Living root bridges

Today  i am gong to tell you about a very beautiful bridge also called and
Living root bridge..so here i am once again to share my experience about the one of the wonderful place in india.

Living root bridges are a form of tree shaping common in the southern part of the Northeast Indian state of Meghalaya. They are handmade from the aerial roots of living banyan fig trees, such as Ficus elastica by the Khasi people and War Jaintia  peoples of the mountainous terrain along the southern part of the Shillong Plateau.

 

A living root bridge near the village of Kongthong undergoing repairs. The local War Khasis in the photo are using the young, pliable aerial roots of a fig tree to create a new railing for the bridge.

The pliable tree roots are made to grow through betel tree trunks which have been placed across rivers and streams until the figs' roots attach themselves to the other side. Sticks, stones, and other objects are used to stabilize the growing bridgeThis process can take up to 15 years to complete. The useful lifespan of any given living root bridge is variable, but it is thought that, under ideal conditions, they can in principle last for many hundreds of years. As long as the tree they are formed from remains healthy, they naturally self-renew and self-strengthen as their component roots grow thicker.
 

Locations of living root bridges

 Living root bridges are known to occur in the West Jaintia Hills district and East Khasi Hills district. In the Jaintia Hills, examples of Living Root Bridges can be found in and around the villages of Shnongpdeng, Nongbareh, Khonglah, Padu, and Kudeng Rim. In the East Khasi Hills, living root bridges nearby Cherrapunji are known to exist in and around the villages of Tynrong, Mynteng, Nongriat, Nongthymmai, and around Laitkynsew.East of Cherrapunji, examples of living root bridges are known to exist in the Khatarshnong region, in and around the villages of Nongpriang, Sohkynduh, Rymmai, Mawshuit, and Kongthong.Many more can be found near Pynursla and around the village of Mawlynnong.

 

History

 The local Khasi people do not know when or how the tradition of living root bridges started. The earliest written record of Cherrapunji's living root bridges is by Lieutenant H Yule, who expressed astonishment about them in the 1844 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.I know that you guys are thinking why the history is so short but what to do we have only this much information about the history of this bridge but don't worry ahead we have more intresting about this bridge.

like this bridge there are also some of the bridge who are also an intresting things to the visitors her are some of the examples.

 

Examples of living root bridges

At over 50 meters in length, the longest known example of a living root bridge is near the small Khasi town of Pynursla. It can be accessed from either of the villages of Mawkyrnot or Rangthylliang.
There are several examples of double living root bridges, the most famous being the "Double Decker" root bridge of Nongriat Village, pictured above.
There are three known examples of double bridges with two parallel or nearly parallel spans. Two are in the West Jaintia Hills near the villages of Padu and Nongbareh, and one is in Burma Village, in the East Khasi Hills. There is also a "Double Decker" (or possibly even "Triple Decker") near the village of Rangthylliang, close to Pynursla.
 

 There is also an another bridge exit and this is also an intresting for visitors.

Other examples of living root architecture in Meghalaya

 

 The War Khasis and War Jaintias also make several other kinds of structures out of the aerial roots of rubber trees. These include ladders and platforms. For example, in the village of Kudeng Rim in the West Jaintia Hills, a rubber tree situated next to a football field has been modified so that its branches can serve as "Living Root Bleachers." Aerial roots of the tree have been interwoven in the spaces between several branches so that platforms have been created from which villages can watch football games.
This are some of the examples of the root bridges by seeing all this what do you think about all place and the nature and also the lifestyle of the people.Well according to me this place is awsome it is an very good example of  nature life.The visitors from all over the country says that when they come  at this place it feel relif and i am pretty sure when you will go there you are going to feel the  same like others.
Waterfall.

 There is not even the bridges but also a lot of things that attract the people.As i told you there are so many things abut the nature will definately take you to the next level.The life style of the people who live there is awsome.Today we all are changing the forest into city but by visitnig this site it realize that what mistakes  we are doing.I am not here to tell you about the mistakes we are her to know about the place and what intresting in that place and why people should visit this place.



9 Facts About Living Root Bridges in Meghalaya
 

 Can you tell me have you heard of the natural bridges which are scattered across Meghalaya? They're nothing less than a wonder for us. These astounding facts about living root bridges will make you love Meghalaya more. You call them natural wonders or bio-engineering, these aqueducts are the natural heritage of our country. The ingenuity of the tribal people is worth praising. People had to find a permanent solution to cross over the welled up rivers and streams. That's when they thought about the living root bridges. You'll be very surprised to know about these natural bridges as i was surpriesd when i reached there feel like to live my whole life there.

 

 Fact1

Natural and Man-Made The living root bridges were not built like concrete bridges but they were grown. Yes! It is a kind of tree shaping (bio-engineering). The rubber trees or the banyan trees were grown on the banks of the rivers. The aerial roots of these rubber trees were merged with the betel nut tree trunks which formed a horizontal path. As the years passed these roots grew and the natural bridges were formed.

 

Fact 2

 

The Architects of Living Root Bridges The forefathers of Khasi tribe were the original architects of living root bridges. Khasi tribe are one of the prominent tribes of Meghalaya. They had to come up with a permanent solution because the bamboo and wooden bridges could never withstand the heavy rains.

Fact 3

 

Built Over a Long Time Living root bridges take around 15-20 years to grow. They become stronger with age and more stronger than any modern concrete bridge.

Fact 4

Centuries Old The life span of these living root bridges are very long. Some bridges around are said to be 500 years old.

Fact 5

Many More – Scattered Across In regions of West Jaintia Hills district and East Khasi Hills district many living root bridges can be found. Among them, the root bridges found in Nongriat village and Mawlynnong village are famous.

Fact 6

Double Decker Bridges Double Decker root bridges are parallel bridges. The Umshiang Double Decker living root bridge in Nongriat village is the most popular one. There are 3 other such bridges which are found near the villages of Padu and Nongbareh. The Umshiang Bridge is said to be almost 2 centuries old (180 years).

Fact 7

 

Mawlynnong: God's Own Garden Mawlynnong is around 80km to Shillong and it is known as the 'cleanest village in Asia'. The people of the village put great effort to preserve their village. The green heritage and the pristine surroundings of Mawlynnong has put in a world tourism map.

 

Fact 8

Long and Strong The living root bridges become strong over the time. The heavy rains increase its growth and it can hold up to 50 people at a time. They grow around 50 - 100 feet long and makes a stable path for people to cross the water.

Fact 9

Stony Path Once the bridge skeleton is formed properly, the people put stones on the bridge to make a path, so that they can easily walk once it becomes totally stronger.

 

So this are the some of the facts about living root bridges as i mention you in the post that tourism and more so thats why am giving you the all information to you so you will know about this place more better.

 

So we have have only that much about the living root of in india i hope you like it and i suggest you to go there and visit the place once in you lifetime then you also write about this place like i did..so keep reading this i will meet you next time with another adventure place.