How to Reach Jowai: Guide to Meghalaya’s Cultural Heart

How to reach Jowai? There’s a question that tickles the fancy of intrepid travellers seeking the road less travelled! Nestled in the picturesque Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, Jowai is like that cool, mysterious cousin of the more famous hill stations – not as showy, but brimming with authentic charm and cultural riches.

Picture this: rolling hills carpeted in emerald green, mist-shrouded valleys echoing with ancient folklores, and a town where tradition dances cheek-to-cheek with modernity. That’s Jowai for you – a place where the Pnar culture thrives, waterfalls play hide-and-seek, and every street corner tells a story.

So, strap on your adventure boots and let’s cut to the chase and explore the nitty-gritty of how to reach Jowai by air, train, and road.

1. How to Reach Jowai by Air

When pondering how to reach Jowai by air, remember – this cultural haven doesn’t have an airport. Your aerial gateways are either Shillong Airport (Umroi Airport) or Guwahati International Airport.

Shillong Airport puts you a mere 65 km from Jowai – tantalisingly close! But here’s the twist: flights to Shillong can be as elusive as a snow leopard.

Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati about 160 km away, offers more reliable connections – it’s a dependable bridge to Jowai’s cultural riches.

Once you’ve touched down, congratulations! You’re halfway to cracking the code of how to reach Jowai. The journey continues by road, but we’ll dive into that exhilarating leg of the trip soon!

2. How to Reach Jowai by Train

Alright, I’m going to let you in on a little secret: figuring out how to reach Jowai by train is like trying to find a straight road in the mountains – it doesn’t exist! But don’t let that derail your plans! The train journey is just the appetiser to your main course of adventure.

The journey by train will take you as far as Guwahati Railway Station. It’s like the Grand Central of Northeast India – all tracks lead here. Overnight trains from Kolkata, Delhi, or Mumbai are your best bets. As you chug along, you’ll see India transform outside your window, from bustling metropolises to serene countryside.

Once you reach Guwahati, take a deep breath – you’ve still got a road trip ahead. But trust me, it’s worth every kilometre!

3. How to Reach Jowai by Road

Now we’re talking! How to reach Jowai by road is where the real adventure begins. Whether you’re setting off from Shillong (65 km) or Guwahati (160 km), you’re in for a visual feast that’s as delightful as Meghalaya’s famous honey.

From Shillong, hop into a shared taxi or hire a private car for a 2–3-hour journey through the East Khasi Hills before entering the Jaintia Hills. You’ll traverse landscapes that seem plucked from a fantasy novel – mist-veiled peaks, tumbling waterfalls, and valleys so lush they’ll make your camera work overtime.

Embarking from Guwahati? Buckle up for a longer but equally mesmerising 5–6-hour odyssey. The road meanders through Assam’s verdant plains before ascending into Meghalaya’s hills.

If you are a budget traveller, you can hop onto buses on the route from Shillong to Jowai. Head to Shillong’s Bara Bazaar, where buses and shared sumos stand ready to whisk you away on your cultural adventure.

Coming from Guwahati? Catch a bus to Shillong from the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT), then switch to a Jowai-bound bus or shared taxi. It’s a longer journey, but think of it as a mobile masterclass in local geography and culture – you’ll be pointing out landmarks like a pro by the time you arrive!