Can something be natural and man-made at the same time? If yes, then this distinction certainly applies to the living root bridges of the Northeast Indian state of Meghalaya. In the jungles of the Khasi and Jantia Hills of Meghalaya, there are dozens of root bridges that have been created generations ago by slowly weaving together roots of living rubber trees. Rather than degrading over time like most man-made constructions, root bridges grow stronger as the tree grows stronger, and some have been estimated to be more than 500 years old. These root bridges of Meghalaya are a fine example of regenerative design and cooperation between man and nature.
Life in the wettest place on earth
The Khasi and Jantia Hills of Meghalaya are one of the rainiest and wettest places on earth. The climate has created a lush jungle that is the main source of livelihood of the villagers that live in the hills. The forest provides the locals with products such as bay leaf, medicinal wild black pepper and honey, and various nuts and fruits.
While the rains bring life, they also bring challenges to the local people. There is a constant need to cross rivers and streams, and before root bridges the villagers built bridges out of wood and bamboo. Due to the intense rains, monsoon flooding and high humidity, these bridges wouldn’t last long until they were rotten or swept away by floods. Repairing and rebuilding bridges was time-consuming, and this led to the invention of root bridges that become stronger over time rather than weaker.
Root bridges serving generations
Root bridges are grown rather than built, and the whole village participates in the creation of a bridge. Making a root bridge is a long process that involves training the roots of a particular rubber tree, Ficus elastica, or Indian rubber tree. This tree has particularly strong aerial roots that grow above the ground. The roots are pulled, shaped, tied and twisted together as they grow in order to create the desired shape. Sometimes a temporary structure is built out of wood or bamboo, and this acts as a scaffolding for the roots to grow on. Another alternative is to use a hollow tree trunk that the roots can grow through. Once the roots reach the other side of the river, they are grounded in the soil and a bridge has been formed.
Root bridges come in a variety of shapes and sizes with spans up to 50 meters. In the village of Nongriat there is even a double-decker root bridge that the locals say was built 250 years ago. The reason for creating the double-decker bridge was an unprecedented monsoon season and the subsequent overflowing of the river that left the first lower bridge under water.
It takes decades to grow a root bridge but they can last centuries. No one knows exactly how old the bridges are, but the oldest root bridges are believed to be centuries old and so they have served generations. The knowledge of how to build root bridges has been disappearing, but increasing tourism and interest in the bridges has recently created a new incentive to preserve the bridges and even to build new ones.
Modern steel bridges may be faster to build, but they rust over time and of course require a lot of money. Root bridges take time to build, but once the bridge is there it grows stronger and sturdier over time. What’s more, root bridges are a part of the environment and they are an incentive to keep trees healthy. The root bridges of Meghalaya are a true example of regenerative design that promotes and needs a healthy ecosystem, rather than cutting down trees and destroying ecosystems.
