Amazing Living Architecture – Root Bridges of Cherrapunji

• Tweet

• Tweet

You may be mistaken for thinking that these are photos taken from the set of one the Lord of the Rings movies but in actual fact these are real examples of living architecture. The bridges you see are from Cherrapunji, India which is one of the wettest places on Earth and are actually made by tree roots. These bridges are very much alive!

The amazing War-Khasis tribe in Meghalaya have been harnessing the power of nature and growing these living bridges for many centuries. The bridges are made from the Ficus Elastica rubber tree which produces a powerful secondary root which can perch above ground and along rocks and riverbanks.

The Khasis use a technique of slicing and hollowing the roots to help guide them and eventually when they reach the other side of the river they take root back in the soil. The bridges can take up to 10-15 years before they are fully functional and because the bridges are still alive they grow ever stronger each year. Some of the bridges are reported to be over 500 years old and can support the weight over 50 people.

This special bridge is known as the “Umshiang” Double Decker Root Bridge”.

Related posts: