THE LIVING ROOT BRIDGES

News: India has formally submitted to UNESCO the nomination dossier for Meghalaya’s living root bridges, designated as the “Jingkieng Jri / Lyu Chrai Cultural Landscape,” for consideration in the 2026–27 World Heritage evaluation cycle

ABOUT

• Locally known as Jingkieng Jri, are extraordinary pedestrian bridges handcrafted from the aerial roots of living trees.
• Meghalaya, India.
• Primarily concentrated in the East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills
• Created by the indigenous Khasi and Jaintia
• Oral legends suggests some bridges are over 500 years old.

Features

• Primarily grown from the Ficus elastica (Indian Rubber Tree), known for its robust and flexible aerial root system.
• Trees are planted on opposite banks of a river.
• Young roots are guided through hollowed-out Areca palm trunks or bamboo structures to grow across the stream.
• Over time, the roots are manually twisted and merged (anastomosis) to form a solid walkway.
• Stones are often placed between the roots to create a flat path.
• A bridge takes 10 to 15 years to become functional but can last for centuries.

Significance:

• Carbon-sequestering, self-repairing, and can withstand the extreme floods and storms of the Meghalayan plateau
• Harmonious relationship between humans and the ecosystem.
• Nature-based solutions to climate change