The Prime Minister highlighted Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges in Mann Ki Baat and urged support for their inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

About the Living Root Bridges

• The Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya are among the world’s finest examples of bioengineering and community-led conservation. 
• Unlike conventional bridges, they are living structures created by carefully training the aerial roots of trees to grow across rivers and streams. 
• These bridges showcase how traditional knowledge can work in harmony with nature to create sustainable infrastructure.
• At present, there are about 100 known living root bridges spread across 72 villages in the state.
• These bridges can also be found in the state of Nagaland.
• The earliest written record of these bridges can be found in the 1844 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.

Key Features

• Locally known as Jingkieng Jri (Khasi) and Lyu Chrai (Jaintia).
• Found within the dense subtropical moist broadleaf forest eco-region of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya.
• Developed by the indigenous Khasi communities over generations.
• Constructed using the aerial roots of the Rubber Fig Tree (Ficus elastica).
• Formation period ranges from 15–30 years, while many bridges remain functional for several centuries.
• Bridge length varies from 15 feet to 250 feet.

How are the Bridges Constructed?

• Young aerial roots are guided through hollow trunks of the Areca catechu (Areca nut palm).
• The trunks protect the roots and guide their growth across rivers.
• Bamboo scaffolding provides temporary support until the roots become strong.
• Over time, the roots undergo inosculation (natural joining and fusion), creating a durable living bridge.

Significance

• Promote sustainable infrastructure without harming forests or rivers.
• Demonstrate indigenous ecological knowledge and climate-resilient engineering.
• Support biodiversity conservation by preserving natural forest ecosystems.
• Strengthen eco-tourism and provide sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
• Reflect India’s rich cultural and natural heritage, making them strong candidates for UNESCO World Heritage recognition.

Conservation Efforts

• Local communities maintain more than 120 living root bridges through annual inspections and nurseries.
• Padma awardee Hally War has dedicated over five decades to conserving these unique structures.
• They are included in UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Sites

Exam Hook ( Prelims)

Consider the following statements regarding the Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya:

1. They are constructed using the aerial roots of Ficus elastica.
2. They are primarily built by the Khasi and Jaintia communities.
3. They have been nominated for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 only

One-Line Wrap

Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges beautifully combine indigenous knowledge, ecological conservation, and sustainable engineering, making them one of India’s most remarkable living cultural landscapes.