Ask anyone and you will be told that bridges are a modern day creation. And that they require large amounts and variety of materials to be made. But the creators of a Living Root Bridge will disagree with them.
Meghalaya literally translates to the Abode of the Clouds. Meaning that this tiny state of Northeast India has a lot of rain. So much so that it has the place with highest rainfall in the whole world.
This high amount of rain creates a lot of small and big streams and rivers in the state. Because of the problems of accessibility in the hills, its very difficult to build bridges even in the modern day. But the locals have perfectly resolved this problem long back.
What is a Living Root Bridge ?
A Living Root Bridge is an actual bridge created for people and material to cross riverines , streams or deep valleys. The only difference is that instead of concrete and iron, roots pf living trees serve as the main structure.
These bridges come under the category of suspension bridges using some locally growing trees.
How is it made ?
The process of making such a structure take quite a long time, sometimes even generations. Two small trees on either side of the valley are selected. Sometimes new trees are planted for this purpose as well. Thereafter some kind of rope or wire is used to connect the roots of both the trees.
The roots grow around that the wire and intertwine. With time, these roots grow stronger and harder and ultimately hard enough to support the weight of a human.
Sometimes bamboo poles or stems of areca palm are used as support for walking or holding.
Double Decker Root Bridges
A Double Decker Living Root Bridge is the pinnacle of this marvelous architecture. It is achieved by creating one bridge above the other. These take much longer time and planning compared to the normal ones.
Once used only as a means to commute, the Living Root Bridges of modern day serve more than just roads. They serve as subjects for research and as tourism destinations.
Do not miss out on these beautiful natural bridges in the Northeastern state of Meghalaya. Also read about the beautiful hanging bridges from Arunachal Pradesh in Discover East.
Feature Image Source : Wikipedia
