Mawkyrwat

Mawkyrwat is the headquarters of South West Khasi Hills district, and its modern importance is strongly linked to administrative upgrades in the Khasi hills’ southern border region. A major early step was the creation of a local administrative unit: Mawkyrwat Civil Sub-Division was notified as a full civil sub-division with effect from 26 June 1982, reflecting the need for closer governance in the area.

The biggest milestone came decades later. For “public convenience and better administration,” the Meghalaya government upgraded the civil sub-division into a full district. South West Khasi Hills district was carved out of West Khasi Hills district on 3 August 2012, with Mawkyrwat as the district headquarters.

Since becoming a district headquarters, Mawkyrwat has grown as the focal point for district offices, public services, and civic facilities serving surrounding villages, many of which are spread across hilly terrain and near the Bangladesh border.The town today represents a shift from being a rural administrative station to a district-level centre—balancing traditional Khasi social life with modern governance responsibilities.