Jaintia Hills district
| Jaintia Hills district Jaintia | |
|---|---|
| District of Meghalaya | |
 | |
| Country | India |
| State | Meghalaya |
| Headquarters | Jowai |
| Government | |
| • Assembly seats | 7 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3,819 km2 (1,475 sq mi) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 295,692 |
| • Density | 77/km2 (200/sq mi) |
| Demographics | |
| • Literacy | 53% |
| Major highways | NH-44, NH-40 |
| Website | Official website |
Jaintia Hills (Pron: ˈʤeɪnˌtɪə) is an administrative district in the state of Meghalaya in India. The present district was created in 22 February 1972 and occupies an area of 3819 km². It has a population of 295,692 (as of 2001), of which a vast majority is rural. The district headquarters are located at Jowai. The district is part of the Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion.[1]
For the tribal division into twelve elaka (provinces), each under a dolloi, tributary to the Raja of Jaintiapur. Agriculture and mining are the dominant economic activities. The district has large reserves of coal and is the largest producer of coal within Meghalaya.
Geography
The district is bounded by Assam on the east and north, East Khasi Hills district on the west and has an international border with Bangladesh on the south.
Economy
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. More are set to come up. Coal mining at sites like Lad Rymbai is also one of the major activities set up here.Coal mined here is mostly exported to Bangladesh and Assam
Divisions
Administrative divisions
Jaintia Hills district is divided into five blocks:[2]
| Name | Headquarters | Population | Location |
| Amlarem | Amlarem |  | |
| Khliehriat | Khliehriat |  | |
| Laskein | Laskein |  | |
| Saipung | Saipung |  | |
| Thadlaskein | Thadlaskein |  |
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
According to the 2011 census Jaintia Hills district has a population of 392,852,[3] roughly equal to the nation of Maldives.[4] This gives it a ranking of 558th in India (out of a total of 640).[3] The district has a population density of 103 inhabitants per square kilometre (270 /sq mi) .[3] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 31.34%.[3] Jaintia Hills has a sex ratio of 1008 females for every 1000 males,[3] and a literacy rate of 63.26%.[3]
Languages
The common language in Jaintia hills is Pnar, which is very similar to Khasi language, but there are other language which are also similar, hence the common language is pnar,Other Languages include war jaintia speaking to the southern part of the district and Hmar/Biate, a spoken by approximately 20 000 members of its namesake tribe.[5] The Biate resided in the sutnga elaka, which are believed to have similar culture to that of mizo tribe. It is said that their language is also very similar to that of the mizo. Moreover their dress is very similar to that of the naga and mizo tribe.
Culture
Places of interest
Jaintia Hills boasts of exquisite natural beauty. Few of the places of interest in Jaintia hills are listed below:
- Monolith in Nartiang[6] - Touted as the tallest monolith in the world.
- Caves in Lumshnong and Syndai - One of the largest cave network in Asia.[7][8]
- Jowai: Jowai, the headquarters of the Jaintia Hills district is situated 64 km from the national highway. A picturesque town circled by the majestic 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 USajiar 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 the striking landmark of the village. The Nartiang menhir measures 27 feet 6 inches in thickness.
- Syndai: An important village of 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 providing a remarkably beautiful scene.
Education
Although Jaintia Hills is not known as an education hub. Good schools and colleges do exist in Jowai and Khliehriat. Prominent Colleges in Jaintia hills include Jowai Polytechnic A reputed and the only Nursing School in the district namely Dr. Norman Tunnel Hospital School Of Nursing, Thomas Jones 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.
See also
- Hills States
References
- ↑ http://jaintia.nic.in/profile.htm
- ↑ The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India, New Delhi, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India (2011) (in English) (PDF). Meghalaya Administrative Divisions (Map). http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/maps/administrative_maps/MEGHALAYA.pdf. Retrieved 2011-09-29.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
- ↑ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Retrieved 2011-10-01. "Maldives 394,999 July 2011 est."
- ↑ M. Paul Lewis, ed. (2009). "Biete: A language of India". Ethnologue: Languages of the World (16th edition ed.). Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
- ↑ "Tallest Monolith". 2009-02-17.
- ↑ "Sub-continent's third longest caves explored in Meghalaya". Retrieved 2013-07-13.
- ↑ "Adventure Sports". Archived from the original on 2008-01-19. Retrieved 2013-07-13.
External links
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Ri-Bhoi | Karbi Anglong district, Assam | | |
| East Khasi Hills |  |
Dima Hasao district, Assam | ||
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| Bangladesh | Cachar district, Assam |
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Coordinates: 25°27′N 92°12′E / 25.450°N 92.200°E