Double Decker Living Root Bridge

The history of the Living Root Bridges dates back centuries, with the Khasi and Jaintia tribes developing this unique technique to navigate the region's numerous rivers and streams. Faced with heavy rainfall and a lack of conventional building materials, they learned to manipulate the aerial roots of the Ficus elastica tree. Young roots are guided across rivers using bamboo scaffolding. Over time, the roots thicken and intertwine, eventually forming a sturdy, living bridge. This process can take 10-15 years for a bridge to become fully functional. The bridges are continually growing and strengthening, requiring ongoing maintenance from the local communities. This traditional knowledge has been passed down through generations, making the Living Root Bridges a testament to human ingenuity and harmony with nature.