India is a place full of surprises and astonishment. Stalwart structures of Himalaya in the north and north east region, the great river systems, its valleys and many more. Every part; every region; indeed, every nook and corner of this country has something wonderful to add to the artistic beauty. And in that case the North Eastern states never disappoint us. And most importantly it’s natural beauty that never fails to amaze us.
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With that the state of Meghalaya is no exception.
Meghalaya, which means “cloud abode,” is a nature lover’s delight. A hill station with a truly magnificent, fascinating sky has captivated the minds of tourists from all over the world. You can expect beautiful scenic views, slopes, waterfalls, and twisting rivers which all would mesmerize your heart and soul.
Mawsynram Rainfall
Meghalaya is The home to the wettest place in the world that is Mawsynram. It receives around 11,875 millimeters of rainfall annually. It is situated 69 kilometers away from Sikkim which is the state capital.
Cherrapunji
And there is another tourist attraction- Cherrapunji , which is 15 kilometers away from Mawsynram. It is the world’s second wettest place. And is mainly famous for its living Root bridges which are the major tourist attraction of the state.
Meghalaya is also famous for the village Mawlynnong which is the cleanest village of India and it is best to go there during the festive season like during behdienkhlam, Nongkrem festival etc.
People around the globe visit these places to cherish the natural beauty and its miracles.
Double decker living root bridge Meghalaya
But the best place to visit in Meghalaya is The Living Root Bridge which is indeed a miracle of nature. Locally known as Jingkieng jri, these bridges are made up of strong and thick Rubber tree roots. And these are believed to be built by the indigenous tribes of khasi. Initially the young roots of the tree are allowed to grow, strengthen over time and then later they are attached on the sides to form the bridge and gradually it strengthens with time and provides an ideal condition for the formation of a bridge which can carry around 20 to 30 people at a time.
Living Root bridges
Living Root bridges are the mind boggling idea of the village people living in the east Khasi hills of Meghalaya. The bridge weavers ingeniously control the roots of the aerial roots of the tree to help build up the bridge which would help the local people to fight against strong water currents and raging waterfalls. For generations these living Root Bridges have been used by the indigenous people to connect them to the main markets and locality to maintain the connectivity between the rural and urban areas. And this can clearly showcase the foresightedness of the ancestors of the region. These bridges also presented the long term dedication of the past generations for their present and posterity to provide better conditions of living. And have taken the place of an engineer, an architect in the whole process.
According to the United Nations Environment Program, “These structural ecosystems have performed in extreme climatic conditions for centuries, and encapsulate a profound harmony between humans and nature.”
Double decker root bridge length
The 30 meters long bridge stands 2400 feet high and is the longest known Living Root Bridge, and one needs to have a lot of grit to reach there as you need to pass around 3500 steps to reach your destination.
It is said to be 180 years old.
It is unusual due of its multi-level formation and is located in East Khasi Hills. “The descent to the Nongriat double-decker root bridge is epic.” The bridge is a three-kilometer hike from the base settlement of Tyrna. Tyrna settlement is 20 kilometers from Cherrapunji. The sights below the bridge are captivating and sore in the eyes. It is surrounded by abundant greenery, glaring natural pools below, and footsteps leading the wonderful world. And it also gives us a chance to interact with the local people and helps us understand their daily lives and lifestyle.
Surrounding places and weather around double decker living bridge
It takes around 2 to 3 hours to reach the double decker living bridge and gets humid with every step one takes. And one should not forget to take raincoats with them during the trek.Carry a few liters of water and a few packets of ORS or glucose. Great help for instant replenishment if you do ever feel tired.
But all this hard work is worth it after watching and experiencing the symbiosis between human and nature.
There are local shops selling snacks and refreshments to make our way a bit easier to pass. There are a couple of homestays for people who want to go back the next day.
There are around 75 living Root Bridges in Meghalaya and the best travel destination for nature lovers. And these living Root Bridges have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative list which in itself is an achievement.
It’s significance
Unlike contemporary constructions and development in these areas , the living Root bridges become more strong, robust, resilient and productive with time and use.
They showcase the power of mother nature and its capabilities of providing critical infrastructure solutions for rural connectivity in Meghalaya. These are the perfect example of sustainable engineering and architecture and the creative minds of the indigenous people. In harsh climate and geography, the intergenerational growth process of fostering a seedling into a powerful load-bearing structure demonstrates great enterprise and talent, implying a masterpiece of human creative genius. Meghalaya is The exceptional truly a nature’s gift to the mankind and therefore we need to cherish it and preserve it for the future generations.
And therefore, it would be an invaluable experience.
FAQ
Where are living Root bridge located?
Double decker living Root bridge located on east Khasi hills of Meghalaya
Tourist attractions in Meghalaya?
Mawsynram, Cherrapunji and Meghalaya’s natural beauty
Which is the Wettest place in the world?
Meghalaya is The home to the wettest place in the world that is Mawsynram. It receives around 11,875 millimeters of rainfall annually.
Living Root Bridge are made by which tree?
Living Root Bridge are made up of strong and thick Rubber tree roots.
