What a living root bridge is
In the steep, wet valleys of southern Meghalaya, streams swell into torrents during the monsoon and wash away bridges of timber or bamboo within a few seasons. The Khasi and Jaintia peoples found a better material: the living roots of the Indian rubber fig, Ficus elastica, which grows well along these streams. By guiding the tree's aerial roots across the water, villagers created bridges that root on the far bank, thicken, interlace and grow stronger with age.
A new bridge can take 15 to 30 years to carry people, and a well-kept one can last for centuries. Dozens survive across the southern Khasi and Jaintia hills, some single spans, some ladders and a few with two levels. They have attracted the interest of architects and researchers as examples of living infrastructure, and the villages that maintain them are rightly proud of them.
Walking across one for the first time is a strange experience: the deck feels firm underfoot, but you can see roots knotting beneath you and moss growing on the handrails.
How they are grown
The process is slow and collective. A rubber fig is planted or chosen on one bank, and its thin aerial roots are led across the stream along a guide: often a hollowed areca palm trunk split lengthwise, or a scaffold of bamboo. Over years, the roots extend across the guide, reach the far bank and are planted in the soil, where they take hold.
As more roots follow and thicken, villagers weave and tie them together, adding new roots to fill gaps and handrails, and packing stones and soil into the deck to create a walking surface. Maintenance never stops. Young roots are trained into weak points, damaged sections are reinforced, and in some places a second or third level is started. At Nongriat, a third tier has been begun above the famous double-decker.
Your guide can show these stages on the walk, especially the young roots being led across in hollow trunks. It is worth asking, because the bridges make far more sense once you have seen how they start.
Where to see them
The table compares the bridges most visitors can reach. All are in the East Khasi Hills, within about two hours of Shillong.
| Bridge | Access | Effort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nongriat double-decker | About 3,000 steps from Tyrna, near Sohra | Hard, 5–6 h round trip | Fit walkers, the classic experience |
| Long single bridge near Nongriat | Side path on the Tyrna trail | Adds 30–45 min | Walkers already on the trail |
| Riwai, near Mawlynnong | About 10 min of steps from the road | Easy | Families, older travellers, short visits |
| Mawkyrnot and others | Varies, often steep village paths | Moderate to hard | Repeat visitors with a local guide |
The Nongriat walk, step by step
The walk begins at Tyrna, a village at the foot of the Sohra plateau about 15 km from Sohra town, where the road ends. Your registered guide meets you there. The first section is the steepest: a long run of concrete steps down through the village and into forest, with views opening over the valley. After about an hour you reach the first of two steel suspension bridges over the Umshiang river, which sway noticeably underfoot.
Along the way, small stalls sell water, soft drinks and fruit, and a side path leads to a long single root bridge that many walkers visit on the descent. Nongriat appears after 1.5 to 2 hours: a small Khasi village of houses among areca palms, with a church and a community entry point where a small fee is paid. The double-decker spans the stream just beyond, and you can cross both levels.
Below the bridges, clear blue-green pools form between boulders in the dry season, and swimming is allowed in designated spots. Allow an hour or more here. The climb back to Tyrna takes most people 2 to 2.5 hours with rests. Keep a steady pace, drink often and avoid the hottest part of the day. Some walkers continue about 1.5 hours further to Rainbow Falls, which usually means staying a night in a simple Nongriat guesthouse.
Rules, guides and closures
Since mid-2025, East Khasi Hills has required registered guides for treks and many outdoor activities, which covers the Nongriat trail. This followed safety concerns, and it means arranging a guide in advance through recognised local channels. The trail is also reported to close on Sundays, when the village rests and worships, and Mawlynnong bars day visitors on Sundays. Rules may change, so check current status before you travel.
Village expectations are simple and firm. Do not carve, cut or pull at roots. Use only designated swimming spots, wear modest swimwear, and use no soap or shampoo in the streams. Carry all litter out. Ask before photographing people, and keep voices low in the village. These rules keep the bridges open to visitors and protect a heritage that belongs to the communities who maintain it.
When to go and what to bring
October to April is the season. November to February gives the coolest walking weather and the clearest pools; March and April are warmer and better for swimming. From June to September, monsoon rain makes the steps slippery, swells the streams and can close parts of the trail, and we do not plan the walk then.
Bring:
- Walking shoes with good grip, ideally broken in.
- Two litres of water per person and a light snack.
- A quick-dry towel, modest swimwear and a dry bag in the dry season.
- A light rain jacket, as Sohra makes its own weather.
- A walking stick if your knees dislike long descents.
- Cash for village fees and drinks on the path.
Who should walk it, and who should not
Regular walkers in reasonable health manage the Nongriat walk well at a steady pace. Active children from about nine usually do too, with rests. The challenge is the steps rather than the distance, and the descent is often harder on knees than the climb is on lungs.
The walk is not suitable for people with heart conditions, significant knee or hip problems, or limited mobility, or for very young children who cannot walk it themselves; there are no porters for passengers and no road access. For them, the Riwai bridge near Mawlynnong is the right choice, a short descent of about 10 minutes to a single bridge over a clear stream. It shows the same remarkable craft with a fraction of the effort, and it pairs naturally with a day at Dawki.
Planning it into a journey
We always plan at least one night in Sohra before the walk. Starting at Tyrna by 7 am means cool steps, fewer people and time to enjoy the bridges without watching the clock. From Ri Kynjai on Umiam Lake, the drive to Tyrna takes about 2.5 hours, which would mean leaving before 5 am. After the walk, a quiet afternoon in Sohra or the drive back to the lake rounds off the day.
Most of our Meghalaya journeys include the walk on the second or third full day, once you have settled into the pace of the hills, and pair it with lighter days on either side: the falls and caves of Sohra before, and a slow morning at Umiam Lake or in Shillong after. For travellers who cannot walk to Nongriat, we make Riwai part of a Dawki day, so everyone in a group sees at least one living bridge.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Where are the living root bridges in Meghalaya?
Mostly in the southern East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills, in valleys below the Sohra plateau and around Mawlynnong. The double-decker is at Nongriat, below Tyrna near Sohra, and an easy single bridge is at Riwai near Mawlynnong. Shillong is about two hours away.
How long does the double-decker root bridge walk take?
Allow 5 to 6 hours for the round trip from Tyrna: 1.5 to 2 hours down, an hour or more at the bridge, and 2 to 2.5 hours back up. Adding Rainbow Falls adds about 3 hours, which usually means staying overnight in Nongriat.
How many steps are there to Nongriat?
About 3,000 steps each way from Tyrna, though quoted figures range from about 2,500 to 3,500. The path is a well-built concrete stairway with some flat sections and two suspension bridges over the Umshiang river.
Do I need a guide for the root bridges?
Yes, for the Nongriat trek. Since mid-2025, East Khasi Hills requires registered guides for treks and many outdoor activities. A guide also explains how the bridges are grown. We arrange guides in advance. Check current status before you travel.
Is the Nongriat trail open on Sundays?
It is reported to close on Sundays, when the village rests and worships. Plan your walk for another day. Mawlynnong, near Riwai's bridge, bars day visitors on Sundays. Rules can change, so check current status before you travel.
What is the easiest living root bridge to visit?
Riwai, beside Mawlynnong village, is the easiest: a stepped walk of about 10 minutes from the road to a single root bridge over a stream. It suits families, older travellers and anyone short of time, and combines well with Dawki.
How old are the living root bridges?
Ages vary and are rarely recorded. Many are described as more than a century old, and some may be older. A new bridge takes 15 to 30 years to become usable, and well-maintained bridges strengthen with age, lasting for centuries.
Can I swim at the root bridges?
At Nongriat, swimming is allowed in designated pools below the double-decker, usually from November to April. Wear modest swimwear and use no soap. Avoid swimming after rain or in the monsoon, when streams run fast.
Are the living root bridges a UNESCO site?
The Jingkieng Jri living root bridge cultural landscapes were placed on India's tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage status in 2022. They have not yet been inscribed. The nomination recognises the communities' traditional knowledge.
