West Jaintia Hills is an administrative District in the state of Meghalaya in India. The united district (Jaintia Hills District) was created on 22 February 1972 and occupied an area of 3819 km2. It had a population of 295,692 (as of 2001). The district is part of the Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion. With the bifurcation of the erstwhile Jaintia Hills District into East and West Jaintia Hills Districts, West Jaintia Hills District came into existence on 31 July 2012 with its headquarters at Jowai. Jowai is the host of all the heads of important governmental offices and establishments, educational institutions, hospitals, banking institutions, etc.
Geography
The total area of the district is 1693 km2. The district comprises one Civil Sub-Division Viz. Amlarem Civil Sub-Division and three Community and Rural Development Blocks viz. Amlarem C&RD Block, Laskein C&RD Block and Thadlaskein C&RD Block with the following boundaries:
North – Assam
South – Bangladesh and East Jaintia Hills district
East – Assam
West – East Khasi Hills District
Economy
View of MCL Cement plant, Lumshnong, East Jaintia Hills
Although the mainstay of the district is agriculture, however, due to the abundance of Limestone, plenty of Cement factories have been set up in the district (now East Jaintia Hills). More are set to come up. Coal mining at sites like Lad Rymbai (East Jaintia Hills district) is also one of the major activities. Coal mined here is mostly exported to Bangladesh and Assam. Most of the coal mining sites are now situated in the East Jaintia Hills district.
Divisions
Administrative divisions
United Jaintia Hills district was divided into five blocks. With the bifurcation of the erstwhile district, West Jaintia Hills is divided into three blocks:
Name Headquarters Population Location
AmlaremAmlarem
Jaintia Hills Subdivisions Amlarem.png
LaskeinLaskein
Jaintia Hills Subdivisions Laskein.png
ThadlaskeinMukhla
Jaintia Hills Subdivisions Thadlaskein.png
East Jaintia Hills district is divided into two blocks, namely:
Name Headquarters Population Location
KhliehriatKhliehriat
Jaintia Hills Subdivisions Khliehriat.png
SaipungSaipung
Jaintia Hills Subdivisions Saipung.png
Transport
Since it is land locked region and lack of railways and airport, the only means of transportation is roadways. The main highway which runs through the district is NH 40 and NH 44.
Demographics
The district has a total population of 270,352, of which 134,406 are males and 135,946 are females. The density of population is 159.69 per km2.
Languages
The common dialect in West Jaintia hills is Pnar, belonging to the Khasian language. Other dialects include Khynriam in the western part of district, War speaking to the southern part of the district and Biate, spoken by approximately 20,000 members. The Biates also resides in the Saipung elaka in East Jaintia Hills district.
Culture
Places of interest
The places of interest in Jaintia hills include the below:
Monolith in Nartiang - Touted as the tallest monolith in the world.
Jowai: Jowai, the headquarters of the West Jaintia Hills district is situated 64 km from the national highway. A town circled by the Myntdu River.
Thadlaskein Lake: 56 km from Shillong. According to legend this lake was dug with the ends of bows by members of 290 clans of U Sajar Niangli, a rebel general of Jaintia Raja, to commemorate the great exodus of the clans.
Megalithic Remnants- Nartiang: 65 km from Shillong, was the summer capital of the Jaintia Kings, of Sutnga State. Huge monoliths, form a landmark in the village. The Nartiang menhir measures 27 feet 6 inches in thickness.
Syndai: An important village of West Jaintia Hills which is famous for a number of caves and caverns in the limestone-borne area, used as hide-outs during war times between Jaintia Hills and foreign intruders.
Syntu Ksiar: Syntu Ksiar, which means 'golden flower' is a vast pool of calm water, where the river Myntdu which almost encircles Jowai, appears to come to a sudden halt.
Krangshuri Falls* A tourist spot in Amlarem Sub-Division (War-Jaintia)
Education
Although West Jaintia Hills is not known as an education hub. Good schools and colleges do exist in Jowai, Khliehriat and Nongtalang. Prominent Colleges in West Jaintia hills include Jowai Polytechnic which is an AICTE recognised college and the only Nursing School in the district is Dr. Norman Tunnel Hospital School Of Nursing , there are other colleges too namely Thomas Jones Synod College, Nongtalang College and Kiang Nangbah Govt. College Jowai which offers degree courses in arts and science. Jowai has good schools too for Secondary and Higher Secondary level , some of the well known schools in Jowai are K.J.P Synod Mihngi Higher Secondary School , St Mary Mazzarello Girls Higher Secondary School , North Liberty Higher Secondary School etc .
Tourist spots
Jowai Presbyterian Church, India
The town does not have much to offer as most of the tourist spots lie a few distances away from town, except for the buzzing market area "Iaw Musiang", one of the oldest in the district. Other attractions include:
Syntu Ksiar - A must see destination - A valley well irrigated by the Myntdu River. "Madan Madiah" or "Uncle's Ground" situated in the valley, is of historical value as it was the site for the rise of the freedom struggle. Today, the ground holds A monument of Kiang Nangbah, a fearless fighter of the hill people.
Tyrchi Falls - A waterfall located at approximately 8 km from the heart of Jowai.
Jowai Presbyterian Church - The oldest church in Jaintia Hills built by the Welsh Presbyterian Mission around 150 years ago, is located within the precincts of town. It is one of the few structures that still retain the British form of architecture.
Thadlaskein lake - A popular tourist spot which was dug by Sajar Nangli a follower of the erstwhile Jaintia King.
Ialong Park - Although lesser known, the ecological park has much to offer nature lovers. A picturesque view of the pynthor wah valley of the Myntdu river can be seen from this park.
Institutions in Jowai
Technical institutes
Jowai Polytechnic
Nursing Institutes
Dr. Norman Tunnell Hospital School Of Nursing
Colleges and Institution providing higher studies
Kiang Nangbah government college
Khad-ar Daloi Law College
Thomas Jones Synod College
Northeast Adventist College
Prominent schools and higher secondary institutions
KJP Synod Mihngi Higher Secondary School
Seinraij higher Sec School
Govt. Boys Higher Secondary School
Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School
Tome Memorial Secondary School
Marian Hill Higher Secondary school
St. Mary Mazarello Girls Higher Secondary School
Little Angels Secondary School
Jowai Public school
HK Singh Secondary school
Faith academy Secondary School
Che's Star Secondary School
Jaintia Eng Secondary School
North Liberty Higher Secondary School
Little Flower Secondary School
Amwi Secondary School
Jowai District Presbyterian School
Localities in Jowai
Panaliar
Dulong
Loom-iong-Kjam
Caroline Colony
New Hill
Lumpariat
Dongmihsngi
Ladthalaboh
Loom Kyrwiang
Mynthong
Tpep Pale
Wah Nangbah
Chutwakhu
Iongpiah
Mihmyntdu
Moosalyngkat
Mooralong
Memory Colony
Mookyrdup
Khimusniang
Iaw Musiang
Mission Compound
Chilliang Raij
Salaroh
Tyndowapung
Umchyiar
Riat Siatsim
Khlieh Myngkrem
Salini Colony
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Jaintia_Hills_district
