Source: News on Air
Subject: History/Art and culture
Context: India officially submitted the nomination dossier for Meghalaya’s living root bridges, titled Jingkieng Jri / Lyu Chrai Cultural Landscape, to UNESCO for the 2026-27 World Heritage evaluation cycle.
About The Living Root Bridges:
What is it?
- The Living Root Bridges, locally known as Jingkieng Jri, are extraordinary pedestrian bridges handcrafted from the aerial roots of living trees.
- Unlike steel or concrete bridges, these structures are grown over decades and become stronger as the tree matures, embodying the ultimate form of sustainable bio-engineering.
Location:
- State: Meghalaya, India.
- Region: Primarily concentrated in the East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills
- Villages: Notable sites include Nongriat (home to the famous Double-Decker bridge), Rewai, and Mawlynnong.
History & Origin:
- Tribal Heritage: Created by the indigenous Khasi and Jaintia
- Ancient Tradition: Due to a lack of written scripts before the 19th century, their exact age is unknown, but oral legends suggests some bridges are over 500 years old.
- Evolution: The practice emerged as a survival strategy to cross monsoon-swollen rivers in the world’s wettest region (Mawsynram/Cherrapunji), where wooden structures would simply rot away.
Key Features & Construction Process:
- The Species: The bridges are primarily grown from the Ficus elastica (Indian Rubber Tree), known for its robust and flexible aerial root system.
- Guided Growth:
- Planting: Trees are planted on opposite banks of a river.
- Scaffolding: Young roots are guided through hollowed-out Areca palm trunks or bamboo structures to grow across the stream.
- Entwining: Over time, the roots are manually twisted and merged (anastomosis) to form a solid walkway.
- Strengthening: 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:
- These bridges are carbon-sequestering, self-repairing, and can withstand the extreme floods and storms of the Meghalayan plateau that would destroy modern infrastructure.
- The nomination recognizes the Mei Ramew (Mother Earth) philosophy, showcasing a harmonious relationship between humans and the ecosystem.
- As the world seeks nature-based solutions to climate change, the Living Root Bridges serve as a global blueprint for regenerative architecture.
