A living root bridge in the East Khasi Hills, India.
The living root bridges of Cherrapunji, which are a marvel of sustainable architecture. The bridges are formed by the roots of the Ficus Elastica tree. The War-Khasi, a tribe in Meghalaya, saw the potential in these powerful roots, as a way to cross the area’s many rivers. Now, whenever and wherever the need arises, they simply grow their own bridges!
Some of the root bridges are more than 100 feet long and take 10-15 years to become fully functional. They’re extraordinarily strong, with some able to support the weight of 50 or more people at a time. Because they are alive and still growing, the bridges actually gain strength over time. Some of the ancient root bridges used daily by the people of the villages around Cherrapunji may be well over 500 years old.
Photo: Timothy Allen
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