The Living Bridges are intriguing and one-of-a-kind constructions made by controlling the development of tree roots over time. The northeastern area of India, specifically the state of Meghalaya, is home to these bridges.
Creation
The roots of the Ficus elastica tree, also referred to as the rubber tree or the Indian rubber fig, are used to construct the living bridges. These trees’ roots have the amazing capacity to develop and get stronger over time. The roots can spread across rivers, streams, and other bodies of water because the villagers direct and train them to grow in a specific way.
Building Procedure
The first step in building a living bridge is to guide young rubber trees’ aerial roots toward opposing sides of a river or stream. After that, these roots are encouraged and led to blend and grow together. The roots continue to develop and fortify over a number of years, creating a strong living bridge. It may take ten to twenty years or longer to construct a living bridge. (The living bridges)
Strength and Durability
The living bridges can sustain the weight of several people at once and are extremely resilient. Heavy rains, flooding, and erosion are just a few of the natural factors that the roots can survive as they develop and mature.
Lifespan
The durability of these bridges is one of their most notable features. Living bridges, in contrast to traditional wooden or metal bridges, keep expanding and getting stronger over time. In Meghalaya, some bridges are thought to be more than 500 years old. (The living bridges)
Advantages for the environment
There are several environmental benefits to using live bridges. Relying on living trees and their roots eliminates the need to cut down trees or use non-renewable building materials. Additionally, the living bridges support biodiversity and help maintain the local ecosystem. (The living bridges)
India’s living bridges are not only useful buildings but also priceless cultural and natural assets. They demonstrate the local people’ inventiveness and creativity and serve as evidence of the peaceful coexistence of humans and the natural world.
It is now a popular tourist destination. Homestays opened as visitors started to pour in. Locals constructed tents and led tourists into the jungle’s hills. Everything from bottled drinks to crisp packets was stacked on makeshift stands. When Syiemlieh visited Laitkynsew, a village south of Tyrna, in March, she observed the locals pulling, twisting, and weaving fig tree aerial roots on bamboo scaffolding to construct a triple bridge. Two of the layers run parallel to one another, just like in a double-decker bridge, while the third root layer is slanted across the riverbank. “Maybe they thought that three layers can attract more tourists,” Syiemlieh explains.
The amazing live root bridges in the northeastern state of Meghalaya, particularly in the vicinity of Cherrapunji and Mawlynnong, are typically referred to as “living bridges.”
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What Are Living Bridges?
Living bridges are naturally occurring structures made of tree roots rather than steel or concrete. Over time, rubber tree roots are guided across rivers and streams by indigenous societies to create sturdy, walking bridges.
Derived from Ficus elastica roots
Completely natural and environmentally friendly
As they get older, they get stronger.
How Are They Made?
This method has been established over generations by local tribes, namely the Khasi people
Bamboo scaffolding is used to guide roots.
They are aimed over gaps or rivers.
Roots intertwine and strengthen over a period of ten to twenty years.
They eventually get enough strength to help others.
Some bridges are still in use after more than a century!
Well-known Living Bridges
The Double Decker Living Root Bridge An uncommon two-story bridge that is a popular tourist destination
The Ummunoi Root Bridge is renowned for its length and scenic beauty.
The Reasons They Are Important
Ideal for regions with a lot of rain (Meghalaya is among the wettest places on Earth).
They don’t decay as quickly as wooden bridges do.
A natural wonder and a symbol of sustainable engineering and harmony with nature
Living bridges are a potent illustration of how people may cooperate with nature rather than oppose it. They are living, expanding ecosystems rather than merely structures.
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