Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya

In the wet valleys below the Meghalaya plateau, Khasi villagers train the aerial roots of rubber fig trees across streams, guiding them along frames for years until they thicken into a bridge that keeps growing. Several are still in daily use, and the best known is the double-decker at Nongriat, two spans stacked one above the other over a river pool. Reaching it means a descent of several thousand steps from Tyrna and the same climb back, through forest, past smaller root bridges and steel wire footbridges swaying over the gorge. Quieter examples exist elsewhere in the region, including a long single span near Mawlynnong and bridges around Pynursla.

Highlights

• The double-decker bridge at Nongriat - two root spans stacked over the same river.
• The stairway from Tyrna - several thousand steps down through the forest and back up.
• Wire footbridges - swaying steel spans crossing the gorge on the way down.
• River pools - clear green pools below the bridges where walkers stop to swim.

When to go

October to April is drier and the steps are less slippery, with clearer air and fewer leeches. The monsoon makes the descent treacherous and the rivers unsafe, though the forest is at its greenest. Start early: the round trip takes most of a day, and doing the climb back in the afternoon heat is much harder. Staying overnight in Nongriat spreads the effort over two days.

What to expect

This is a hard walk, not a viewpoint. The return climb is thousands of uneven steps and leaves most people wrecked, and knees suffer more on the way down than up. Nongriat is small and its guesthouses are basic, with limited power. The main bridge gets busy in the middle of the day, and fees are collected at several points along the route.

Nearby

Nohkalikai Falls and the limestone caves around Sohra are within an hour by road.