The lower reaches of the southern slopes of Khasi and Jaintia hills are humid and warm and are streaked by many swift flowing rivers and mountain streams.  A species of Indian Rubber tree - botanical name: Ficus Elastica - thrives and flourishes alongside these streams and rivers.  This tree can comfortably perch itself on huge boulders along side the riverbanks or in the middle of rivers and send its roots down to the riverbed.  Thus, they have adapted themselves very well to high soil erosion caused by these fast flowing rivers and streams that come down about 3000 feet along precipitous slopes.  These trees shoot out many secondary roots from their trunks.

Our ancestors, the early war-Khasis, had noticed these qualities of this tree and had adapted it to serve their need for bridges to cross rivers and streams.  In order to direct the roots in the desired direction, betel nut tree trunks, sliced half in the middle for their entire length, are hollowed out and are positioned according to the requirement of the bridge.  The thin and long tender roots are then passed through these hollowed out betel nut tree trunks.  The roots start growing towards the directed end.  When they reach the other end of the stream or river, they are allowed to take root in the soil.  These bridges usually have base spans numbering more than two.  There are also two protective railing spans.  Stones are used to fill any gaps in the base spans and over time they get embedded in the floor of the root bridge.  Some of these bridges have roots brought down from the tree branches joining the middle of the bridge as support spans.  Some of these root bridges are made by entwining the roots of two trees planted on opposite banks or in the middle of the river on huge boulders.  

These root bridges are so strong that some of them can carry 50 or more people at a time.  We have some of them in the vicinity of our Resort that are 53 feet, 56 feet, 70 feet and even over 100 feet long.  One has two bridges stacked one over the other.  We have fondly named it the 'Double Decker Root Bridge'.  Now the villagers of Nongriat where the said bridge is located at the bottom of the valley are so thrilled to see so many international tourists dropping to see the bridge, have been kind enough to accept the name and have added to it the name of the stream over which the bridge has been built and are calling it 'Umshiang Double Decker Root Bridge'.  This Umshiang Double Decker Root Bridge is so unique, it is the only one of its kind in the entire world.

The roots used in one of these bridges are about 18 inches broad and about 6 inches thick.  These bridges are being used daily even today by people living in these villages around Cherrapunjee.  These bridges take 10 to 15 years to become fully functional.  They keep growing in strength by the day.  Perhaps their life span is 500 to 600 years after they are well formed.  These bioengineering wonders are eloquent testimonies of man living in harmony with nature.  

Cherrapunjee Holiday Resort has brought the focus on these Living Root Bridges, which are exclusive only to Meghalaya and are not found anywhere else in the world.

A Japanese T.V. Crew headed by Mr.Osamu Monden and assisted by Fujii Koji, Kenji Taniguchi, Shigeki Iizuka and Kyoko Miyazawa had made a detailed documentary over a period of two weeks (22nd June to 6th July, 2004) that was aired in Japan on 17th October 2004 by Ashahi TV.  

How were these bridges discovered?

Mr. Denis P.Rayen, the promoter of Cherrapunjee Holiday Resort during the time of construction of the Resort would take time off to chalk out trekking routes around these hills.  In one such scouting trip he had teamed along with some people of the village going to a prayer service at village Tynrong.  When returning the next day they happened to cross the river by a 200 feet long steel rope bridge strutted across the river about 45 feet above water level.  Then while climbing up hill they crossed a small mountain stream.  The bridge was made of living roots and wild vines and was about 30 feet long.

Impressed by the bridge, he had taken a few photographs of the bridge.  After the Resort commenced operations the photographs of this Roots & Wild Vines bridge was placed in the photo album for the guests with a caption - 'This is Tarzan land.  Bridges are made with roots & wild vines'.  

Despite enthusiastic description of this bridge by the promoter himself, the initial guests who came to stay and dine at the resort were reluctant to make the trek that would take about one and a half hour to reach the bridge.  Bubbling enthusiasm and perseverance paid dividends after almost six months after a Maharashtrian couple on a honeymoon holiday were keen to see the bridge themselves.

Then, Wanphai, our helper at the kitchen who hailed from the village offered to take them to another bridge close by.  On their return, our guests were so thrilled at seeing the bridge and were all praise and admiration for the ingenuity in the construction of the bridge.

The next day Mr. Denis P.Rayen went down to the bridge, extensively photographed the bridge from different angles, did the measurements and collected information about who had made the bridge. These photos were placed in an exclusive album and the bridge was christened Living Root Bridge.  One Mr.Snaton Chyne of Sohsarat made this bridge .  This bridge falls in the area of Village Siej across a mountain stream called Ummunoi.  The Photos were given captions and footnotes giving the dimensions, special traits and a brief write up of how the roots are trained to form the bridges.

Since then whenever the guests dropped in for food or for stay the photo albums are shown to them to provoke their curiosity and capture their attention and interest.  Slowly and steadily word started getting around about the Living Root Bridge and many thousands have since gone on these treks to see the Living Root Bridge.

The Double Decker Root Bridge was discovered on 15th August, 2001 when Mr. Denis P.Rayen was out on a picture-taking trip to the riverfront at the bottom of the valley along with Ms.Karolina Sobolewska from Warsaw, Poland.  Tourists from many countries in Europe, America and Australia have since visited Double Decker Root Bridge.  Enroute to the Umshiang Double Decker Root Bridge one will cross three more root bridges across a fast flowing river one of which is a Ladder Root Bridge and Culvert Root Bridge.  One can see another small but pretty root bridge at Mawsaw a little further from Nongriat.  Now the people of Nongriat have set in place a new root bridge with tender roots encased in hollowed splits of betel nut tree trunks.  Now this art of making root bridges which was being forgotten with the advent of steel rope and concrete bridges shall continue to be remembered and cherished by these people who have now realised the great value of their art.  

These bioengineering wonders with our consistent promotion have been attracting the  attention  of the media.  Meghalaya Tourism took up its promotion too after seeing the interest of tourists when Mrs.C.T.Sangma was its Director.  It has since been featured in Travel & Tourism Fairs and in tourist brochures.  On 26th January, 2004 the Republic Day Parade float for Meghalaya featured the 'Double Decker Root Bridge'. and was awarded the Second Prize.

Immediately after, Channel V covered the Living Root Bridge and has since telecast the footage.  The other people who have made documentaries so far on these bridges are Mr.Indrajit Narayan Dev of ISM Studio, Guwahati, Mr.Mrinal Talukdar, UNI, Guwahati, Mr.Ajoy Roy, APTN for Akash Bangla,Ms.Maria for Doordarshan and Ms.Sheila Sinha again for Doordarshan.

We are sure that one day like Cherrapunjee being world famous for its highest recorded rainfall, these Living Root Bridges will make Meghalaya stand out in the Tourism Map of the World.  Then, we will feel immensely happy to have made a fitting tribute to our Khasi ancestors who had conceived the idea, patiently persevered with their experiments stretched over long years and had perfected the art of making these 'Living Root Bridges' for generations to use and benefit from their superb bio-engineering creations.  We at Cherrapunjee Holiday Resort bow our heads in reverence to our ancestors who had been great masters at their art of making Living Root Bridges.