Meghalaya's Double-Decker and Single-Decker root bridges are unique in the world and are a sight to behold. The bridges are tangles of massive, thick roots, which have been intermingled to form a bridge that can hold several people at a time. Khasi people have been trained to grow these bridges across the raised banks of streams to form a solid bridge made from roots. The living bridges are made from the roots of the Ficus elastica tree, which produces a series of secondary roots that are perched atop huge boulders along the streams or riverbanks, forming the bridges.
The root bridges, some of which are over a hundred feet long, take ten to fifteen years to become fully functional, but they are extraordinarily strong – strong enough to support the weight of fifty or more people at a time. The bridges are alive and still growing and gain strength over time. [source - livingrootbridge]
First Image credit: Banjara Camps & Retreats
Image credit: Banjara Camps & Retreats
At Sohra (Cherrapunji), you can find Meghalaya's double-decker and single-decker root bridges in Cherrapunji (Sohra) and Mawlynnong. Located around 56 km from Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, Cherrapunji is a must-visit destination known for its numerous waterfalls and a trek to the single- and double-decker root bridges. The trek from Cherrapunji to the living root bridges is not for the faint-hearted, as it requires a lot of stamina and grit to trek down to these natural wonders. [source - livingrootbridge]
Image credit: Banjara Camps & Retreats
Image credit: Banjara Camps & Retreats
Image credit: Laurent COLLET
Image credit: Roman Korzh
Image credit: Ashwin Kumar
Image credit: Nikhil Kumar
Living root bridge at Riwai. Image credit: Anisha Sharma
Source — Livingrootbridge
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