Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya
Architecture grown by generations, strengthened by time
The living root bridges of Meghalaya are among the most extraordinary examples of human ingenuity on Earth. Created by the War-Khasi and War-Jaintia subtribes of the Khasi people, these functional bridges are grown, not built, by training the aerial roots of the Indian rubber fig tree (Ficus elastica) across rivers and ravines. The result, achieved over 15 to 30 years, is a living structure that grows stronger with time, capable of supporting the weight of dozens of people and enduring the world’s heaviest rainfall.
More than 100 living root bridges have been documented across the southern Khasi and Jaintia Hills, in the deep, rain-drenched valleys between Cherrapunji (Sohra) and the Bangladesh border. The most spectacular examples are found in and around Nongriat village, accessible only by descending over 3,000 stone steps into a lush canyon. Here, the famous double-decker root bridge, Umshiang, spans the river on two levels, a feat of organic architecture that has no parallel anywhere in the world.
These bridges are not relics of a lost tradition. Communities continue to create new living root bridges, guiding young roots through hollowed-out areca nut trunks to direct their growth across water. This ongoing practice represents a living dialogue between human communities and the forest that sustains them, an approach to infrastructure that is inherently sustainable, self-repairing, and in complete harmony with its ecological context.
Historical Context
The tradition of growing root bridges is estimated to be several hundred years old, though the exact origins are lost to oral history. The practice arose from a practical need: in one of the wettest places on Earth, where monsoon rivers swell to impassable torrents, conventional wooden or bamboo bridges rotted within years. The Khasi solution was to work with, rather than against, their environment, harnessing the natural growth of fig roots to create infrastructure that became more durable with each passing decade.
In 2022, the Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya were placed on India's tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination, recognizing their unique cultural and ecological value. This recognition has brought international attention to a tradition that had remained largely unknown outside the region. Conservation efforts now focus on documenting existing bridges, supporting communities that maintain them, and ensuring that increased tourism does not damage these delicate living structures.
