extremely cold and continue for longer duration than summers. Because of the cool weather and foggy sceneries, travellers frequently visit Jowai during these months. The chilliest month of the travelling season is January, when the temperature can drop to a lowest of about 4 degree celsius. The temperatures, otherwise, range from 10 to 20 degree celsius.

SeasonTemperature
Winter(October- March) 04 °C – 20 °C
Summer(April – June) 22 °C – 30 °C
Monsoon(July – September) 20 °C – 25 °C

Best Places to stay in Assam

NameLocation
Mid Pine Home StayLaitumkhrah,Lower New Colony, Shillong
Travellers Inn3, RR Colony, Shillong
Treebo Trip JKR ResidencyLower Cleve Colony, Shillong
Itsy By Treebo- Shelter InnAnder 153, Below Living Roof, Laitumkhrah, Shillong
Hotel HeigaJowai Road NH – 6, Dhankheti, Shillong
Mi Casa HotelKeating Road, Shillong
Odyssey Stays Jowai-West Jaintia HillsOdyssey Stays Jowai, NH6, Madan, Latein, Meghalaya, 793150 Jowai,India
Shnongpdeng, JowaiShnongpdeng, 793109 Jowai, India
Windermere InnShillong (Near Jowai)
The Arbour InnMawdiangdiang, 793018 Shillong, Near Jowai, India

Frequently Asked Questions about Jowai Tourism

1. What time of year is ideal for travel to Jowai?

You can travel to Jowai at any time of the year. However, when the weather is nice and convenient enough to explore the area, October to November and March to July are the finest times to visit Jowai.

2. How long does a trip to Jowai take?

Jowai often spends 1-2 days seeing the most well-known travelling attractions. By adding a few extra days to your journey, you can combine Jowai with nearby beautiful locations like Shillong, Cherrapunji, Dawki, and Mawsynram.

3. What is the cost of a trip to Jowai?

The cost of your trip to Jowai is determined by the length of your journey, the class of accommodation you select, the type of vehicle you like, and other factors.

4. What are some must-see locations and activities while in Jowai?

Aim to see the most significant attractions in Jowai, such as Ialong Park, Syntu Ksiar, Thadlaskein Lake, Krang Shuri Waterfall, Nartiang Monoliths, Thlumuwi Stone Bridge & Falls, Umlawan Cave, etc. 66 kilometres separate Jowai from Shillong, from which Jowai may be reached in a single day.

5. What is the most efficient way to get to Jowai?

It can be difficult to get to Jowai, which is a town in Meghalaya’s easternmost region. The only available modes of transportation are buses and other forms of road travel. All adjacent towns have bus service to Jowai, including Shillong (60 km) and other locations in the neighbouring states of Tripura, Assam, and Mizoram. Bus price starts at INR 40.

6. What cuisine is typical in Jowai?

The non-vegetarian dishes of Meghalaya will be presented in a healthy and unusual way at Jowai. There are many common and widely consumed meat, fish, and pork blendings. A wide variety of delectable meal options are also offered by chicken, fresh fish, and beef. Vegetarians would not be as pampered with the same types of options and culinary variety as non-vegetarian compositions, which predominate the plate here. However, the neighbourhood does provide several straightforward vegetarian options.