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.

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.

Most tourist attractions are a short distance from town, except for the "Iaw Musiang", one of the oldest market areas in the district.

Today, local Christians usually do not participate in it, but it is celebrated with pomp and show amongst followers of the traditional Niamtre religion.

Although women do not participate in dancing, they have an important role to play at home by offering sacrificial food to the spirits of the ancestors.

Each locality prepares a decorative tower-like pillar structure called a rath, carried by 30 to 40 strong people to a small lake at Aitnar for immersion.

In the afternoon, Datlawakor, a form of soccer with a wooden ball, is played between two teams from the upper and lower valleys of the Myntdu River.

A strong smelling Tungtoh, made from fermented beans, and Tungtap, a variant of dry fish, are two of the most popular forms of local chutney.

Apart from the ancient form, people of Jaintia Hills have their representatives in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly seated at the capital, Shillong.